It’s hard to say whether feeling your world disappear in an instant or slowly waiting for it to be decimated is worse. Evacuation warnings provide small blessings in the opportunity to gather loved ones, pets, and valuables, but for those unable to leave, the ensuing chaos and activity is a reminder of what they may be about to lose.
Just weeks after Hurricane Harvey left Houston underwater with record-breaking rainfall, onlookers in Florida watched and waited as their homes and lives were destroyed by Hurricane Irma. Puerto Rico was devastated by the same storm, and again by Hurricane Maria less than two weeks later, leaving the nation in a state of humanitarian emergency.
Mexico has been rocked by earthquakes and aftershocks, causing schools and city structures to collapse. Montanan ranchers have been watching fires devour their fences, feed, and livestock, taking their livelihood with them. Washington, Oregon, and California are watching crops and local landmarks suffer under similar blazes.
No matter where you look right now, it’s easy to see the devastation of natural disasters. Residents are left with no sense of where to start putting their lives back together. It’s easy to feel hopeless in the face of the unpredictability of natural disasters.
If you or your loved ones are suffering due to displacement, there is little that can be said to mitigate your loss, nor can the rest of us truly comprehend the impact you’re experiencing. We can only offer what we have to give and help to create hope and growth in the face of razed lives.
Hope comes with many faces. Those who maintain calm, provide resilience, or inspire recovery create a sense of hope when the rest of us are left stunned and searching for wisdom. When looking for peace among fear, Mr. Rogers said, “My mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”
The face and actions of helpers provide not only comfort to those who are hurting, but a starting point to guide the rest of us. They create a lead for us to follow and give direction to our amorphous need to help. Learning to find and follow the helpers is empowering and lends purpose to our energy.
Nurses
Healthcare workers are possibly the most visible helpers in the wake of natural disasters. Medical care is an obvious necessity when responding to collapsed buildings, extreme flooding, and loss of power (and therefore indoor climate control).
Nurses provide first response care to patients in doctor’s offices, hospitals, assisted living facilities, and emergency response stations. The American Red Cross coordinates a massive network of volunteer nurses who are prepared to respond to disaster situations. In the wake of Katrina, the RN Response Network was created and works to direct teams of volunteer nurses from across the country to disaster zones.
Mental Health Matters
Mental health and social well-being are underseen facets of disaster management. Long after rubble has been cleared from streets and floods have receded, many wounds still remain.
Rebuilding lives takes a long time, and often, reality will never look quite the same. Families may lose members and be displaced from their homes. Social workers provide emotional support and resources for those affected by the tragedy. They also help to monitor the well-being of first responders to ensure that someone’s taking care of the people taking care of people.
Fido’s Not Forgotten
For those who have had a pet, it’s understood that they’re a member of the family. In some disaster cases where evacuation is possible, animals may be left behind or not permitted in emergency shelters. When there’s no time to plan an evacuation, or no place to run to, pets are often lost or helpless in the wake of disaster.
Several organizations send teams to stricken areas to provide food, shelter, and comfort to wayward animals. In the case of post-hurricane Barbuda, owners were able to send descriptions of their pets with animal rescue workers in hopes of a happy reunion.
Look for Local Heroes
First responders, military personnel, and relief agencies are truly key to disaster recovery. Without the Red Cross, FEMA, emergency medical transportation workers, and the hundreds of aid workers that flock to ravaged populations, casualties would be higher.
However, there’s nothing like adversity to bring humans together. You don’t have to look far to have your faith in humanity restored, even in the face of unimaginable tragedy.
A young boy in Alabama paid for the meal of a family in a Chik-Fil-A drive-through because they had a Florida license plate. A nun in Miami took to the streets and helped clear debris with a chainsaw — while in her full habit.
Local business owners donated generators to help run air conditioning for sensitive populations. Neighbors formed human chains to steady each other in flood tides. The big carried the small.
Good people surround us. If the disasters in the world are starting to overwhelm you, remember what Mr. Rogers said, and take a minute to look for the helpers. There’s a lot of recovery to go yet, but together, it will happen.
Need A Massage? Learn How To Give One To Yourself And Your Loved Ones
Receiving a massage, whether it’s given by someone else or self-administered, can help loosen your muscles and establish a better connection not only with your body but also with the people you love.
