EMC131 Psychological Effects of Disasters
To:   Emergency Communications Units - Information Bulletin
To:   Emergency Management Agencies via Internet and Radio
By:   Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) of the
      California Governor's Office of Emergency Services  

EMC131 Psychological Effects of Disasters.  For release 5/11/98

Disasters affect people in many ways. In some disaster
situations, it may mean loss of loved ones, including relatives,
friends, neighbors or family pets. In others, it means loss of
home and property, furnishings, and important or cherished
belongings. Sometimes it means starting over in a new home or
business. The emotional effects of loss and disruption may show
up immediately or may appear many months later. It is very
important to understand that there is a natural grieving process
following any loss, and that a disaster of any size will cause
unusual and unwanted stress.

SOME INITIAL RESPONSES
Fear
Disbelief: reluctant to abandon property
Disorientation: numbing
Difficulty in making decisions
Need for information
Help-seeking for self and family
Helpfulness to other disaster victims

LATER RESPONSES
Change in appetite: digestive problems
Difficulty sleeping: headaches, anger, suspicion
Apathy and depression
Crying for "no apparent reason"
Increase in allergies, colds and flu
Domestic violence may increase
Moodiness: irritability
Anxiety about the future
Disappointment with and rejection of, outside help
Guilt over not being able to prevent the disaster
Feelings of being overwhelmed

SPECIAL EFFECTS ON YOUNG CHILDREN
Return to earlier behavior, thumb sucking, bed wetting
Clinging to parents
Reluctance to go to bed: nightmares
Crying, screaming
Withdrawal, immobility
Refusal to attend school
Fantasies that disaster never happened
Problems at School - behavior, can't concentrate.

(Above quoted from an article by this title in the Huntington
Beach CERT Newsletter 11/96) ---------

While we tend to think the above relates to natural disasters
affecting a community or large area, it equally applies to
individual situations. For an example: A family stationed
overseas by the U.S. military had both their automobiles stolen
the day before Christmas. Two weeks earlier their house had been
broken into and a purse stolen. Then they faced two months wait
before insurance companies were willing to _discuss_ settling.
Add a tax from the foreign country for $11,000 "because the
vehicles were stolen and might surface on the market with the
import duty not paid". (Yes, you read that right!)

Look again at the list of "responses"in the article quoted. That
family experienced many of the responses as they dealt with the
situation. There are many other families with experiences where
they had to deal with slamming effects of extraordinary events.
You probably know one in your area.

Psychological effects are a very _real_ aftermath of a traumatic
experience. Yet, most of us are seldom prepared to handle, much
less understand, the post-event effects. Perhaps discussing this
with friends and family will be an aid in that process "just in
case".
                                ---
ACS Web page: http://acs.oes.ca.gov       FTP archive:
ftp.ucsd.edu/hamradio/packet/tcpip/incoming for new
bulletins and ftp.ucsd.edu/hamradio/races for earlier ones.
Landline BBS: 916-262-0856 (graphical & standard interface).
You can subscribe to these bulletins also. For info contact
State Chief ACS Officer Cary Mangum: Cary_Mangum@oes.ca.gov
EOM EMC131