Homes Lost, Lives Changed—How To Survive The Aftermath Of A Natural Disaster

LOS ANGELES - Aug. 11, 2023 - PRLog -- Wildfires in Maui, flooding in Alaska, tornadoes along the East Coast--natural disasters are affecting millions of people this summer. Many homes have been destroyed and all possessions lost, forcing people to try to figure out how to rebuild their lives from scratch.

"As unbearable as the circumstances are, there is hope," says  Dr. Noelle Nelson, author of Phoenix Rising - Surviving Catastrophic Loss: Fires, Floods, Hurricanes and Tornadoes (Amazon) who lost her home and everything in it in the 2018 Woolsey Fire in Southern California. "Life as you know it changes in an instant. You feel alone, ungrounded. You literally have nowhere to call home."

Although the situation is overwhelming, there are things to do right away that will greatly help in the recovery process both in the short and long term, says Nelson.

--Find your "anchors." Anchors are close family and friends who you can rely on during the first days and weeks after a disaster. If they offer a room in their home, help you shop for essentials, drive you to aid centers or arrange for meetings with insurance agents or bankers, let them. If you don't have anchors nearby, look for assistance and shelter through the Red Cross and other nonprofits that step in to help.

--.Continue as much as possible with work, school and outside interests. These "normal" things will give you strength and purpose when so much is not normal.

--Accept the kindness of strangers. Most people are amazing—generous, caring and willing to help you through your personal disaster. Some are volunteers from local charities and from government agencies experienced in helping those affected by disasters. Others can be co-workers, casual acquaintances or perfect strangers. Let them help. Their kindness will get you on your feet faster and reduce stress.

--Give yourself space to grieve. Cry, get angry, be frustrated. Expect these very normal feelings to last a long time. Attend local support group meetings with others experiencing what you are going through. These groups can be a good source of information, friendship and comfort.

"As intense climate events become the norm, we'll continue to see more and more people lose their homes and their life's possessions," says Nelson. "It's important that these people be given the tools and guidance to enable them to build a new story for their life."

Link to Phoenix Rising: https://bit.ly/3s6M9Pf