Number of $1 Billion-Plus U.S. Disasters Breaks Record; How About Emotional Costs?

LOS ANGELES - Sept. 19, 2023 - PRLog -- With more than three months remaining in 2023, there have already been a record 23 weather-related natural disasters (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/national-climate-202308) that caused at least $1 billion each in damages according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. People have lost their homes,  possessions, and sometimes family members and pets in these fires, floods, hurricanes and tornadoes.

"As the number of natural disasters increases, thousands more people will be faced each year with the heart-wrenching reality of rebuilding—often from nothing," says Dr. Noelle Nelson, author of Phoenix Rising - Surviving Catastrophic Loss: Fires, Floods, Hurricanes and Tornadoes, Amazon. "How they will rebuild, not only their homes but their lives, will be a challenge."

Nelson's book looks at what it takes to recover from these sudden, traumatic events and their aftermath as well as recounts Nelson's own healing and rebuilding process after losing her home in the fire that ravaged southern California in 2018.

"Your first reaction when faced with a devastating loss after a natural disaster is being grateful that you're still alive," says Nelson. "However, the enormity of the loss quickly sets in. Where will I live? How will I pay my bills? What about all my family photographs and mementos? How can I recover important documents? What will insurance pay for? What about my lost medications? The questions are endless and overwhelming."

Nelson knew she could not do everything herself. She reached out, as most of us would instinctively, to family and friends, and then to various relief agencies. But beyond these resources, what Nelson found to be most helpful were what she calls her "anchors"--those activities, those communities, that made up her everyday life: work, church, dance classes, and the people involved in them.

Nelson suggests that you do your best to continue with the activities and hobbies you did before, your anchors. "Maintaining your pre-disaster routines can be not only comforting but literally life-sustaining. You will be surprised at how many of the people you engage with are eager to lend support."

Nelson also says to accept the rollercoaster of emotions that follows a disaster as part of your normal recovery process and don't hesitate to take part in recovery groups or individual therapy. "You'll feel angry, frustrated, helpless and hopeless," she says. "That's part of the healing process. You'll never get back the physical things you lost in the disaster. As hard as things are now, you have an opportunity to create a new chapter that can fill your life with new memories. You can rise from the ashes, stronger and better than before."

Phoenix Rising (https://bit.ly/2X0LJui) - Surviving Catastrophic Loss: Fires, Floods, Hurricanes and Tornadoes, Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/PHOENIX-RISING-Surviving-Catastrop...).