Natural Disasters

The effects of natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes, including how to help survivors are the topics of Fact Sheets listed below. We provide some General Information about the mental health effects following a disaster, the phases of reactions, and helping survivors. Also included are some fact sheets on the effects of Specific Disasters that have occurred including the 2004 tsunami.

General Information

Fact Sheets on General Information about Natural Disasters:

• Phases of Traumatic Stress Reactions in a Disaster
  Describes the three early phases of reactions to disasters and terrorism, including: impact, the immediate post-disaster phase, and recovery.
  
• Survivors of Human-Caused and Natural Disasters
  Considers questions asked by survivors: What psychological problems might be experienced by survivors of a disaster? What are the risk factors for developing problems? What can be done to reduce the risk of negative consequences and to best recover from...
  
• Effects of Traumatic Stress after Mass Violence, Terror or Disaster
  Discusses normal and problematic responses to disaster. Describes PTSD, ASD, associated problems, and bereavement complications.
  
• Helping Survivors in the Wake of Disaster
  Concise information for volunteers, mental health clinicians, chaplains, and medical personnel on the effects of traumatic stress and recommendations for helping survivors of disasters.
  
• The Effects of Natural Disasters.
  Briefly describes the research to date on the psychological effects of natural disasters with a focus on hurricanes.
  
• Receiving and Giving Help Following Natural Disasters:
  Information on how to receive or give help: links to contact missing loved ones, how to volunteer, where to donate or offer other assistance to disaster survivors.
  

Also see our handouts for disaster situations.

Specific Natural Disasters

Fact Sheets on Specific Natural Disasters:

• The August 1999 Earthquake in Turkey and Posttraumatic Stress
  Based on findings from the severe 1999 earthquake in Turkey, factors are discussed that can create long lasting mental health problems and can increase risk for behavioral and emotional readjustment problems.
  
• The September 1999 Earthquake in Taiwan and Posttraumatic Stress
  Discusses reactions following earthquakes in Asia focusing on one major earthquake in Taiwan.
  
• The Tsunami and Mental Health: What Can We Expect?
  A brief review of risk factors for the development of mental health issues following natural disasters such as the 2004 tsunami.
  
• Disaster Help
  The Official US site for the most up-to-date information on disasters: news, resources, and more. Created by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).