Helping Children Cope with Disaster During and After the Holidays
Release Date: December 20, 2007
Release Number: 1733-013
» More Information on Oregon Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides
SALEM, Ore. -- Just as adults are struggling to cope with stress after the severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides this December, children may also be struggling emotionally. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Oregon Emergency Management, (OEM), and the American Red Cross offer valuable services and information to help children recover after a disaster.
The holidays can be difficult for children and adults after a disaster. Celebrating the holiday season in temporary housing or in their home while dealing with losses from the December disaster may be stressful.
"Recovery is a process not a destination," said State Coordinating Officer Abby Kershaw. "People can sometimes feel like they're taking a step backward when the blues hit, but that emotional roller coaster is a natural part of the recovery process. "
"FEMA understands that survivors experience many anxieties and emotions after disasters, and these feelings can be magnified during the holidays," said FEMA's Federal Coordinating Officer Glen R. Sachtleben. "The recovery process can be even more difficult during the holiday season and parents can help reassure their children by being prepared for disasters as a family."
Identify Fears and Anxieties
Fear after a disaster is natural, but adults should be aware that children may have experienced trauma or may have worries they are unable to express. How parents and caregivers behave at this time can have lasting effects on their children. If a caregiver resumes a normal existence quickly, the child is more likely to have a quick recovery.
Children may need help if they:
- Had direct exposure to the disaster, experienced the evacuation, saw people injured or dying, were in situations in which their own lives were threatened;
- Suffered personal loss due to the death of, or serious injury to, a family member, close friend or pet;
- Are living in interim housing, or attending a different school;
- Experiencing ongoing stress from their current situation;
- Are or were living in a shelter, lost contact with their friends, lost things that are important to them, their parents lost their jobs; or
- Parents are experiencing severe financial hardship.
How Children May React to Disaster
Children may have worries about things they cannot express clearly. Their reactions may vary widely, depending on age, but there are some common responses to stress:
- Birth through six years: Infants and young children may be more irritable, cry more than usual, and need more comfort than before the disaster. Preschool and kindergarten children can feel helpless and frightened about separation from their parents. They may resume thumb sucking or bedwetting.
- Seven through 10: Older children may become preoccupied with the disaster and want to talk about it continually. They may fear the disaster will happen again and may have strong, angry or sad feelings. Children who act out may be expressing grief and trauma, or a child may behave as if he or she has no feelings. This numbness can be an emotional shield that protects the child from experiencing pain.
- Eleven through 18 years: Teenagers may react with risk-taking behaviors, such as reckless driving or alcohol and drug abuse. Teenagers can be overwhelmed by their intense emotions and be unable to talk about them.
What Parents and Caregivers Can Do
- Try to take time to compose yourself when you are with your child. If you are calm and confident, your demeanor will encourage your child to feel less afraid.
- Encourage your child to talk, draw pictures or tell stories so the child has an opportunity to talk through the experience.
- Be a good listener. If your child asks questions, answer as best you can and use words that your child might use.
- Give honest answers. If you don't know the answer to a question, say so. Calmly provide answers, even if the question was painful.
- Be prepared to explain things over and over again. Sometimes children need time to process and understand events. Vary the words you use and check that the child understands what you said.
- Allow your child to be a child, even if you need him or her to help the rest of the family.
- Spend extra time with your children. Your smaller children will need extra hugs and reassurance. Your older children may need more time to express themselves.
- Get back to daily routines for work, school, play, meals and rest. A familiar schedule can be very comforting.
- Involve your children in creating a family disaster plan and in practicing your plan. A disaster plan helps your child understand that there are positive things that can be done to help.
- During the holidays, replace a cherished stuffed animal or toy that was lost in the disaster.
FEMA for Kids at www.fema.gov/kids is a disaster preparedness website with resources for children, parents, and teachers. The website offers free posters, video and information on how children recover from a disaster. Free FEMA publications can be ordered by phone at 1-800-480-2520. FEMA and the Red Cross have published a free booklet, "Helping Children Cope with Disaster," available online at www.fema.gov/pdf/library/children.pdf.
You can find information on preparing children for disasters by visiting the Red Cross website www.redcross.org/disaster/masters . The award-winning Masters of Disaster® disaster preparedness curriculum teaches children how to prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and other emergencies The Masters of Disaster® series is an educational tool that will teach youth the importance of preparedness while reducing fear of the unexpected. The goal is to empower youth with the confidence and knowledge to prepare for disasters and help create a culture of preparedness. The lessons are non-threatening, age appropriate and adhere to national education standards.
Crisis Counseling Can Help
There are crisis counseling services and other services specifically for children. Crisis counseling can provide immediate, short-term help to victims of powerful storms.
One of the best things a parent can do is let their children talk to a crisis counselor about how they're feeling. Crisis counseling helps reassure children what they're feeling is normal. Counseling also helps children develop coping skills to get through tough times now and later in life.
Local crisis lines are available in most communities. Referral services and free over-the-telephone counseling by trained professionals are available for stress related problems brought on by the disaster. Help is available by calling one of the following numbers and asking to speak to a crisis counselor:
Columbia County Mental Health: 503-397-5211 day; 866-866-1426 after hours; toll-free 1-800-294-5211 "press 0"
Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare (24-hour): 503-325-5724
Marion County Psychiatric Crisis Center (24-hour): 503-585-4949
Multnomah County Crisis Line (24-hour): 503-988-4888
Polk County, Northwest Human Services 24-hour Crisis Line: 1-800-560-5535
Tillamook Family Counseling503-842-8201 or toll-free 1-800-962-2851 (ask for on-call crisis counselor)
Yamhill County, Northwest Human Services 24-hour crisis line: 1-800-560-5535
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK or 1-800-SUICIDE.
Oregon Dept. of Human Services, Addictions and Mental Health (DHS) for State-wide Crisis Counseling Referrals- 503-945-5763 (TTY: 800-375-2863).
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Friday, 21-Dec-2007 08:10:30