Trauma Types
Physical Abuse and Neglect
Sexual Abuse
Traumatic Grief
Domestic Violence
School Violence & Crises
Complex Trauma
Medical Trauma
Refugee Trauma
Natural Disasters
Earthquakes
Epidemics
Fires
Floods
Hurricanes
Tornadoes
Tsunamis
Terrorism
 
Earthquakes
Recovery: After an Earthquake

After an earthquake most families can be expected to recover over time, particularly with the support of family, friends, and organizations. The length of recovery will depend upon how frightening the earthquake was, if evacuation from home was necessary, and the extent of the damage and loss. Some families will return to their normal routine fairly quickly, while others will have to contend with destruction to their homes, medical problems, injury to family members, loss/separation of providers/caregivers, or financial hardship. Children especially will need time to recover from the loss of a loved one or a pet or from the closing down of their school.

Children's functioning will be influenced by how their parents and other caregivers cope during and after the earthquake. Children often turn to adults for information, comfort, and help. Parents and teachers should try to remain calm, answer children's questions honestly, respond as best they can to requests, and remain understanding when they see changes in their children's behavior.

Children's Reactions

Children react differently to an earthquake and its aftermath depending on their age, developmental level, and prior experiences. Some will respond by withdrawing, while others will have angry outbursts. Still others will become loud, silly, boisterous, agitated, or irritable. Parents should attempt to remain sensitive to each child's reactions. The following are typical reactions children might exhibit following any natural disaster:
  • Fear of separation from family members
  • Worry that another earthquake will occur
  • Clinging to parents, siblings, or teachers
  • Worry about their safety or the safety of others, including pets
  • Increase in activity level
  • Decrease in concentration and attention
  • Withdrawal from others
  • Angry outbursts or tantrums
  • Aggression to parents, siblings, or friends
  • Increase in physical complaints, such as headaches and stomachaches
  • Decline in school performance
  • Long-lasting focus on the earthquake, such as talking repeatedly about it or re-enacting the event in play or drawing
  • Changes in sleep patterns
  • Changes in appetite
  • Lack of interest in usual activities, even playing with friends
  • Regressive behaviors, such as baby-talk, bedwetting, thumb-sucking, or throwing tantrums
  • Increase in risky behaviors for teens, such as drinking alcohol, using illegal drugs, harming themselves, or engaging in promiscuous sexual activities
What You Can Do to Help Your Child

Parents should spend time talking to their children, letting them know that it is okay to ask questions and to share their worries. Although it may be hard finding time to have these conversations, parents can use regular family mealtimes or bedtimes to talk. They can let children know what is happening in the family, with their school, and in the community. They should answer questions briefly and honestly and be sure to ask their children for their opinions and ideas. Issues may come up more than once and parents should remain patient and open to answering questions again. For younger children, after talking about the earthquake, parents might read a favorite story or have a relaxing family activity to help them feel more safe and calm.

To help children's recovery, parents should:
  • Be a role model. Try to remain calm, so your child can learn from you how to handle stressful situations. Avoid clinging to your child to reduce your own fears. You may share some worries, but also share that you have hope or have a plan to help solve your concerns.
  • Monitor adult conversations. Be aware of what adults are saying about the earthquake or the resulting damage. Children may misinterpret what they hear and be unnecessarily frightened.
  • Limit media exposure. Protect your child from graphic images of the attack, including those on television, on the internet, and in the newspaper.
  • Reassure children they are safe. You may need to repeat this frequently in the days and weeks after the earthquake. Spend extra time with them, playing games outside, reading together indoors, or just cuddling. Be sure to tell them you love them.
  • Periodically, provide opportunities for children to talk about the earthquake if they want to. When they start talking about their fears, listen attentively. Assure them the danger is over (if it is) and/or that you are working hard to keep the family safe.
  • Calm worries about their friends' safety. Even though phones may not be working, reassure your children that their friends' parents are taking care of them, just the way they are being taken care of by you.
  • Tell children about community recovery. Reassure them that things are being done to restore electricity, phones, water, and gas. Tell them that the town or city will be removing debris and helping families find housing.
  • Replace damaged toys as soon as you are able.
  • Take care of your children's health. Help them get enough rest, exercise, healthy food, and water. Be sure they have a balance of quiet times and physical activities.
  • Refrain from criticizing children for changes in their behavior, such as clinging to parents, re-enacting the earthquake, or frequently seeking reassurance.
  • Maintain regular daily life. Even in the midst of disruption and change, children feel more secure with structure and routine. As much as possible, keep to regular mealtimes and bedtimes.
  • Maintain expectations. Stick to your family rules about good behavior and respect for others. Continue family chores, but keep in mind that children may need more reminding than usual.
  • Encourage children to help. Children cope better and recover sooner if they feel they are helping out. Give them small clean-up tasks or other ways to contribute. Afterward, provide activities that are not related to the earthquake, such as playing cards or reading.
  • Be extra patient once children have returned to school. They may be more distracted and need extra help with homework for a while.
  • Give support at bedtime. Children may be more anxious at times of separation from parents. Spend a little more time talking, cuddling, or reading than usual. (You will want to start the bedtime routine earlier so children get the sleep they need.) If younger children need to sleep with you, let them know it is a temporary plan, and that soon they will go back to sleeping in their own beds.
  • Help with boredom. Daily activities, such as watching television, playing on the computer, and having friends over, may have been disrupted. Extracurricular activities, like sports and or dance classes, may have been suspended. Help children think of alternative activities to do, such as board games, card games, and arts and crafts. Try to find community programs (at the library, a park program, or a local YMCA) with child-friendly activities your child can attend.
  • Keep things hopeful. Even in the most difficult situation, it is important to remain optimistic about the future. Your positive outlook will help your children be able to see good things in the world around them. This will help get them through even the most challenging times.
  • Seek professional help if your child still has difficulties more than six weeks after the earthquake.
Therapy for Children

If children have difficulties for more than six weeks after the earthquake, consult a mental health professional for an evaluation. If the clinician recommends counseling, keep in mind that Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has the strongest evidence for helping children recover from a disaster. Sometimes temporary use of medications will be a beneficial adjunct to psychotherapy.

Therapy for children should typically include:
  • Family involvement
  • Awareness of developmental level and cultural/religious differences
  • Assessment of preexisting mental health problems and prior traumas and loss
  • Explanation and normalization of the childâ??s psychological reactions to the earthquake
  • Teaching ways to manage reactions to reminders of the earthquake
  • Teaching problem-solving and anger management skills as needed
  • Helping to maintain normal developmental progression
What Parents Can Do to Help Themselves

Parents may have a tendency to neglect their own needs during a crisis. In order to be able to take care of their children, parents must take care of themselves. Here are some things they should keep in mind:
  • Take care of yourself physically. Eat healthily, get enough sleep, and get proper medical care.
  • Support each other. Parents and other caregivers should take time to talk together and provide support as needed.
  • Put off major decisions. Avoid making any unnecessary life-altering decisions during this stressful post-earthquake period.
  • Avoid abuse of addicting drugs and alcohol to cope with problems.
  • Give yourself a break. Try not to overdo clean-up activities. To reduce injury, avoid lifting heavy items or working for extended periods of time.
What Teachers Can Do to Help Their Students

Teachers can play an important role in helping their students recover. Returning to school is important, in and of itself, in promoting the welfare of children and families. Try the following suggestions to assist you in your work with children, adolescents, and families:
  • Take care of yourself emotionally. You and your family may have had a stressful experience and may have suffered losses and stresses like those of your students. To be able to support them, you must have support yourself.
  • Take care of yourself physically. Eat healthily, get enough sleep, and get proper medical care.
  • Communicate with others. Make sure that you and your fellow teachers schedule ongoing times to talk together and give each other support. Teachers might consider covering for each other, if something comes up that must be taken care of.
  • Try to be as understanding as you can with your students. Refrain from criticizing or reprimanding them for decreased performance in their work. In general, most students should improve over time.
  • Give yourself a break. Try not to overdo clean-up activities. To reduce injury, avoid lifting heavy items or working for extended periods of time.
  • Put off major decisions. Avoid making any unnecessary life-altering decisions during this stressful, post-earthquake period.
  • Put aside the time to take care of the personal needs of your own family. Even though you may be very committed to your students, take special time with your own family members or friends.
  • If you have a lot of earthquake-related responsibilities, talk with your school administrators about temporarily altering your work schedule.
 
Login
Disclaimer Sitemap Privacy