Lutheran Childrens Camp Offers Healing to Hurricane Survivors
Release Date: July 21, 2005
Release Number: LTR-05-011
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ORLANDO, Fla. -- A child hunkers down in a closet until the winds subside. Another returns from a shelter and surveys the damage left in wake of the hurricane, looking misty eyed as he listens to his mother explain that they’ll have to move.
Trauma counselors know that there is no better way to help Florida’s children heal from the trauma of hurricanes than by talking through their stormy experiences and engaging in structured play – lots of it.
Lutheran Disaster Response and its partner agency, Lutheran Social Services, developed a way for those impacted by previous disasters to come together in a loving and supportive atmosphere to play and talk about what had happened to them. They call it Camp Noah – a free day camp for children in grades kindergarten through sixth grade who have experienced disaster.
Camp Noah is being held in 30 locations throughout Florida between June 6 and August 5, 2005, specifically for those children who had significant losses during the unprecedented 2004 hurricane season.
At this point, only two camps are still open for enrollment. They will be held during the week of July 25-29 at Arcadia Presbyterian Church, 209 W. Hickory St. in Arcadia, and St. John Lutheran Church, 1600 S. Orlando Ave. in Winter Park.
One in five Florida homes sustained damage in 2004. Since many of the children’s normal summer activities are not able to function yet due to rebuilding efforts in the communities, Camp Noah offers a welcome respite for the families, with emotional and spiritual support that will linger long after the camp is over.
“Some parents say, ‘My kid’s not talking about the last hurricane season, so why bring it up?’” said Catherine Stewart, National Director for Lutheran Disaster Response’s Camp Noah. “They don’t realize that children gain a sense of relief when they talk about the changes in their lives.”
According to an evaluation conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, definite favorable outcomes were found in the children who attended Camp Noah related to past weather events in various parts of the U.S. These children increased their coping skills and released many of their trauma symptoms, enabling them to make sense of the disaster.
Camp Noah was developed following the 1997 flooding in the Upper Midwest when thousands of persons were evacuated and displaced. In the aftermath, children started experiencing anxiety and fears of severe weather and complained of aches and pains when there were no physical problems. It became clear that children needed a special opportunity to come together in a loving and supportive environment to talk about what had happened to them.
For more information see their websites at www.lsfnet.org or www.campnoah.org. For information on how natural disasters impact children and other activities for children, see www.femaforkids.com.
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following an incident of national significance. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Monday, 25-Jul-2005 10:17:11