As a child I grew up in an area that had a lot of tornadoes. So at school we were taught how at respond to the sound of the alarm. I remember sitting in the hallways with our heads covered. Some of the time there were real storms and other just practice to make sure we knew what we were doing. At home we knew what to do. Go to the bathroom or we would sit in the hallway. Candles at the ready. We had some really bad storms but, we never lost anyone. I did know classmates that talked about losing family members to storms. We moved to the south for a region that did not have tornadoes, so to hear about wind picking up someone and taking them away is very frightening. I do not think that any of the children I knew had professional help to deal with these happening. As a child I don't know if it was cultural or if the help just was not available. So the best we could do is remember what we learned at school and be friends with those who had lost love ones.
Katrina was one of the worst things I had ever heard of. I had friends that lived in New Orleans when the storm went through the coast and destroyed a many of lives. We hear about the children but my adult friends still feel the effects of Katrina. Those were awful days before the storm and after the storm, calling everyone and pleading them to leave. You would be surprised how many people stay put doing the storms that run up the coast. After all of these years, Katrina happened in August 2005, and still there are people who are not in their own homes, roads, and bridges, are still being repaired. Studies have shown that the children are showing signs of SED (serious emotional disturbances) meaning: inappropriate behavior, depression, hyperactivity, eating disorders, fears and phobias, also learning difficulties (ScienceDaily , 2010). A study that was done with a group of mostly white children (9-18 years of age) showed that these children tested better for trauma symptoms. The symptoms were: depression, sad nervous, and having trouble sleeping and concentrating. The girls showed more of an effect then the boys. These children are being treated by professionals. These children were testing better because the study stated their schools were reopened within three months of the hurricane. the interaction between classmates helped them deal with their issues. A second study that was done with mostly African American children who were living in a relocation camp with their families two months later ( some people are still not home) showed signs of behavioral stress. the males and the females showed they had developed a specialized system for processing and responding to stress. This is called normative stress regulation (ScienceDaily, 2010). Another study shows that the stress of not being in their own homes causes a level of psychological distress. The uncertainty of their lives is not healthy for anyone. Help seems to be an issue, a staggering number 50% of parents seeking mental health help were able to access help(ScienceDaily, 2010). This is so very sad, how many people do you think we have lost in many ways because they help is just not there?
Resources:
Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health(2010, August 23).'Legacy of Katrina' Report details impact of stalled recovery on mental health status of children. ScienceDaily.
Society for Research in Child Development( 2010, July 15). Hurricane Katrina's effects on children: Resilience and gender. ScienceDaily
Virginia Tech(2010, January 5). Serious emotional disturbances found among children after Katrina. ScienceDaily
Carmellia, What a reminder of a horrible event! It goes to show how quickly we forget about the lasting effects that a natural disaster like that can bring about. It seems like we don't hear about it too much any more. My daughter went on a mission trip to New Orleans after Katrina, and experienced it firsthand. While there, she spent time with some young children and then with some elderly people, all of whom had been displaced from their homes. It was traumatic for most of them, and I am sure that many people will continue to be affected by the experience for a long time to come.
ReplyDeleteCarmellia,I can remeber a few bad storms, but nothing like Katrina. We were not in the area but we had alot of family members who was effected by the strom. Only a few are back in the area where their home use to be, and a few said, "They will never go back." We have helped who we can as a family, and try to stay encourage. It sad to have all the technology in this world but we still can't furgure out what or which way a storm will go or do to an area. What a stresser for children, teens, and older folks. So thankful for all the help any one has given those in need, because you never know it might be you.People are still living with the fear of storms.
ReplyDeleteCarmellia, I cannot imagine what it would be like to encounter a natural disaster. The closest I came to one was this past summer when the tornado hit North Carolina. I was driving into Raleigh when the heavy rain and wind storms hit. I had no idea what was happening until I got a phone call asking for my exact location then hearing the tornado was heading right in my direction. Scared is kindly describing what I was feeling. Although my minor experience is nothing compared to Katrina, tsunamis, tornados and other hurricanes, I can slightly understand how they can affect people. For a few weeks I was scared to drive in the rain and became over sensitive to noise while driving. The courage many people have to regain their lives after these storms is truly a testament of a greater power. Thanks for sharing a piece of your childhood with us.
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