Florida is known to be a magnet for hurricanes and natural disasters which have wrecked homes, towns, and scenery for years. I currently live in south Florida and Hurricane Milton has just come by. School was cancelled for 3 days and the Hurricane has taken over social media and the news. There was lots of fear going into this hurricane, with the news stating things like “This hurricane has reached the mathematical limit of what the atmosphere can produce.” Tampa was hit hard by the hurricane, and even near me (far out of the direct path of the hurricane) schools have been destroyed and people have died. It’s obvious to see that the effects of hurricanes and other natural disasters are monumental. People can lose loved ones, their homes, and possessions. I keep seeing videos on the news where parents and family members are asked to write the DOB and name on children and loved ones in marker so that they can be identified in the case of an emergency. The thought of that, coupled with perhaps having to evacuate, or with the financial and emotional fear of losing a home, has to be very hard on the mind.
An impactful quote I found to summarize this thought is: “Natural disasters are large-scale catastrophic events, and they are increasing in frequency and severity. Converging evidence indicates that the mental health consequences of disasters are extensive and are often associated with trauma and the disruption of personal and socioeconomic factors in people’s lives. Although most individuals experiencing disaster-related traumatic events do not develop mental illnesses, some experience adverse psychological effects of disasters. These mental health effects begin immediately following a disaster and may persist for extended periods.”
My heart goes out to anyone suffering from Milton or any other natural disasters in the world. It is no easy thing to go through.
SOURCE:
Out of My Mind 