Since making landfall near Rockport Texas late August, Hurricane Harvey, a category 4 storm system – with winds up to 130 mph and pounding waves – has claimed the lives of 70 people. While the death toll continues to rise — leaving many others from Houston and Beaumont, Texas, Bishop County and nearby communities to Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee without home, transportation, or food — many are just trying to pick up the pieces.
Stars like Kevin Hart, Beyoncé and her mama Tina Knowles, Chris Paul, and many more have extended a helping hand to those impacted by the devastating event. However, some may argue that Harvey’s catastrophic impacts could be felt both economically and emotionally for weeks and months to come.
“We were seeing numbers outpacing anything we were prepared to take care of,” Dr. Carrie de Moor, an ER physician who is CEO of Code 3 ER and Urgent Care, told NBC News.
“”I think mental health is going to be huge,” added Jody Hopkins, CEO of the Texas Association of Charitable Clinics. “A patient came and said, ‘I worked at Dollar General and the store is wiped out. I am out of a job.’ That has a huge impact.” She continued, “typically, a mental health provider will see eight to nine patients a day. We saw 32 mental health patients in one day this week.”
While dealing with the aftermath of tragedy such as that of a natural disaster may vary from person to person, experts advise to first and foremost, take care of yourself. Here’s why:
“A natural disaster can take a toll on you mentally and physically, Raychelle Cassada Lohmann, M.S., LPC, GCDF, of Pro Talk, tells BlackDoctor.org. “During a tragedy, it is easy to neglect your well-being. Make sure you are eating healthily and getting the rest and sleep your body needs to function. Taking care good care of yourself is the first step in recovery,” she added.
That said, it’s important to remember that you are not alone. “In the aftermath of a tragedy, the world can feel like a dark and lonely place,” said Lohmann. “When you connect with others who have experienced something similar, it reminds you that you are not alone and that you will make it through this difficult time. Get plugged into a support group as they will help you connect, share experiences and make new friends. Doing life together is way better than doing it alone.”
Therein lies the importance of support systems. Of creating strong support systems, Lohmann said, “[support systems] can help decrease anxiety and depression and increase confidence and self-esteem — by reaching out to family members, friends and acquaintances that you know and trust.” Because “together anything is possible,” added Lohmann.
Not big on asking for help? Keep in mind that there are many local resources one can take advantage of. “During a natural disaster, a lot of people may be tapping into these large organizations for resources, but don’t get discouraged. You don’t have to stick with one organization for help. Whether it’s FEMA, American Red Cross, or the United Way, you can go to multiple places to get the assistance that you need,” she said.
Lohmann suggests creating an itemized list of “your most immediate survival needs.” Think, shelter, food, baby formula, medications, and clothing, as these items are essentials for survival.
All-in-all, remember that recovery is a journey. “Everyone copes differently after a traumatic event. If you find that you are having a difficult time functioning, that you have lost interest in things that you once enjoyed and you are depressed often, you may want to seek counseling,” explains Lohann. “It takes time to find your new “norm” after a disaster. This event will forever be a part of your life, but it doesn’t have to ‘be’ your life. Build yourself up by reminding yourself that you are strong, resilient and more importantly you are a survivor.”
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