Not only do disasters like hurricanes and wildfires wash away property and threaten lives, but they can also torment the mental health of victims for a lifetime.
In 2022, Ahren and Jaime Surgent lost everything after Hurricane Ian swept through Southwest Florida, USA. With winds reaching 241 km/h, the storm blew out windows and destroyed every item in their home.
Weather disasters can cause both physical and mental harm to people. (Photo: The Washington Post).
Ahren, a local firefighter with an average income, could not afford to rebuild his home while the insurance company sought ways to deny compensation for the disaster. The Ahren family had to live in a trailer for two years until they received charitable donations sufficient to build a new house.
Millions of others in Florida also had to rebuild their homes after the storm, an experience that drained them both mentally and financially. Residents fear what the next hurricane season might bring, according to The Washington Post.
“If it happens again… we will consider moving,” said Jaime Surgent, 38. “My mental health can’t withstand another storm like that.”
Ahren and Jaime Surgent’s house rebuilt after being destroyed by the storm. (Photo: The Washington Post).
People often think of the physical damage and health issues that natural disasters can bring. However, most overlook the mental consequences. Studies show that the mental state of victims who have experienced a disaster, be it a hurricane, flood, or earthquake, tends to deteriorate, leading to anxiety, stress disorders, and even cognitive decline. These mental injuries can last a lifetime.
Friends, family, and the surrounding community are key to helping disaster victims maintain their mental well-being and housing stability in an era of climate crisis.
Psychological Harm
In 2014, a storm hit the city of Burlington, Ontario, Canada. In just one day, this disaster unleashed rainfall equivalent to the total average rainfall for two months in the area. The storm caused flash floods affecting 3,500 homes and damaged all vehicles on the road.
Blair Feltmate, a researcher at the University of Waterloo, wondered what happened to the residents after the storm. He knocked on doors and asked: How are you doing? The responses revealed surprising results.
“People said the storm was ‘the worst thing I’ve ever been through,’” Feltmate recounted. Data indicated that 50% of households affected by the storm experienced extreme anxiety every time it rained. “They are still suffering even after the storm has passed.”
Those who have experienced weather disasters report living in anxiety and fear whenever it rains. (Photo: iStock).
Another study conducted in 2021 also found that 50% of respondents reported still experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety nearly two years after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans. This research indicates that psychological trauma can torment victims for a lifetime.
Not only for those who directly experienced the disaster, David Laplante’s research suggests that fetuses can be affected if their mothers experience extreme weather phenomena during pregnancy.
Laplante is a senior researcher at the Women’s Health Research Institute. Her research focused on the impacts of the 1998 snowstorm in Canada on victims. She interviewed and studied 89 pregnant women and their children to determine the long-term consequences of the snowstorm.
The results showed that some children, even though they did not directly experience the storm, faced issues with stress disorders and had slower cognitive development than their peers. If they encountered psychological issues, they were likely to experience more severe and difficult-to-address problems.
Two Lines of Defense in Disasters
Laplante’s research also indicated a positive sign about measures to mitigate damage after storms for the affected population. Not all mothers or fetuses were impacted by the 1998 snowstorm.
Only one-third of the pregnant women in Laplante’s study described the 1998 snowstorm as “a negative experience.” The rest characterized the disaster as a “neutral” or “positive” experience. They received support from close friends, family, and people around them. These mothers benefited from a network of relationships and abundant economic resources, making it easier for them to find a safer shelter.
According to The Washington Post, humanity is entering an era filled with weather disasters such as storms, floods, droughts, tornadoes, and wildfires. However, there are two lines of defense protecting people from natural disasters.
Friendly friends and neighbors can help each other recover after disasters. (Photo: iStock).
First, according to Feltmate, is the physical protective barrier. He noted that the floods in Burlington divided residents into two groups: one that had installed flood protection measures in their homes and one that had not. The first group suffered minimal damage while the second group watched their money and valuable possessions swept away by the floods.
His research shows that this experience can “torment” the mental state of those affected for many years. “The stress levels of people who had protected their homes from floods were nearly zero. For them, disasters left no significant impact.”
Second, according to Maese—head of the research team at Gallu Market Research—is social relationships. This is a factor that helps people survive calamities and even thrive.
While money can provide many benefits, according to Maese, it is still not enough. Friends and friendly neighbors can help residents clean up debris, trim broken branches, and even offer temporary shelter until they find stable housing. This can transform a dreadful disaster experience into a beautiful memory in some aspects.
