In all my days I have never witnessed the intense, dangerous and traumatic weather and earth changes we have had these last 5 years.
Events such as the Tsnunami in 2004, Katrina in 2005, are only the tip of the iceberg. Last year, the world experienced approximately 700 natural disasters50 more than the annual average during the 1990s. The magnitude of the events that occurred and recent trends lend weight to the fact that such incidents are growing not only in number, but also in size.
By exploiting our natural resources, humans have degraded the environment and destroyed natural buffers that help to reduce the impacts of certain hazards. Greenhouse-gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels are changing our climate. The cutting of timber on hillsides is magnifying the impact of landslides. The draining of wetlands has amplified the effects of flooding.
Population growth and urbanization are also major contributors to our increase in vulnerability. Higher concentrations of people living in urban areas means that if disasters do hit, they affect a larger number of individuals. Urban sprawl has led to more development in high-risk areas, such as flood plains. Over-reliance on technologies, such as structures that divert floodwaters, has also encouraged development that might otherwise not have taken place....making the potential impact of a disaster even greater. Other factors include our aging population and our aging infrastructure, both of which are more susceptible to harm.
Natural disasters can be especially traumatic for children and youth. Experiencing a dangerous or violent flood, storm, wildfire, or earthquake is frightening even for adults, and the devastation to the familiar environment (i.e., home and community) can be long lasting and distressing. Often an entire community is impacted, further undermining a childs sense of security and normalcy. These factors present a variety of unique issues and coping challenges, including issues associated with specific types of natural disasters, the need to relocate when home and/or community have been destroyed, the role of the family in the trauma, emotional reactions, and coping techniques.
Children look to adults in their lives for guidance on how to manage their reactions after the immediate threat is over. Schools can help play an important role in this process by providing a stable, familiar environment. Through the support of caring adults school personnel can help children return to normal activities and routines (to the extent possible), and provide an opportunity to transform a frightening event into a learning experience.
Immediate response efforts should emphasize teaching effective coping strategies, fostering supportive relationships, and helping children understand the disaster event. Collaboration between the school crisis response team and an assortment of community, state, and federal organizations and agencies is necessary to respond to the many needs of children, families, and communities following a natural disaster. Healing in the aftermath of a natural disaster takes time; however, advanced preparation and immediate response will help coping and healing.
By being aware of natural hazards and how the decisions we make affect our vulnerability, the human and economic toll they impose upon us can be greatly reduced.
That old Boy Scout motto "be prepared" has never been more useful.
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