Here in Virginia Beach, Hurricane Florence had us on pens and needles. I saw things I have never seen before, people’s homes were boarded up, a whole section from this town was ordered to evacuate, and meanwhile the grocery stores were bare. Residents appeared to be as prepared as they could be. Days leading up to landfall people talked about how this was the calm before the storm. There was a restless feeling inside as we waited for what potential tragedy could occur. But we waited, and to our relief in some parts it barely even rained. This impending doom pales in comparison to the thousands of families and businesses without power, areas completely flooded, and innocent lives lost. How do you plan for the life of an 8 month old to be stripped away?

These are those day to day tragic events that come into our lives unannounced (a week’s notice doesn’t prepare you for what is ahead) and leave us forever changed. Others who have been victims of Hurricane Irma, or Hurricane Harvey perhaps are still recovering whether its emotionally or physically. Fear of thunderstorms, agitation, seeing bits of the incident cross your mind or flashbacks, nightmares - these are all signs of PTSD. Natural disasters are tough places to be to sort through your feelings, questions, and grief because there is no one to blame it is just the course nature took with no regard to age, person, or gender. Yet how do you explain something so inexplicable to loved ones left without hope.

Organizations such as the Billy Graham First Responders, and the Green Cross Academy are trained individuals that deploy to help families cope during these times. In these trainings you will learn about Critical Incident Stress Management or CISM, how to provide empathy, and unconditional positive regard in the midst of a crisis, but most of all how to be a listening ear when the individual/s is ready to talk. In the midst of a crisis such as this, it is encouraging to see how we are still one nation that comes together to help our neighbor out whether if it’s through prayer, financially, through food/water, or even humanly interaction with those that do deploy to show the love, support, and comradery that says you are not alone.

If you are an able and willing body, please check out these links to see how you can provide some source of hope and relief to someone in the midst of such a difficult crisis.

Billy Graham First Responders:
https://billygraham.org/what-we-do/evangelism-outreach/rapid-response-team/training/

Green Cross Academy:
http://greencross.org/deployment-status-information/
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Melanie Mosbarger is a therapist that works with trauma-related issues as well as other mental health disorders. She uses a trauma-focused approach to help children, adolescents, and adults find the hope and healing they are seeking in their lives. For more information on her treatment modality click here.