1 COPING WITH DISASTERS COPING WITH DISASTERS Physical and emotional reactions often occur as a result of a natural emergency or traumatic event such as a terrorist attack. These reactions may happen immediately or weeks or months after an event. Traumatic stress reactions can happen to people of any age and can change a person's behavior, thoughts and physical health. Common Responses The physical effects caused by a traumatic event include: • Rapid heartbeat • Increased respiratory rate • Shortness of breath • Nausea • Muscle and joint aches • Tremors • Headaches Seek medical attention if any of these symptoms persist. Thoughts, behaviors and emotions may also change. These changes include: • Flashbacks or re-experiencing the event • Withdrawal from normal social relations • Performance problems at work or school • Loss or increase in appetite • Difficulty sleeping or nightmares • Feeling overwhelmed, hopeless, numb • Being extremely anxious, fearful, agitated or irritable • Feeling depressed • Increased consumption of alcohol or prescribed, over-the-counter or illicit drugs Local officials are the best source of information. Follow their instructions during and after emergencies regarding sheltering, food, water, and cleanup. What You Can Do for Yourself There are many things you can do to cope with traumatic events. • Understand that your symptoms may be normal, especially right after the trauma. • Keep to your usual routine. • Take the time to resolve day-to-day conflicts so they do not add to your stress. • Do not shy away from situations, people and places that remind you of the trauma. • Find ways to relax and be kind to yourself. • Turn to family, friends, and clergy for support, and talk about your experiences and feelings with them. • Participate in leisure and recreational activities. • Recognize that you cannot control everything. • Recognize the need for trained help, and call a local mental health center. What You Can Do for Your Child • Let your child know that it is okay to feel upset when something bad or scary happens. • Encourage your child to express feelings and thoughts, without making judgments. • Return to daily routines. Although Utah's precipitation is the second lowest in the country, its flooding history is significant. More than 1,400 cloudburst floods have been recorded in the last 135 years, but major floods in Utah are almost always the result of rapidly melting snow in the late spring and early summer. Prior to the flooding of 1983 and 1984, floods along the Wasatch Front in 1952 were the most severe in the history of the state, with a damage total of almost $7 million. Federal, state, local governments and private citizens paid more than $500 million to recover from Utah's flood disasters in 1983 and 1984. Both disasters occurred due to unusually thick snow pack and continued record precipitation throughout the spring. -16- 17-