On average, Utah has 91 days of precipitation. This means Utah has 91 days of snow, rain, hail, or sleet on the ground. It is not a new scenario as hazards like heavy snow, blizzards, freezing rain, and lightning are pretty standard in Utah.
Storm damage in Utah brought by snow and rain can disrupt your daily activities. It doesn’t only pertain to affected electrical lines and fallen branches; it can also lead to cracks and leaks in your home. Having a post-storm fixing can be a hassle for homeowners. It means extra work and extra cost for something you didn’t ask for. However, getting help is easy now. All you have to do is call a top-rated service provider for what you need.
Other than the property damage, experiencing hazards within your state, especially hometown, can take a toll on people’s mental health. Usually, when you watch the news, the effect of natural disasters is measured in numbers-from the total cost of properties destroyed to the body count of those who didn’t make it. It does not and cannot measure the emotional state of the survivors.
After leaving people in shock, the next reaction is a combination of fear and distress. The traumatic event affects both adults and children. This is why rehabilitating the mind is just as important as rehabilitating your property. Here is a list of mental health situations people usually encounter after a natural disaster:
- The feeling of displacement and insecurity.
Home is a source of security. It is the place where people feel the most comfortable in, where they can be their most authentic selves. Every home could be a safe haven for the people who live in it. However, if a disaster strikes, all these will be gone. People will experience a sense of perplexity on where to go.
People who survived storms and other natural disasters can develop anxiety, trauma, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. As a response, field workers, including trained volunteers and health volunteers, are usually on-site to provide psychological first aid to people who are experiencing acute distress.
- The shock that stays for weeks.
One’s shock and denial after a disaster can make it difficult for the person to restart. Actions such as finding a temporary home, calling the insurance, and assessing the toll on the property can be emotionally taxing. The shock is most likely to stay for days, sometimes even months, after the disaster.
Rebuilding one’s home is a personal act; however, rebuilding the town requires a community effort. Joining or organizing a community group to talk about the experience can benefit every member of the community. It could pave the way for activities such as emergency relief training and collaborative problem-solving.
- The stress that can lead to posttraumatic stress.
It is normal to feel stressed in the aftermath of a disaster. If it stays for months, it can lead to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). People who experience PTSD could experience panic attacks, flashbacks, anxiety, and depression. This is not limited to the victims as PTSD can also affect the first responders who are at the scene, like the firefighters and the police.
People who experience the long-term effects of a disaster require psychological intervention given by medical specialists and community workers.
In the aftermath of a disaster, government efforts should be given not only to property rehabilitation but also to the rehabilitation of people’s mental state.
