Millions of people are reeling from the heartbreak left behind by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. In the Carolinas, Helene left entire communities submerged by floodwaters and cut off from aid with people waiting to be rescued with no access to food, power, or fuel. In Georgia and Tennessee, damage from downed trees and flooding have left neighborhoods unrecognizable. In Florida, cars are buried in sand and homes have been gutted by the massive storm surge. Rescues are underway in Florida as the extent of damage and deaths from Milton are still unfolding. Hurricane Milton knocked out power to more than 3 million customers, flooded barrier islands, tore the roof off a baseball stadium and toppled a construction crane. Many are missing, possibly unable to leave their location or unable to contact family where communications infrastructure is inoperable. AAMFT will shortly release information on its partnership with the Red Cross letting AAMFT members know how they can help by volunteering in the impacted areas.
Following are ways for you to donate, volunteer, or get resources on helping families navigate this challenging and life-changing time.
- Make a donation to the Red Cross here for hurricane relief.
Resources and Information
Disastershock: How to Cope with the Emotional Stress of a Major Disaster has a systemic, trauma-informed, and evidence-based foundation, making the manual an excellent resource for MFTs. This resource was produced by AAMFT members who serve on the board for the Institute for School-based Family Counseling and are part of the Disastershock Global Volunteer Team, which has members from 16 countries.
From AAMFT’s Family Therapy Magazine
Helping Families Cope with Disasters
An Overview of the Red Cross and Disaster Mental Health
Systemic Therapists on the Frontlines of Climate Change
Attending to the Whole System: Eco-Informed Family Therapy
Tips for Parenting During Times of Crisis
- Model calm and control. Reassure children that they are safe and so are the other important adults in their lives.
- Talk with your children about crisis events. Take some time and determine what you wish to say. This is especially true since new information will unfold each day. Provide brief, accurate, and age-appropriate information. Don’t dwell on the scale or scope of the tragedy, particularly with young children.
- Keep your explanations developmentally appropriate. Early elementary school children need brief, simple information that should be balanced with reassurances that their lives will not change. Upper elementary school children will be more vocal in asking questions about their safety and what is being done. They may need assistance separating reality from fantasy.
- Understand what your child is asking. Difficult questions that children ask may be spurred by curiosity or feelings. Rather than plunging into an immediate answer, learn what motivates the question. Ask, “What made you think of that?” or “What ideas do you have?” Once the meaning of a question is known, it is easier to answer effectively.
- There may be questions we cannot answer. Rather than invent a response, it is more helpful to say, “I don’t know,” or “I’ll try to find out.”
- Acknowledge, validate, and accept your child’s feelings. He or she may be feeling confused, frightened, or even excited. Listen calmly and reassuringly as they express their thoughts and feelings.
- Limit the amount of your child’s television viewing of these events. If they must watch, watch with them for a brief time; then turn the set off. Young children should not be allowed to watch TV coverage of the event, as they are too young to process what they are seeing and hearing.
- Maintain a “normal” routine. To the extent possible, stick to your family’s normal routine for dinner, homework, chores, bedtime, etc. Children feel secure when routines are calmly followed.
- Spend extra time reading or playing quiet games with your children before bed without the television or news radio on. These activities are calming, foster a sense of closeness and security, and reinforce a sense of normalcy.
First Responder Toolkit: A free app for those deployed to emergency response events
Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Volunteers
From AAMFT: MFT Volunteer Opportunities with the American Red Cross
Trauma Informed Care: A downloadable, comprehensive, and free guide to TIC
Psychological First Aid: A downloadable, comprehensive, and free guide to PFA
SAMHSA Resources by Disaster Type
SAMHSA Disaster Response Helpline (call or text): 1-800-985-5990
SAMHSA Disaster Response Overview
Doing What Matters in Times of Stress: An Illustrated Guide (from the World Health Organization). A stress management guide for coping with adversity. The guide aims to equip people with practical skills to help cope with stress. A few minutes each day is enough to practice the self-help techniques. Informed by evidence and extensive field testing, the guide is for anyone who experiences stress, wherever they live and whatever their circumstances.
Pan American Health Organization: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies (MHPSS). Health emergencies, natural and socio-environmental disasters, armed conflicts, and various migratory phenomena may cause severe suffering in affected populations. The psychological and social effects of emergencies can be severe in the short term, but they can also affect people in the long term. Protecting and improving people's mental health and psychosocial well-being is therefore a priority in emergencies.
Disaster Preparation
AARP offers tips on how to protect your important papers and property:
Protect Your Important Papers and Property
Information on preparing your office for an emergency:
8 Tips on Preparing your Office for an Emergency
Be prepared before the next storm. The Red Cross offers tips on “How to Prepare for a Hurricane”
Ways to donate and help
How to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene: Charities, organizations to support relief efforts
Pet Rescue
For those interested in helping pets impacted by the hurricane, a Virginia-based pet rescue organization is receiving cats and dogs from flood-impacted states and is in need of donations to care for the influx of arriving pets. Learn more in “Cats and dogs from flood-ravaged North Carolina find hope in Fairfax”
Homeward Trails: Donate