Hurricane Michael and Stress

‘Hurricane Michael: Stress and Destruction’

On October 10, 2018 Hurricane Michael hit Panama City, Florida and surrounding areas with vicious 155 mile per hour winds and massive destruction. Weather authorities are still attempting to determine whether this was a category four or category five storm; it is clear that there were associated tornadoes in this hostile weather event. I am a member of that Panama City community and a retired Air Force Mental Health practitioner. My wife and I remained in our home during the Hurricane and experienced frightening winds and rain. I recall my wife’s saying to me ‘what is that sound in the attic?’ I thought something stupid like some of the Christmas boxes were bouncing around. As it ends up, the winds, possibly tornadic winds, tore off our chimney and surrounding roof area, leaving a 1,000-pound piece of debris in our side yard; not only was the chimney removed but most of the large aluminum ducting that ran from the roof to the fireplace was also violently lifted and removed to the side yard. I had water pouring out of an air conditioning vent in the spare bedroom; I personally removed 30 gallons of water from that leak. Our neighborhood was devastated with an unbelievable amount of roof damage, damage from fallen trees, seriously damaged garage doors and a lot of water damage inside homes. I am writing this on March 18, 2019, more than five months after the storm and it is clear at this point that we are dealing with a protracted, very stressful event that has altered the environment in Panama City Florida dramatically. Nothing looks the way it used to and on numerous occasions I have missed the turn off to my house because I do not recognize the area, primarily because of the lack of trees. The demeanor of the area is one of damage, destruction, and loss. I run seven mornings a week on one of the main east-west corridores in Panama City and even now there are piles of debris and gutted buildings everywhere. I have several neighbors who are still unable to occupy their homes and are essentially displaced while the entire interior of their homes gets renovated from water and wind damage.

Since January 1 2019 we have had 12 to 13 deaths in our church, the majority of those being elderly church attendees.

Stressors

There are many intertwined situations related to this hurricane that come together and are now obviously creating a protracted stress syndrome for those of us who live here. Some of the stressors include:

·       The psycho emotional trauma of surviving this storm and experiencing the destruction involved.

·       It is highly likely that many of us are experiencing some degree of posttraumatic stress disorder that is directly related to the storn itself and its results. This so-called disorder helps to perpetuate the recollection of the toxic events and becomes a stressor in and of itself. In my own personal situation, I look back on the event in utter disbelief …

·       Having ongoing contacts with friends who have nowhere to live or who are living in their driveways in a rented RV.

·       The numerous visual reminders of the traumatic storm including the majority of trees being destroyed, buildings of all sizes being heavily damaged or destroyed, and piles of debris in many places.

·       Knowing that 12 or 13 of our church members have died since January 2019, in all likelihood these are related in a minor or primary way to the stress of the Hurricane.

·       The fact that the disaster relief workers from all over the country have been working and in some cases are still working to support individuals and families with repairs, food, and emotional support. While this is a supremely positive issue, it is also a reminder of the extent of the disaster.

·       The fact that my own church has extensive damage to all of its buildings, requiring us to move all Sunday School classes; on the several Sundays immediately after Hurricane Michael hit, our pastor shared God’s Word in our parking garage.

·       The amount of tangible and physical work by homeowners in order to have a livable environment was very significant and can be very stressful. For example, many weeks of work was necessary to remove carpet, place tarps on the roof, get the trees out of my swimming pool, and correct the water chemicals when the water had turned almost black.

·       Financial strain is everywhere you turn.

·       Conflict with the insurance companies is all too common.

·       What has now happened with home repair is very important: it appears that all of the primary contractors have long waiting lists for services. Indications are that some homeowners and all of the large hotels and banks will be under construction for another year and a half or longer.

·       Many of our small businesses have gone out of business as a result of the hurricane and so, many have lost their jobs.

·       The issue that we want to keep in mind here is that it is not just one of these stressors that is the issue regarding the stress that we have to deal with; it is the synergy of all of them together, the collective effect of all of these that is exacerbated further by the length of time we need to cope with it all.

Symptoms of Stress

·       Heightened anxiety that may take the form of worry in general, occasional heart palpitations, and intrusive thoughts about some aspect of the event

·       Insomnia which may be occasional or frequent

·       Loss of appetite or overeating

·       Making unfortunate decisions that are not typical for you; so, confusion maybe an aspect of this

·       Episodes of crying

·      In predisposed individuals their anxiety may progress to a depressive state that may require the services of a professional. These negative mood states can be looked at on a continuum where there is progression from mild anxiety and discouragement to very significant dysphoric mood with depression, interruption of sleep, poor appetite, weight loss and then perhaps a suicidal thought; anytime we experience suicidal ideas, repetitive suicidal thoughts, and rehearsing such thoughts, mental health care should be part of your plan.

·       Age can be a factor in the extent to which situational stress can have adverse effects on us; it is likely true that the average 30-year-old has more stress tolerance and psychological hardiness than an 85-year-old.

 Encouraging Activities

In the midst of all this, many of us have had very positive experiences that have helped us in a major way:

·       Early on I had the pleasure of meeting a roofing and building contractor who ended up being a very competent resource for months to come. He not only replaced my roof but did the same great job for many of my friends and neighbors.

·       Also, very early on after the storm my wonderful sister and her husband from Debary Florida showed up in our driveway with a generator, gasoline and many food stuffs. This provided a tremendously positive support for us as we were able to have electricity, food, and some peace of mind.

·       Our neighbors were tremendously helpful in helping with removing debris, identifying resources, and assisting with difficult jobs.

·       In the three months or so after the storm hit we heard sirens everywhere as patients were transported out of town from our major medical center, and as public utility crews did their huge job to reestablish electrical connections, phone service and etc. These resources were from all over the country it was very encouraging to see tangible essential work being done.

·       Our church developed an outreach program targeted for individuals and families with imminent, basic needs and assistance with home and property repairs.

·       The Florida Baptist Disaster Relief Ministry, Samaritan’s Purse, and other volunteer agencies mounted a herculean effort to assist with tree cutting, home repairs, spiritual support, and providing food.

·       Our community adopted a very powerful concept called ‘850 Strong’; 850 is the area code for Panama City. So, here we have a simple and encouraging concept, a hopeful thought that we can remain strong even as a result of hurricane Michael.

Recommendations

·       Children may require special attention as a result of a traumatic event like this.

·       Children and adults alike will benefit from talking about their specific situation, perhaps in a group setting.

·       Sleeping: make every effort to get eight hours of sleep nightly; on the other hand, be aware that hypersomnia, sleeping too much can be counterproductive and contribute to depression.

·       We strongly recommend that you not use alcohol in order to cope with this issue. Also, if you are a tobacco user, that is another behavior that is not a healthy coping mechanism. If you have a problem with other drugs like cannabis, meth, cocaine, please seek professional help. Our Church has an excellent substance-abuse ministry called ‘The Most Excellent Way.’

·       We urge everyone to be physically active and consider taking brisk walks every day; exercise can be as effective as some antidepressant medications in relieving depressed mood.

·       We discourage consumption of high-fat, low nutrient processed food and fast food, when healthier food is available. Many of these unhealthy foods contribute to inflammation and decreased blood flow and inhibit the production of a healthy brain chemicals that contribute to positive mood.

·       When the opportunity is there, attempt to help others in some way; even a bit of encouragement is highly valuable for all of us.

·       Make every effort to spend some time in a neutral, attractive natural environment like a state park, the beach, or a nearby quaint town, in order to have a peaceful experience.

·       As a Christian man I strongly recommend attending church and spending time with others in a Bible Study or Sunday School class. This can be very powerful in helping us to keep a healthy perspective.

William Zahler, MSW

March 19, 2019