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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 2007)
Page 8 The INDEPENDENT, December 13, 2007 When disaster strikes, coping techniques help those at ground zero Disasters such as Oregon’s recent flooding and windstorms often take an emotional toll on those in the middle of things – but there are a number of cop- ing strategies that can help ease the situation. Watching your home be- come inundated, evacuating to a shelter and returning only to discover that your house and community have been heavily damaged – these increase your stress level. When you add in speculation about the recovery work to come before life returns to normal, it can signal emo- tional overload. During a disaster, most peo- ple cope satisfactorily with situ- ations that arise. However, dur- ing the days following the storm or flooding, many people enter a state of disbelief. What hap- pened to them does not seem real. As time goes on, they may face a wide range of reactions such as anger, sadness, anxi- ety, confusion, feeling over- whelmed, forgetfulness, with- drawal, grief reactions, intru- sive thoughts, difficulty sleep- ing, physical symptoms and others. All of them are common and may be expected. Psychological resilience. Thanks to the psychological re- silience people build during their lifetime, everyone has a unique set of coping strategies for getting through difficult times such as the aftermath of a disaster. Successful coping will vary from person to person based on what helps them heal and focus on their recovery needs. Many will learn new skills, and become more re- silient as a result of their disas- ter experience. Prevention works. Staying connected to your usual social support network and using oth- er prevention techniques after a disaster may help reduce psychological reactions. Social support networks include fami- ly, friends, coworkers, schools, houses of worship and other community groups. For those temporarily separated from their networks, newfound dis- aster survivor colleagues can also provide mutual social sup- port. Both receiving and provid- ing support can be strengthen- ing. Other steps for successful coping following disaster in- clude: • Acknowledging symptoms and recognizing that they are normal. • Stopping to consider, then applying past successful ways of coping. • Developing a recovery plan and other positive goal-directed activity, and proceeding for- ward in reasonably sized steps. • Finding ways to get back into a daily routine. • Eating regularly and getting enough sleep and exercise. • Remembering to take regu- lar medications. • Scheduling breaks from disaster recover efforts and making time to pursue activities enjoyed before the disaster. • Maintaining a positive atti- tude and good self-esteem, fo- cusing on successes rather than dwelling on what has been successful. • Avoiding poor coping strategies, such as social isola- tion, alcohol and recreational drugs, taking frustrations out on others and becoming a “worka- holic.” Care for serious symptoms. After a disaster, some people will experience more serious symptoms and benefit by con- sulting with behavioral health professionals. Signs of concern could be crying uncontrollably for days, disorientation, becom- ing seriously withdrawn, ne- glecting basic self-care, using alcohol or drugs to excess, thoughts of harming yourself or others, or simply being dissatis- fied with current coping abili- ties. People on medication to control mental health condi- tions are advised to contact their medical providers to de- termine if adjustments are needed based on how they are being affected by the disaster and its aftermath. Contact your county mental health care provider for assis- tance. In Vernonia, crisis coun- seling is available at Cedar Ridge from the Red Cross and from Columbia Community Mental Health at the medical tent at Providence Medical Clinic. Written by Laurel Hughes, Psy. D., an Oregon licensed psychologist and is a mental health volunteer with the Amer- ican Red Cross. She has par- ticipated in some 50 disaster relief efforts since 1993 and is the primary author of the Red Cross’ Foundations of Disaster Mental Health course and has written psychology textbooks. Well-owners advised to take safety precautions after recent storms The Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) Public Health Division is reminding flood-affected Oregonians who depend on private well water to take precautions to avoid wa- ter-borne infections and ensure the safety of food. Flooding can temporarily contaminate well water with co- liform bacteria. Bacteria from flood waters could enter the well. Before using well water it is important to disinfect and flush the entire system and then sample for coliform. You can find detailed procedures on how to disinfect a well at the DHS Drinking Water Program’s Web site. People who do not have ac- cess to the Web can call 971- 673-0405 during normal busi- ness hours, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for technical advice on how to disinfect their well. For more information on well VERNONIA INN Enjoy a quiet weekend with us. FULL SIZE, IN ROOM HOT TUBS Queen Beds • Private Bath • Separate Entrance Cable TV • Phones • Handicapped Access • Commercial Rates FOR RESERVATIONS CALL 1-800-354-9494 / 503-429-4006 Gift Certificates Available 900 MADISON AVE., VERNONIA, OR 97064 Just one block off scenic Nehalem River Hwy. (Oregon 47) water, other drinking water, and food safety, go to one of these sites: http://oregon.gov/DHS/ph /dwp/tools.shtml, or http://www. bt.cdc.gov/disaster/foodwater, or http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fac t_Sheets/keeping_food_Safe_ during_an_emergency/index.a sp. Protective clean-up guidelines offered The Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) issued protective guidelines, last week, for home and business owners who are doing clean-up work on their properties after the recent storm. Always wear waterproof gloves and footwear, long- sleeved shirts, full-length pants and protective eyewear when doing flood clean-up. Always wash hands with soap and water after flood clean-up or handling potentially contaminated articles. It is also important to clean protective gear after use. Standing water, wet building materials and furnishings are excellent environments for mi- cro-organisms such as bacte- ria, fungi and mold, says Rick Leiker, toxicology program manager in the DHS Public Health Division. “If not removed, these or- ganisms can cause allergic re- actions, diseases and asthmat- ic attacks to people after them move back into their homes and businesses,” Leiker says. To ensure a healthy indoor environment, Leiker advises: • Remove all standing water from the building. • Dry the building out as quickly as possible to prevent growth of mold and mildew. • Remove all wet materials. If articles have been soaked and cannot be dried rapidly and thoroughly, dispose of them. This includes larger absorbent materials and furniture such as sofas, mattresses, carpets, car- pet pads, as well as wallboard and all insulation materials. • Take up and remove car- pets. Clean disinfect and thor- Please see page 15 Alley Auto Wrecking ✮ ✮ Gasoline 503-429-7581 Most parts under warranty Open Tuesday-Saturday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Closed Sunday and Monday 54372 Nehalem Hwy South, Vernonia, OR 97064 6 miles south of town on Hwy 47 Buying unwanted vehicles with clear title
