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Tornadoes
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Recovery: After a Tornado After a tornado, most families recover over time, particularly with the support of family, friends, and organizations. The length of recovery depends, in part, on how frightened individuals were and the extent of the damage and loss. Some families will be able to return to their normal routine rather quickly, while others will have to contend with repairing damage to their home and possessions, finding medical care, or facing financial hardship. Some families will have lost a loved one or a pet. Others will need to adjust to school closings or changes in school schedules. Children's functioning will be influenced by how their parents and other caregivers cope during and after the tornado. Children often turn to adults for information, comfort, and help. Children do best when parents and teachers remain (or at least appear) calm, answer children's questions honestly, and respond as best they can to requests.
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Children will react differently to a tornado and its aftermath depending on their age, developmental level, and prior experiences. Some will withdraw, while others will have angry outbursts. Still others will become agitated or irritable. Parents should be sensitive to each child's coping style. The following are typical reactions children exhibit following a tornado or any natural disaster: - Fear and worry about their safety or the safety of others, including pets
- Fear of separation from family members
- Clinging to parents, siblings, or teachers
- Worry that another tornado will come
- Increase in activity level
- Decrease in concentration and attention
- Withdrawal from others
- Angry outbursts or tantrums
- Aggression toward parents, siblings, or friends
- Increase in physical complaints, such as headaches and stomachaches
- Increased sensitivity to the sounds of wind or things crashing
- Change in school performance
- Long-lasting focus on the tornado, such as talking repeatedly about it or acting out the event in play
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Changes in appetite
- Lack of interest in usual activities, even playing with friends
- Regressive behaviors, such as baby talk, bedwetting, or tantrums
- Increase in teens' risky behaviors, such as drinking alcohol, using substances, harming themselves, or engaging in dangerous activities
Parents should spend time talking to their children, letting them know that it is okay to ask questions and to share their worries. Although it will be hard finding time to have these conversations, parents can use regular family mealtimes or bedtimes to talk. Issues may come up more than once and parents should remain patient and open to answering questions and clarifying the situation. They can let children know, without overwhelming them with information, what is happening in the family, with their school, and in the community. Parents should answer questions briefly and honestly and ask their children for their opinions and ideas. To help younger children feel safe and calm after talking about the tornado, parents might read a favorite story or have a relaxing family activity. To help children's recovery, parents should: - Be a role model. Try to remain calm so that you can teach your child how to handle stressful situations.
- Monitor adult conversations. Be aware of what adults are saying about the tornado or the damage. Children listen to adults' conversations and may misinterpret what they hear, becoming unnecessarily frightened.
- Limit media exposure. Protect your child from too many images and descriptions of the tornado, including those on television, on the Internet, on radio, and in the newspaper.
- Reassure children that they are safe. You may need to repeat this frequently even after the tornado passes. Spend extra time with them, playing games outside, reading together indoors, or just cuddling. Be sure to tell them you love them.
- Replace lost or damaged toys as soon as you are able.
- Calm worries about their friends' safety. Even though phones may not be working, reassure your children that their friends' parents are taking care of them, just the way you are taking care of your children.
- Tell children about community recovery. Reassure them that the government is working hard to restore electricity, phones, water, and gas. Tell them that the town or city will be removing debris and helping families find housing.
- Take care of your children's health. Help them get enough rest, exercise, and healthy food and water. Give them both quiet and physical activities.
- Review the family preparedness plan. Some children will fear another tornado, particularly when there are aftershocks, so practicing the plan can help increase their sense of safety.
- Maintain regular daily life. In the midst of disruption and change, children feel more secure with structure and routine. As much as possible, have regular mealtimes and bedtimes.
- Maintain expectations. Stick to your family rules about good behavior and respect for others. Continue family chores, but keep in mind that children may need more reminding than usual.
- Encourage children to help. Children cope better and recover sooner when they help others. Give them small cleanup tasks or other ways to contribute. Afterward, provide activities unrelated to the tornado, such as playing cards or reading.
- Be extra patient as your children return to school. They may be more distracted and need extra help with homework for a while.
- Give support at bedtime. Children may be more anxious when separating from parents. Spend a little more time than usual talking, cuddling, or reading. Start the bedtime routine earlier so children get the sleep they need. If younger children need to sleep with you, let them know it is a temporary plan, and that soon they will go back to sleeping in their own beds.
- Help with boredom. The tornado may have disrupted the family's daily activities (watching television, playing on the computer, and having friends over) or caused the suspension of extracurricular activities (sports, youth groups, dances, or classes). Help children think of alternative activities, such as board games, card games, and arts and crafts. Try to find community programs (at the library, a park program, or a local YMCA) with child-friendly activities.
- Keep things hopeful. Even in the most difficult situation, your positive outlook on the future will help your children see good things in the world around them, helping them through challenging times.
- Seek professional help if your child still has difficulties more than six weeks after the tornado.
If children are still having the reactions described above more than six weeks after the tornado, consult a mental health professional for an evaluation. If the clinician recommends counseling, keep in mind that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has the strongest evidence for helping children recover from a disaster. Therapy for children should typically include: - Family involvement
- Awareness of the child's developmental level and cultural/religious differences
- Assessment of preexisting mental health problems, including prior traumas and loss
- Explanation and normalization of the child's psychological reactions to the tornado
- Relaxation exercises and other skills to manage reactions to reminders of the tornado
- Problem-solving and anger-management skills as needed
- Helping to maintain normal developmental progression
- Increasing positive activities and rebuilding social connections
Parents have a tendency to neglect their own needs during a crisis. To take good care of their children, parents must take good care of themselves. Here are some things for parents to keep in mind: - Take care of yourself physically. Eat healthily, get enough sleep, drink plenty of water, and get proper medical care.
- Support each other. Parents and caregivers should take time to talk together and find ways to meet each other's needs.
- Put off major decisions. Avoid making any life-altering decisions during this stressful posttornado period.
- Give yourself a break. Try not to overdo cleanup activities. To reduce injury, avoid lifting heavy items or working for extended periods.
- In a school with many students affected by an tornado, plan shorter lessons, go at a slower pace, give less homework than usual, and expect a decline in performance for a short time.
- Identify students who had direct experience with the tornado, particularly those who suffered losses or had to evacuate, as they are at increased risk for distress.
- Monitor conversations you and your colleagues have about the tornado, as you may share perceptions, feelings, and memories in ways that make children feel more anxious.
- Encourage distressed students to meet with the school counselors.
- Stay in touch with your students' parents and/or caregivers about academic performance and behavior.
- Suggest that your school review its crisis and emergency plans in order to better respond to future events.
- For those schools heavily affected by an tornado, consider a postdisaster mental health recovery program for students and school personnel. The NCTSN provides information on these programs and other material for educators in the Resources for School Personnel section of this website.
Teachers play an important role in helping their students recover. Simply returning to school promotes the welfare of children and families. Teachers should not neglect themselves as they work with children, adolescents, and families. Here are some self-care suggestions for teachers: - Take care of yourself emotionally. You and your family may have had a stressful experience and suffered losses like those of your students. To be able to support them, you must have support yourself.
- Take care of yourself physically. Eat healthily, get enough sleep, drink plenty of water, and get proper medical care.
- Communicate with others. Make sure that you and your fellow teachers schedule ongoing times to talk together and give each other support. Teachers might consider covering for each other, so that they can address important personal/family issues that arise.
- Give yourself a break. Try not to overdo cleanup activities. To reduce injury, avoid lifting heavy items or working for extended periods.
- Put off major decisions. Avoid making any life-altering decisions during this stressful, posttornado period.
- Take care of your own family. Even though you may be very committed to your students, you also need to spend time with and meet the needs of your own family members or friends.
- If you have many tornado-related responsibilities, talk with your school administrators about temporarily altering your work schedule.
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