Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
The Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS) is part of the Uniformed Services University’s Department of Psychiatry

Safety, Recovery and Hope After Hurricanes
Harvey, Irma, Katia and Maria:
Helping Communities and Families
Complex disasters, such as hurricanes,
present a cascade of impacts to thoseaffected, including individuals, families andcommunities. These disasters often promote
feelings of fear, confusion, grief, helplessness,anxiety, anger, guilt and even diminishedconfidence in self or others. In order tocounter these effects, disaster experts endorse
an approach called Psychological First Aid(PFA), which can help reduce negative
feelings and foster one’s sense of safety,recovery and hope.

PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID
Psychological First Aid (PFA) similiarly
promotes a sense of neighborhood stability
during periods of challenge. PFA seeks torestore: (1) safety, (2) calming,(3) connectedness to others,(4) empowerment, and (5) hopefulness.

DON’T:■ Force people to share their stories withyou (this may decrease calmness inpeople who are not ready to share theirexperiences).

DO:■ Help people meet basic needs for food & shelter, andemergency medical attention. Provide, simple andaccurate information on how to obtain these (safety).
■ Listen to people who wish to share their stories andemotions; remember there is no wrong or right way tofeel (calming).
■ Be friendly and compassionate even if people are being
difficult (calming).
■ Continue to provide accurate information about thedisaster or trauma and the relief efforts to help people
understand the situation (calming).
■ Help people contact friends or loved ones
(connectedness).
■ Keep families together -- children with parents or otherclose relatives whenever possible (connectedness).
■ Give practical suggestions that encourage people to meettheir own needs (empowerment).
■ Direct people to locations of available services(government and non-government (hopefulness).
■ Remind people (if you know) that more help andservices are on the way (hopefulness).

■ Give simple reassurances like “everything will be ok”

or “at least you survived” (statements like these tend todiminish calmness).
■ Tell people what they should be feeling, thinking or
doing or how they should have acted earlier (thisdecreases self-efficacy).
■ Make promises that may not be realistic (un-kept
promises decrease hope).
■ Criticize existing services or relief activities in frontof people in need of these services (this may decrease
hopefulness or decrease calming).
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR RECOVERY
What do I do in a power outage?
■ Disconnect appliances to protect from surges■ Secure electronic files containing important documents
and pictures.
■ Consume food from refrigerator first, then freezer, andthen non-perishables. Open the refrigerator and freezer
as little as possible.
■ If your home is cold, only use heating units approved
for indoor use.
■ Keep your cell phone charged and let family and friends
know how you are doing.
■ Do not run portable generators inside home.
Continued

I still have power and my home didn’t flood, whatshould I do?
■ Drive only when necessary; keep the roads clear for first
responders.
■ Send text message vs. voice messages to preserve
communication networks.
■ Consider social media as way to let family and friends
know you are safe.
What do I do when I come home after an evacuation?
■ Identify the closest open hospital.
■ Keep children and pets safe with family or friends while
you check on your home.
■ If your home was flooded, don’t turn on water, gas, andelectricity until properly inspected.
■ Let loved ones know where you are and have a backup
communication plan.
■ Be prepared for the ‘unexpected’ — have extra cash, fulltank of gas, blankets, clothing and non-perishable foodon hand as conditions change.
I’m doing all right, how can I help others?
■ Check in with friends and neighbors frequently,
especially those who may need assistance.
■ Donate food, money or your time.
■ Find ways to help others help themselves.
■ Get to know those who live around you as you work
together and rebuild.

How do I communicate with my children about thedisaster?
■ Children may not understand what has happened andmay be concerned that it will happen again. They may
worry about the safety of their family, friends, or pets.
■ Listen to children, pay attention to what they say, andhow they act. Watch for trouble sleeping, irritability,sadness, anger, worry, problems in school, difficulty
concentrating and listening, and not finishingschoolwork.
■ Let children know they are not alone and provide
opportunities for them to talk about what hashappened. Answer questions simply and honestly andtell them what is being done to keep everyone safe.
■ Maintain daily routines, activities, and structure withclear expectations, consistent rules, and immediate
feedback; limit unnecessary changes.
■ Take breaks from the crisis with activities unrelated tothe event.
■ Prevent further traumatization by limiting access totelevision, the internet, or other forms of media thatshow disturbing scenes of the event.
■ Help children maintain contact with their school andfriends. Tell children how they can help, build on theirstrengths, and give simple “doable” tasks.
■ Be aware of your own thoughts, feelings, and reactions
as children will observe how you respond to the event
and it will affect how they cope and behave.

Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799
Tel: 301-295-2470 | Fax: 301-319-6965
www.CSTSonline.org