Feeling Like Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz"
Sunday, November 3, 2024
The East Coast of Florida was fortunate that Hurricane Milton landed on the West Coast. However, we did have severe and deadly tornadoes come through our area before Hurricane Milton reached us.
Tornadoes can be even scarier than hurricanes. Entire homes were destroyed in minutes and people lost their lives. Although lasting a short time, the tornadoes were unexpected and frightening, especially for children.
In September, 2017, the East Coast experienced Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. I wrote a BLOG called "Taking a Wild Ride" that listed suggestions to eliminate anxiety in children during any dangerous weather conditions. I think it bears repeating:
1. BE INFORMED: Discuss age-appropriate information with your child. Explain what they might expect to happen. Consider purchasing books on hurricanes and tornadoes and have older children conduct research about them.
2. BE PREPARED: Create a Family Plan. Include what needs to be purchased and what needs to be accomplished for safety reasons. Give each child a specific task to complete. This will emphasize the importance of working together as a team in order to accomplish a goal and will give them some sense of control.
PROVIDE CALM SUPPORT: Acknowledge your children's feelings. Help them understand that it's normal to be anxious when you don't really know what the outcome will be. If you decide to leave the area, make it a family "adventure". If you stay, have a "We can do this together" attitude. Consider having the entire family sleep in one "safe" room. It will make them (and you!) feel more secure.
GET BACK TO NORMAL: After the storm passes, do your best to return to regular routines as soon as possible, realizing the "new normal" may be different post-storm. Spend some time debriefing with the family, sharing examples of how you worked together. Create another plan together for work that may need to be done around the house. Set realistic goals and timelines.
ASSIST THOSE IN NEED: There will always be others who have had major losses. Find ways your family can help, whether it's through a food bank in the area or organizations like the Red Cross.
