Hurricane Harvey’s ferocious path from Texas and Louisiana all the way Northward has been nothing less than catastrophic. Literally millions impacted to and yet extent still undetermined as search and rescue operations are still ongoing in areas that are frankly just not too far from home. My heart is so heavy for so many who have lost in ways that are unimaginable. The outpouring of help all around to meet the immediate needs has been overwhelming. But as a mental health counselor, I could not avoid thinking about the reality of trauma and the absolute fact that the emotional impact of this catastrophic event will continue to linger long after the waters recede. So, in thinking about what I could do to help on a wider scale, I found this resource published by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network about how individuals and/or parents can best care for themselves and children following such a tragedy. My hope is that if you, or someone you know, has been displaced, lost a loved one, a pet, or all of their belongings, perhaps this information will help. For more information follow this link:
http://www.nctsnet.org/print/106