Ways to Recover From Natural Disaster

Surviving a natural disaster such as a hurricane, tsunami, earthquake or tornado can be a traumatic event in and of itself. But seeing precious personal items destroyed and an entire community struggle in the aftermath can leave a lasting impression. It's not always easy for people and their communities to move forward after Mother Nature strikes, but there are several ways to recover from such an event.

Cleanup

• Cleanup is important following any natural disaster. But when flooding is involved, as is often the case in tsunamis and hurricanes, cleanup is even more important. This is because hazardous materials could also potentially be washed around within a community, causing even further damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure. When doing cleanup, it's important to wear protective clothing and handle unmarked or unknown containers with greater care. Take note of downed wires and anything that might cause greater harm, and notify the proper authorities. Cleanup is the first step to getting a community back on track.

Outside Assistance

• In the event of a natural disaster, many outside services offer aid to victims. For example, the U.S. Small Business Administration offers a variety of low-interest loans to help home and business owners repair and rebuild damaged properties. Other agencies, such as the American Red Cross, are also typically deployed to aid hard-hit areas. Additionally, people can help on an individual level by making a tax-deductible donation to organizations such as the Red Cross to help with rescue efforts. For example, over $4 billion was raised by the American public to aid relief and recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005.

Counseling

• Surviving a natural disaster can have a lasting impact on people. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it isn't uncommon for people to suffer from insomnia, depression or stress following a traumatic event. Sometimes, people just need time to work through these feelings and conditions. Other times, the situation is more drastic, and counseling should be sought. Other ways to get over a natural disaster include attempting to live life as normally as possible, such as eating healthy, exercising and accepting assistance from friends and family.

Learn From the Event

• If a certain place has been victimized by a natural disaster, there's always the chance that it could happen again. To minimize damage and speed recovery time if there is a "next time," it's important for people and their communities to learn from these unfortunate events the first time they occur. Things like safeguarding important property, boarding up doors and windows and checking insurance policies can help prevent some losses and put people on the fast track to recovery before a storm even hits.