Children and families of Natural Disaster (Hurricane Katrina)

The impact is most immediate and dire for this group. Many lost their homes, lost family members and friends, and are facing the fact that the infrastructure that supported their daily lives is gone. Many of their basic physical needs are not being met, so they are at risk of dehydration, starvation or malnutrition, heat-related illnesses, and diseases and injuries related to lack of sanitation and safe housing. Schools, stores, and medical facilities are not available. There are no basic utilities to meet their needs. In addition to the fact that their basic physical needs are not met, these children have witnessed terrible events, possibly seeing death and violence, and watching the anger, frustration, and desperation of the adults around them. Some of the children have been separated from their parents or other loved ones. These experiences result in serious emotional needs that may not be met. The first priority for these children is clearly to meet their basic needs. As much as possible, these children should be protected from the physical and psychological dangers around them, but parents will need help in accomplishing that goal. The environment must make it possible for parent’s to provide the basic necessities to their children. Only after that occurs will parents be able to help the children deal with the stress and trauma.
Some families are refugees in their own state or country. Although they may have escaped the worst of the destruction, they are dealing with major losses in their lives. They may have lost their homes and other belongings. They certainly have lost their familiar routine and location. Children may not be attending school, or they may be attending a new school—an event for which they had no preparation. A difficulty in supporting these children is that their parents will also be traumatized and struggling. They have also been uprooted and have experienced major losses. The parents may feel guilt and frustration with not being able to provide everything their children need.
One study showed the estimated prevalence of serious emotional disturbances (SED) among residents of the affected areas was 14.9 percent. Of those, 9.3 percent of youths were believed to have SED that was directly attributable to Hurricane Katrina. Characteristics of SED include inappropriate behavior, depression, hyperactivity, eating disorders, fears and phobias, and learning difficulties. Stress exposure is associated strongly with serious emotional disturbances related to the hurricane.
The study found that youth who experienced death of loved one during the storm had the strongest association with SED. Exposure to physical adversity was the next strongest. The study also showed that Male and female teens who experienced the hurricane showed distinct patterns of behavioral stress as well as gender differences in how they regulated physiological stress, the study found. Specifically, compared to the children who weren't exposed to Katrina, girls who survived the hurricane were more depressed and boys showed lower levels of aggression and higher levels of confidence. Heightened stress hormonal reactions were likewise associated with depression in girls and confidence in boys.
The prevalence of serious emotional disturbances among youths exposed to Hurricane Katrina remains high 18 to 27 months after the storm. With these numbers it is suggested that a substantial need for mental health treatment resources in the hurricane-affected areas are needed. Katrina was the costliest hurricane in United States history as well as one of the five deadliest. Four years after the storm, nearly thousands of residents of Mississippi and Louisiana are still displaced from their homes. Children are still emotionally associated with the experiences of hurricane Katrina.
In comparison to another region that continues to experience natural disaster is Haiti. The Haiti earthquake that occurred in January 2010 was such a terrible earthquake. The hurricane that hit the Gulf coast in August 2005 was also a terrible natural disaster. Families were broken up; children lost their routine and had to cope with changes that were out of their control.
One of the reasons I choose this topic is that a friend of mine was affected by Katrina, she and her three children stayed with me for a while. My friend exhibit most if not all of the symptom that were stated in my research of natural disaster. She would not let her children go to school fearing that something would happen and they would be apart. The children became so fearful of any type of storm or weather forecast for serve weather. Finally all had to seek mental counseling to deal with their emotional state of coping.

References
Myers-Walls, J.A. (2004). Children as victims of war
and terrorism. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, &
Trauma, 8(1/2), 41-62.
Purdue Extension and Consumer Family Science
Child Development Studies