Tips to Control Hurricane Anxiety

Hurricanes are fascinating, a nightmare that you wish never happened but you can't stop being amazed by their power. Hurricanes have been responsible for millions of dollars in damaged and shattered lives. Hurricanes have their own frightful personality. Each year you hope for the best and prepare for the worst. It is a different experience for each person that survives a hurricane. The first symptoms of a hurricane come before the rain or the winds hit the coast. The primary impact comes in the form of anxiety. After Andrew that anxiety grew for many people. Florida learned many lessons during Andrew. In Miami Beach there are bus stops designed for hurricane evacuation. Florida has learned from each storm a painful lesson. Everything from the shelters that work to those that fell apart. Government officials learned many lessons from how to evacuate elders from flooded facilities to the need of pet friendly shelter. Most of these lessons were learned during and after the storm. This is unacceptable.

As citizens we should expect more from our community leaders. New Orleans is a city that held a great part of our nation's spirit with its history and personality. Government officials failed to prepare and plan. The more you think about, the more anxious you become. After more than five hurricanes in one lifetime, it is from experience that I am going to tell you what has worked for us. Make a list before hurricane season begins. Know what the plan will be at a category one, two, three, four, and five. Planning is everything. Plan for the before and after the storm. Get enough supplies considering that it will take weeks to get light and water functioning again; that may not be case but you will stress less if you know you are prepare for the worst. The more you prepare yourself, the more relax you'll become. Keep things logical. Those logical decisions will ease some of your nerves. Prepare an escape route, places you would go to if the hurricane strengthens. Make a list of the things you need to do to prepare your home. That was you can see the progress as you get things done. Purchase groceries; consider that you may eat more snacks than usual to ease the anxiety. Keep plenty of healthy snacks. Purchase foods that will not go bad and know what will parish first and plan your menu accordingly. Do your homework, there are plenty of articles on when food stop being safe to consume. Have a radio because being informed may ease some anxiety. Talk to your neighbors and know their plans. If you are staying, you need to know who will be around should you need help. Tell your friends and your relatives what your plans are.

As a parent you anxiety includes the emotions and safety of the younger members of the family. Children will guide themselves by your reactions and behavior. Children need to be involved in the planning stages, make it fun. They are just as scared. I was very young during my first hurricane; my mother took me to the store for me to pick what I wanted to eat. She explained that it was going rain for a while and it would get windy. Make it a special event, not a scary one. Let them pick their own flashlight, snacks, and a few battery operated toys with lights. If the lights go out, their new toys will make it fun and not as frightening. Hurricanes can last several hours. Keep that in mind when you are planning how to keep your child focus. As a child at the beginning of the storm my mother would open the door and let me see that it was just wind and water. When the winds got loud she would remind me about the water and the wind she showed me earlier that day. She would explain that inside the house it just made more noise.

Over five hurricanes have rambled through my life. Each hurricane with its individual personality and delivered an unforgettable experience. If your anxiety becomes unbearable always remember professional help is another way to empower yourself and those around you. If you decide to stay, try your best to keep calm and ride out if the storm. In most case scenarios going outside during a storm should be a last resort. If you are inside the eye of the storm, remember the skies may be clear but the storm is not over and there plenty more to come. Consider volunteering, making donations, and helping your community become a better safer place before and after the storm. The busier you keep yourself then the less time you have to worry about those things that make your anxiety spiral out of control. Stay safe, follow the advice of community leaders, listen to your local news, and try to relax.