Subscribe
Potentially traumatic events can occur at any time during military service, downrange or in garrison. These experiences sometimes cause stress reactions that negatively impact psychological health. Potentially traumatic events can occur close to home, too.
Natural and human-made disasters occur in the world every day. These include hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, industrial accidents, terrorist attacks, and mass shootings. Just like deployment-related events, these can result in:
-Fear for one's life
-Exposure to death
-Feelings of extreme loss
-Disruption of social and community life
-Ongoing stress and hardship
If you are a member of the National Guard or Reserve, these events and their consequences are particularly relevant, as you may be activated to respond to a disaster that has impacted your home and family.
SHORT-TERM STRESS REACTIONS
Disasters are stressful, and their after-effects can be just as challenging. These may include destruction of your home, evacuation, water and food shortages, loss of electricity, and disrupted telecommunications services. Short-term stress reactions can cause:
Worry and anxiety
Sadness
Grief
Survivor's guilt
Irritability and anger
Sleep and appetite changes
Watch for these common warning signs in yourself and your loved ones. Talk with a health care provider if you feel significant distress or your stress reactions interfere with daily life. Talking with a provider can prevent further complication and accelerate return to full functioning.
LONG-TERM CHALLENGES AND STRESS REACTION
Stress reactions can continue even after basic needs like food, water, electricity, and shelter return. Some reactions may not surface for days, weeks, or even months after the disaster. You may continue to struggle with loss, injuries, or fear that a disaster will recur.
Stress reactions that persist for an extended period could indicate more serious psychological health concerns like:
-Adjustment Disorder
-Major Depressive Disorder
-Substance Use Disorder
-PTSD
It is important to get help early for psychological concerns to prevent worsening conditions and feel better sooner.
HELPING YOUR FAMILY COPE
Disasters can place strain on your entire family so watch for stress reactions in loved ones. Younger family members show stress in many ways. Babies and toddlers may cry more often; young children may reenact traumatic events in play; older children may engage in risky behaviors, like substance misuse. Visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency for more information about helping children cope with disaster (https://www.fema.gov/fact-sheet/helping-children-cope-disaster).
COPING AND RECOVERING
Coping after a disaster can be difficult. The following can help:
-Social support: Spending time with neighbors, friends and family can help you get through hard times. If they are coping with the same disaster, they likely understand what you are feeling.
-Positive attitude: Those who expect that things will work out are more likely to cope well and recover more quickly.
-Confidence in your ability to face challenges: If you believe you can handle anything, you also tend to cope better.
If you or a loved one needs additional support, contact the Psychological Health Resource Center (https://www.health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Centers-of-Excellence/Psychological-Health-Center-of-Excellence/Psychological-Health-Resource-Center) 24/7 to confidentially speak with trained health resource consultants. Call 866-966-1020 or use the Live Chat (https://home-c72.niceincontact.com/incontact/chatclient/index.html).
Remember, 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (https://988lifeline.org/) provides 24/7, free and confidential support via phone or chat for people in distress, resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. For the Veterans/Military Crisis Line (https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/), dial 988 (tel:988) and press 1 or text 838255. You can also chat online. For OCONUS calling options and online chat accessible from anywhere in the world, visit https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help-now/military-crisis-line/.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
-FEMA (https://www.fema.gov/assistance/individual)
-Coping with Disaster (https://www.ready.gov/coping-disaster)
-Helping Children Cope with Disaster (https://www.fema.gov/fact-sheet/helping-children-cope-disaster)
-Disaster Preparedness: Resources (https://www.militaryonesource.mil/moving-pcs/disaster-preparedness/resources/)
-CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response (https://www.cdc.gov/emergency/index.html)
-Department of Housing and Urban Development: Disaster Resources (https://www.hud.gov/info/disasterresources)
-Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Disaster Preparedness, Response, Recovery, and Mitigation (www.samhsa.gov/disaster-preparedness)
-DHA App Library (https://mobile.health.mil/)
Breathe2Relax (https://mobile.health.mil/Apps/PWA-Apps/Breathe-2-Relax)
Dream EZ (https://mobile.health.mil/Apps/PWA-Apps/DreamEZ)
Virtual Hope Box (https://mobile.health.mil/Apps/Native-Apps/Virtual-Hope-Box)
Sources:
Begum, T. F., Lin, Z., Primeau, M., & Lin, S. (2022). Assessing short-term and long-term mental health effects among older adults after Hurricane Sandy. The Science of the total environment, 825, 153753. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153753
D'Souza, J. M., Long, L. J., Richardson, A. L., & Gallagher, M. W. (2023). Hope, optimism, and self-efficacy predicting mental health and illness in a community sample exposed to Hurricane Harvey. Journal of community psychology, 51(7), 2774–2789. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.23075
Keya, T. A., Leela, A., Habib, N., Rashid, M., & Bakthavatchalam, P. (2023). Mental Health Disorders Due to Disaster Exposure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cureus, 15(4), e37031. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.37031
Mash, H. B. H., Fullerton, C. S., Adler, A. B., Morganstein, J. C., Reissman, D. B., Biggs, Q. M., La Croix, C. L., Blumhorst, A., & Ursano, R. J. (2024). Types of COVID-19 Disaster Work and Psychological Responses in National Guard Service Members. Military medicine, 189(11-12), e2692–e2699. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usae228
Mash, H. B. H., Morganstein, J. C., Fullerton, C. S., & Ursano, R. J. (2023). COVID-19 Pandemic Responses among National Guard Service Members: Stressors, Coping Strategies, Sleep Difficultiesand Substance Use. International journal of environmental research and public health, 20(9), 5731. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20095731
Powell, T., Wegmann, K. M., & Backode, E. (2021). Coping and Post-Traumatic Stress in Children and Adolescents after an Acute Onset Disaster: A Systematic Review. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(9), 4865. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094865
Saeed, S. A., & Gargano, S. P. (2022). Natural disasters and mental health. International review of psychiatry (Abingdon, England), 34(1), 16–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2022.2037524
Shang, F., Kaniasty, K., Cowlishaw, S., Wade, D., Ma, H., & Forbes, D. (2022). The impact of received social support on posttraumatic growth after disaster: The importance of both support quantity and quality. Psychological trauma : theory, research, practice and policy, 14(7), 1134–1141. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000541
Takagi, Y., Takahashi, S., Fukuo, Y., Arai, T., & Tachikawa, H. (2021). Acute-Stage Mental Health Symptoms by Natural Disaster Type: Consultations of Disaster Psychiatric Assistance Teams (DPATs) in Japan. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(23), 12409. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312409
--
Stay up-to-date on the Real Warriors Campaign. Sign up for our email list or give us a follow on social media:
- Email list (https://health.mil/PHCoESubscribe)
- Facebook @RealWarriors (https://www.facebook.com/realwarriors/)
- Instagram @RealWarriorsCampaign (https://www.instagram.com/RealWarriorsCampaign)
For additional resources, visit health.mil/RealWarriors.
| Date Taken: | 06.18.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.29.2025 08:03 |
| Story ID: | 548299 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 20 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Understanding and Coping with Natural and Human-Made Disasters, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
