Understanding how victims respond during a disaster
Abstract
During disasters, the compassion and generosity of volunteers is demonstrated time and again. However, in order to provide adequate assistance, volunteers need to understand the emotional stages that victims experience during and following a disaster. This effective practice is excerpted, with permission, from the article, "LSU AgCenter Experts Offer Tips for Volunteering" from Louisiana State University's website. The article was written to provide information after the Hurricane Katrina disaster in September 2005.Issue
Volunteers may not know what to expect when serving during a disaster or disaster recovery mission. However, having an understanding and awareness of victims' state of mind can make a big difference during rescue and recovery operations.Action
According to Janet Fox, Associate Professor at the Louisiana State University (LSU) AgCenter's 4-H Volunteer and Leadership Development Office, and Lannette Hebert, 4-H regional coordinator for the LSU AgCenter's Southwest Region, volunteers need to know the following to be most useful during a disaster:
Recognize that victims go through several stages during and after a disaster situation, and with each stage, the needs of the victims change.
Most disaster victims experience grief expressed as denial, anger, depression and finally, acceptance.
Respect the feelings and experiences of those who lived through the disaster.
Some individuals become withdrawn and are unable to talk about the event, while others have intense feelings of anger and sadness. Not everyone has immediate reactions. Some individuals have delayed responses that show up days, weeks or even months later.
Provide a listening ear.
Try to discourage rumors, which just add to feelings of fear and abandonment for victims.
Know the factors that contribute to how a victim copes with the disaster.
Victims are more vulnerable to the effects of a disaster if they have had direct exposure to the disaster. This includes:
- Being evacuated
- Seeing injured or dying people
- Sustaining injuries themselves
- Feeling that their lives are threatened
- Experiencing personal loss, including the death or serious injury of a family member, close friend or pet
Cultivate the skills of acceptance, awareness, attentiveness and attitude.
Volunteers are often introduced to cultures that are quite different than their own, and it's important to avoid stereotypes. Although the behaviors, values and beliefs of the victims can differ greatly from the volunteers trying to serve them, volunteers should be open to learn so they can develop empathy and a greater understanding of how to serve effectively.
Context
In the past decade, there have been more than 585 major disaster declarations, and an additional 106 emergency declarations, that have disrupted the lives of Americans and tragically affected the communities where they live and work.Citation
Excerpted, with permission, from the online article, "LSU AgCenter Experts Offer Tips for Volunteering."
News Release, distributed 09/02/05
Outcome
According to Hebert, volunteers who serve- Grow to understand themselves and others
- Witness and begin to understand the issues of poverty first-hand
- See how rich their own lives are
- Experience the joy of selfless giving
Posted On
September 13, 2005For More Information