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Post Disaster Cathartic Reflection
The document discusses the stages of emotional recovery communities experience following a disaster and emphasizes the importance of reflection and community development tools in facilitating recovery. It outlines the professionalization of disaster-related processes and highlights the differing experiences of various stakeholders involved in recovery efforts. Additionally, it recognizes the emotional complexities during and after a disaster, advocating for engagement strategies that support community dialogue and healing.
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Post Disaster Cathartic Reflection
- 1. Post-Disaster Cathartic Reflection Abbie Gaffey CommunityDevelopment Program Specialist Iowa State University Extension & Outreach
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- 6. Commonalities? • Formal processesand planning documents • Disaster drills and practice sessions • Embedded in formal hierarchies and bureaucracies • Command and control of physical, financial and human resources • Pre-existing communication infrastructure
- 7. Reflection is aLearning Tool • The professionalization of disaster preparedness, disaster response and hazard mitigation incorporates reflection through: – After Action Reports -- Documentation – Best Practices -- Preserving records – Formal studies -- Photos and maps – Program evaluations -- On-going training
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- 9. Commonalities? • Once ina lifetime experience • Multiple leaders – formal and informal • Outside of formal hierarchies and bureaucracies • Impacted negatively in varying degrees • Varying levels of resources available to respond • No formal pre-existing communication infrastructure • No norms of decision-making • No “Best Practices” to rely upon
- 10. “Disasters are stressfulnot only for individuals experiencing personal loss but also for the community-at-large. Communities share damages and disruptions to the various environments of which they are composed. Destruction of a ‘keystone’ neighborhood, such as a central business district, may challenge an entire city or region.”
- 11. “Transient Dysfunction” • Aperiod of weeks and months – up to three years – when normal community functions are disrupted or substantially altered following a natural disaster.
- 14. Community Developers Can Help… •By understanding the emotional stages that align with phases of the disaster recovery process • By creating opportunities for dialogue, conversation, narratives and memories into our strategic planning, design and community engagement processes
- 15. Emotional Stages ofDisaster Recovery Emotional Stages of Disaster Recovery Heroic Honeymoon Disillusionment Reconstruction North Carolina Cooperative Extension, 1999
- 16. Emotions • Altruism • Allfeelings are strong & direct Behaviors • Heroic actions. Use of energy to save their own and others’ lives and property Most important resource • Family groups • Neighbors • Emergency teams Heroic Stage – during and immediately after disaster North Carolina Cooperative Extension, 1999
- 17. Honeymoon – 1week to 6 months Emotions • Strong sense of having shared a catastrophic experience and lived through it • Expectation of great assistance from officials and government agencies Behaviors • Victims clear out debris and wreckage buoyed by promises of great help in rebuilding their lives Most Important Resource • Pre-existing community groups and emergent community groups which develop from specific needs caused by disaster North Carolina Cooperative Extension, 1999
- 18. Disillusionment – onemonth to two years Emotions • Strong sense of disappointment, anger, resentment and bitterness appear if there are delays, failures or unfulfilled hopes or promises of aid Behaviors • People concentrate on rebuilding their own lives and solving individual problem. • The feeling of "shared community" is lost Most Important Resource • Many outside agencies may now pull out. • Indigenous community agencies may weaken. • Alternative resources need to be explored North Carolina Cooperative Extension, 1999
- 19. Reconstruction – severalyears Emotions • Victims now realize that they need to solve the problems of rebuilding their lives. • Visible recovery efforts serve to reaffirm belief in themselves and the community. • If recovery efforts are delayed, emotional problems which appear may be serious and intense. Behaviors • People have assumed the responsibility for their own recovery. • New construction programs and plans reaffirm belief in capabilities and ability to recover. Most Important Resource • Community groups with a long- term investment in the community and its people become key elements in this phase. North Carolina Cooperative Extension, 1999
- 20. Community Development Tools forCathartic Reflection
- 21. Community Development Tools forCathartic Reflection
- 22. Community Development Tools forCathartic Reflection
- 23. Community Development Tools forCathartic Reflection
- 24. Why These Toolsare Effective • Allows multiple ways for people to process their disaster experiences – public grief • People feel heard and listened to • Relief of knowing that what they are experiencing is part of a normal cycle • Results in richer research that may lead to better best practices • Engagement always builds community
- 25. Contact Info • Questions? •Abbie Gaffey, Community Development Program Specialist, Iowa State University Extension & Outreach agaffey@iastate.edu (712) 539-1169
- 26. Link to Study •http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi ?article=4254&context=etd&sei- redir=1&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch. yahoo.com%2Fsearch%3Fei%3Dutf- 8%26fr%3Daaplw%26p%3Dcathartic%2Br eflection#search=%22cathartic%20reflecti on%22