Think About It- Website Exploration

In looking at the website for the National Center for Disease Medicine & Public Health, I came upon some realizations when considering emergency preparedness in the field. We are usually quite aware of the physical implications brought about by disasters, but rarely do we take a moment to consider the aftermath of a disaster in regards to one's emotional well-being.

On the website, I researched "Wildfires" in the "Disaster Recovery Curriculum" link. I chose this, because of the current state of California and the recent fires. Under the "Wildfires" link, I came about a section that discussed how to protect one's emotional well-being after a disaster. One of the major pieces that stood out was a section that said,"After a disaster, such as a wildfire, you may feel sad, mad, guilty, or numb." The word that resonated with me the most was "guilty". I provided aid during the Northern California Wildfires in 2017. In providing D-SNAP assistance, many people showed survivors guilt and I would commonly hear them say, "other people have lost more than me", implying they did not need the assistance as much as others.

I appreciate that the link I came across (https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/wildfires/afterfire.html) gave some tips to help preserve emotional well-being, including:

• Stay Active. Volunteer for work in a shelter, community, school, or faith-based organization.
• Help with cleanup and repair if it is safe to do so.
• Spend time with others.
• Participate in activities you enjoy.
• Take breaks from the cleanup efforts.
• Exercise (indoors if air quality is not acceptable).
• Keep a journal.
• Talk about your feelings.

I'd be interested in knowing how those responding to disasters promote these and if they don't, how can we begin? I'd recommend involving local community-based organizations (CBOs) and having local community members partner with CBOs to find creative ways to promote these within their given settings. We also know that disasters expose inequalities, meaning that those who are most vulnerable are affected the most. For this reason, I would suggest putting extra thought into helping these particular populations better manage their emotional well-being. 

Disaster Healthcare Volunteer

I did not find any particular organizations in SF that allow you to apply as a disaster healthcare volunteer. However, I did come across the San Francisco Marin Medical Society (SFMMS)(http://www.sfmms.org/for-physicians/disaster-preparedness.aspx). The SFMMS is specific to physicians or medical providers, two things of which I'm not, but I did further research and found out that I could volunteer as part of the Northern California Red Cross. In addition, I work at the SF-Marin Food Bank, which has a disaster preparedness system in place that is required to provide assistance after a local disaster. In any case of a local disaster, I am required to work on the next day at 8am if everyone in my family is safe and accounted for.