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Many victims of natural disaster find themselves left out of the recovery often relying on the generosity of others to bounce back. Nonprofits and others provide assistance, but the process is difficult to navigate.
Right after a natural disaster, say, a hurricane, tornado, wildfire, major flood, earthquake or volcano, there is usually an outpouring of generosity and support for those affected, often in the form of material needs. But a few weeks into the recovery effort, that support and all the donated goods that poured in dwindle.
Often victims, having survived the initial onslaught, fall through the recovery cracks. They may not be covered by insurance or eligible for a small business loan, and the support FEMA can provide may be limited.
There are many reasons why people may suffer disproportionately after disaster. Some of it is obviously financial, those living near or below the poverty line struggle to cobble together the necessary resources to adequately prepare or take action when disaster strikes. She said the elderly often possess less technological access and fewer social connections, and those for whom English is a second language are vulnerable as well.
Recovery is a long, arduous process, even for those eligible for some assistance. But for some, like those mentioned above, the process is even worse and many never fully recover. A year after a hurricane, tornado, wildfire, major flood, earthquake or volcano, many people are still in temporary housing. As a country, we’re now getting pretty good at immediate-relief response, but long-term recovery is not as well coordinated, in part because the funds available dry up and the world moves on to the next disastrous event leaving many behind.
Oftentimes the survivors might lack the wherewithal to navigate their way through the various sources and programs necessary to receive aid. “One of the things that we see is that for people who are not well educated or have some sort of disability, getting through this maze is a really challenging thing.”
The extent of the recovery often depends on the nature of the disaster as well. Disasters can cause total destruction, where some people lost everything:
- Hurricanes; When the force of a hurricane bears down on residential structures, homes can be ripped apart by the storm’s powerful winds. Storm surge and inland flooding can also cause catastrophic damage leaving a home with mold, mud and needing a lot of rehab.
- Tornadoes cause substantial wind damage to property. This causes high stresses on structures and can lead to damaged windows, roof damage, and in severe cases, complete structural failure. Wind damage can also cause damage to property by disrupting containers on the property containing chemicals or other materials. Tornadoes lift a house off its foundation and completely destroy the home.
- Earthquakes may instantly kill or incapacitate a large number of people, cause huge destruction to structures, and weaken the buildings reducing their useful life. The damage is the maximum close to the epicenter, the point from where the vibrations are initiated.
- Volcanoes can break houses apart, cause big mud/landslides which can kill people easily. The pyroclastic flow is caused by rocks and other things from the volcano which are heavy. The gases that they give off toxic and harmful gases which can seriously injure if not kill you.
International, Disaster Relief, Charity
