Returning Home and Coping After a Crisis

We’ve outlined some tips to support you while coping and recovering from a disaster.

Typical emotions felt after a crisis

People normally feel a wide range of emotions after a crisis. Expressing these feelings does not mean you have lost control, are weak or are experiencing a nervous breakdown. It’s important to remember that these emotions, no matter how intense, will typically only last for limited periods. Some common emotions you may feel include:

Fear 

Fear is commonly experience as the fear of death, injury or harm to yourself loved ones; fear of being alone or having to leave loved ones, of losing control; fear of a similar disaster occurring again. 

Guilt 

People can feel guilty for several reasons, such as guilt for not helping or saving other people, for still being alive and unharmed or for being in a more fortunate situation than others who were part of the same crisis.

Shock and disbelief

The disaster may feel too unreal to have actually happened, or surreal like a movie or a dream. Sometimes this can leave you feeling confused and disconnected.

Regret 

You may regret some of your actions or things you did not do or weren’t able to do during a disaster.

Euphoria

Sometimes people who experience a crisis may begin feeling happiness in their survival, excitement or a sense of closeness to others who were also involved. 

Anger and frustration

People may feel angry or irritated after a crisis. It may be over the events themselves, but it could also be at what a person believes to have caused it or who might have allowed it to happen. There may also be anger or frustration felt  at the unfairness and senselessness of the disaster.

Numbness

It’s possible to feel as if they’re disconnected from their own emotions after a crisis has happened.

Shame 

Sometimes people feel or react in a way that they wished they hadn’t even if it was perfectly normal, such as feeling afraid or needing help from others.

Helplessness

Feeling like you’re not in control of a situation can often lead to a sense of helplessness. This is extremely prevalent during disasters where unpredictability is highly prevalent.

Disappointment

Whether justified or not, it’s common to feel some sort of disappointment during a disaster.

Longing 

You might miss the things you have lost during a disaster, whether that be physical items, events that have been cancelled or plans that will no longer take place because of recent.

Hope 

People that experience disasters can also feel hopeful for a better future moving forward.

These emotions are normal and expected. Giving yourself permission to express them will help you during the healing process. At times people may block feelings out of fear that they will be too painful. They often do this by filling up their schedule, becoming busy so that they can avoid processes their thoughts and emotions. Constantly avoiding emotions and memories can however lead to several negative side effects, and the earlier feelings are dealt with the sooner healing can begin.

Physical reactions

Your body and mind can be affected by a disaster — immediately after and sometimes much later.

Typical physical reactions can include:

  • Inability to concentrate.

  • Tiredness and sleep issues.

  • Difficulty in breathing, choking in the throat and chest pains.

  • Shakes, dizziness.

  • Palpitations.

  • Nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting.

  • Significant change in diet weight gain or loss.

  • Muscular tension or pain, headaches, neck or back pain.

  • Increased or decreased sexual desire or activity.

  • Menstrual disorders.

  • Miscarriages may occur.

Advice on returning to your home

Before going back home after a disaster, make sure you stock up on the essentials like non-perishable food, bottled water, medications, a torch and batteries.

Some other considerations you may want to think about include:

  • Ensuring your car is full of petrol.

  • Withdrawing enough cash in case local ATM’s are damaged.

  • Preparing for a slow journey; road conditions may be altered and detours may be in place.

  • Continue to listen to the radio for information about the disaster and potential new risks.

  • Wait for emergency services to confirm it’s safe to go outside before venturing into an affected area.

  • If possible, see if your neighbours are safe and need any assistance. Ask them if you require help too.

  • When phone lines are back up, contact family and friends to let them know you are safe.

  • Always avoid wading or driving through flooded roads or waterways.

Damage repairs

Before you can return to your normal routine, there are important steps to take first. 

Keep record of any damage 

Make sure you take plenty of pictures of the damage, notify your insurer and ask for an assessment of the damage. 

Ensure your property is secure 

Arrange to have your home properly secured if it is uninhabitable. This can involve notifying your power, phone, water and gas companies of your situation, as well as your bank. You can also arrange with Australia Post to have your mail held or redirected.

Hiring tradespeople

When possible, always obtain three written quotes for insurance purposes. Before hiring anybody, find out from your insurer what needs to be done to request an assessment. Only engage with tradespeople who are fully licensed or registered and are members of their professional associations. These tradespeople uphold certain standards to retain their licence or registration and observe a code of conduct. If you’re concerned about the behaviour of a tradesperson, you can get advice from the consumer affairs department in your state/territory.