sharon sanders
Editor-in-Chief & President
We offer our condolences and best wishes to all those affected by Storm Sandy.
At this writing there are approximately 71 deaths in the Caribbean and 62 deaths in the United States and Canada.
We have chronicled much of this sad news here in English and here in French.
We know what you are going through. Many of us throughout the world have suffered from natural disasters in recent years. Makoto in Japan. Sally Furniss in Christchurch. I vividly remember 3 separate weeks without power in the hurricanes of 2004 that ripped up the center of Florida.
From our lessons we learned that our best preparation and recovery from disasters are our close circle of family and friends. It is those relationships that sustain us during periods of time when we can not "do it" by ourselves.
The road back to "normal" will be long. Japan and Christchurch face years of rebuilding and remediation.
What we say to you is that things will get better. Take comfort in your family and friends that are offering to help:
First - Seek help for any injuries that you have.
Then obtain the phone number for the Red Cross in your area. They have many programs to help you.
Call your insurance company to make an initial report of your situation.
Call your employment to update them.
Join with neighbors, family, friends, to find out what social services are available and where supplies can be obtained.
Take care of emotional stress. What you are feeling is normal. Frustration, anxiety, irritation, insomnia. All normal. Be patient with yourself. One thing I did in 2004 was to make a daily list of what I needed to do next. Honestly, I spent most of each day trying to find gasoline. My friends were a great source of information for which gas stations were expecting a delivery.
The American Psychological Association has a great summary of ideas to cope with stress. One of those is to take a news break. Enough is Enough - Already. Once you make the needed phone calls, turn off your phone to spend some time with your family and near ones. Hugs. Reconnecting. Assurances to your children that everything will be ok.
Out of the devastation there are stories of compassion and heroism which have emerged that show even in difficult times, people extend a hand to others in need.
Take a deep breath. You can do this.
At this writing there are approximately 71 deaths in the Caribbean and 62 deaths in the United States and Canada.
We have chronicled much of this sad news here in English and here in French.
We know what you are going through. Many of us throughout the world have suffered from natural disasters in recent years. Makoto in Japan. Sally Furniss in Christchurch. I vividly remember 3 separate weeks without power in the hurricanes of 2004 that ripped up the center of Florida.
From our lessons we learned that our best preparation and recovery from disasters are our close circle of family and friends. It is those relationships that sustain us during periods of time when we can not "do it" by ourselves.
The road back to "normal" will be long. Japan and Christchurch face years of rebuilding and remediation.
What we say to you is that things will get better. Take comfort in your family and friends that are offering to help:
First - Seek help for any injuries that you have.
Then obtain the phone number for the Red Cross in your area. They have many programs to help you.
Call your insurance company to make an initial report of your situation.
Call your employment to update them.
Join with neighbors, family, friends, to find out what social services are available and where supplies can be obtained.
Take care of emotional stress. What you are feeling is normal. Frustration, anxiety, irritation, insomnia. All normal. Be patient with yourself. One thing I did in 2004 was to make a daily list of what I needed to do next. Honestly, I spent most of each day trying to find gasoline. My friends were a great source of information for which gas stations were expecting a delivery.
The American Psychological Association has a great summary of ideas to cope with stress. One of those is to take a news break. Enough is Enough - Already. Once you make the needed phone calls, turn off your phone to spend some time with your family and near ones. Hugs. Reconnecting. Assurances to your children that everything will be ok.
Out of the devastation there are stories of compassion and heroism which have emerged that show even in difficult times, people extend a hand to others in need.
Take a deep breath. You can do this.