The threat of natural disasters is ever-increasing with the changing of our environments. From tornados to big freezes, our planet earth manifests its unrest in many ways. Although you can’t prevent Mother Nature showing off her powers, you can prepare to deal with her moods and live to tell the story.
We get so wrapped up in our everyday lives, our daily routines (walking the dog, going to work, paying the bills, brushing the teeth…) that it just becomes the norm. However, every day, disaster is striking somewhere in the world, throwing someone’s routine day into complete chaos. This is the living truth that no matter our technological advances, Mother Nature will always have the upper hand on us.
All natural disasters have the potency to annihilate the safety of our routine lifestyles and compel us to confront the vulnerability of ordinary life. Natural disasters often happen very suddenly without any warning whatsoever. Though there are emergency services that are trained to come into play the moment a natural disaster strikes, you may, for some time, have to rely entirely upon yourself and your own instincts to survive.
No one expects to be caught in an extreme situation. The rare cases that cause adverse outcomes such as house ruination or deaths are known as natural disasters.
There are many types of them:
- Earthquakes
- Hurricanes
- Tornados
- Tsunamis
- Lightning
- Fire
This list is far from full. Different regions of the world are under different threats, but everyone should be ready to face a natural disaster. Teachers must teach students how to survive in dangerous, sudden situations. Of course, knowledge does not always prevent people from adverse consequences. Large economic damage that was caused by the biggest earthquake and tsunami in 2011 in Japan was unpreventable. However, the awareness of this disaster helped many people to survive.
In this article, we should cover some basics of natural disasters. We will mostly focus on discussing safety and how to cope with the stress that follows a natural disaster.
Staying Safe: Surviving the Natural Disaster
Having a plan and knowing what to do will help during any natural disaster. The only rule is to resist panic and try to calm down. It is necessary to think soberly. Some natural disasters will indeed lead to huge losses in any case, but, at least, one can minimize the damages. Students should follow these simple rules if they want to survive and help others.
- If you hear no evacuation directions or similar announcements, remain in a safe area.
You should find shelter as soon as you learn about the upcoming disaster. If you stay in your home, it is better to hide in the closet, bathroom, or ground floor. You should bring the survival kit with you (well, first of all, make sure that your family has one or ask to purchase it).
- Listen to the radio on any available device to keep up-to-date with the news.
Listen only to the local authorities and official channels. Battery-Powered radio or mobile phone is a must in such situations. Most of the modern radios have long-living batteries and a hand crank.
Things to Practice after Natural Disasters
The outcomes of natural disasters feel more dramatic for children than grown-ups. By looking at the results, kids usually wonder what might happen the next time and whether they and their families will stay safe and alive. It is okay to feel scared and worried, but, in most cases, it is all in your head.
One of the best methods to recover is to share your emotions and lessons learned on the paper. A student can make it the main topic of coursework or another project, for instance. It is possible to coursework writing based on your story if you wish to avoid grammar mistakes and issues with formatting and vocabulary.
Kids all need support and answers after disasters take place. That is why it is important to talk to them and let them express their emotions and feelings.
Here are the top questions to ask:
- Do you feel angry/scared/anxious/nervous?
- Are you waking up in the night being afraid of something?
- Have you lost an appetite?
- Do you have nightmares and what kind of nightmares?
- Do you get images in your head describing the awful events?
- Do you experience headaches or panic attacks from time to time?
Show that a kid can trust you. If you are a child who witnessed a catastrophe, try to be more open and talk to adults. They will explain why it happens and what measures have to be taken to survive in such situations.
Related article: Natural Disaster Preparedness: 10 Tools That Will Save Your Life
Have Fun to Focus on Something Else
It is critical to keep in mind that one has to have fun to forget about the horrible events. When people lose someone, they feel like they have no right to have fun again. The same happens after the disasters as, often, some people die or get hurt under such circumstances.
It is okay to feel a bit depressed for some time, but it should not take a while. After all,It is nobody’s fault, and children should understand that. Watching a comedy or nice romantic film or playing some games may be a good distraction. Eating something sweet should also take bad thoughts and anxiety away.
Once you experience a natural disaster, it is a good idea to describe and discuss it in one of your academic papers. For example, it is a nice idea for a research paper or coursework. Teachers and other students will both appreciate your opinion and survival tips. You should also learn more about various natural disasters to be ready to face any of them. Anyway, the best way to overcome stress is to share your story with others. They will be thankful.
Concluding
No matter how extremely severe the disaster, always remember that panicking will get you nowhere but in trouble. It leads to disorganized thinking. Simply take a few breaths and get yourself under control. You must remain able to make logical assessments of the dangers going on around you during natural disasters.