Hurricanes Harvey and Irma may be over, but the after-effects can last for months or even years. If you or a loved one has been affected, SMOHIT can help. We have a dedicated helpline available to anyone needing emotional support, information on how to alleviate stress, or assistance navigating through trauma.

The phone number, 877.884.6227, and services are available free of charge to all SMART members and their families. All calls are professional and confidential.

No one should go through these trying times alone. Your Union family is here for support and we hope that you take advantage of the help available. For more information, please read the following article by Counselor Daria M. Todor, ACSW, LCSW-C, on grief and trauma in the wake of natural disasters:

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Grief defined: The emotional impact of loss. Trauma defined: harm caused by events that are outside normal, everyday occurrences. 

Humans are equipped to respond to day-to-day ups and downs and the occasional crisis in our lives. Our biology has developed systems that are activated to respond to stress by alerting those sub-parts that pump the body up to fight, freeze or flee when danger occurs. And when the coast is clear, other parts kick in and allow our bodies to rest and recover.

Natural disasters are one of those dangerous events that put individuals, families and communities out of equilibrium, taxing normal coping strengths, sometimes long after the events themselves are gone.

Devastation brought on by natural disasters is often tallied in monetary terms. What isn`t as well reported is the emotional toll of such devastation - namely, the impact of grief and trauma on those left behind to rebuild their lives.

People don`t have to have suffered a death of a loved one to experience grief. Grief can come from experiencing loss of things and situations that bring meaning and order to our lives. Hurricanes do just that; they disrupt lives in such totality for some that it plunges them into periods of despair. Others experiencing the same storm, because of the nature of the storm, may leave other homes relatively untouched, causing a sense of 'why me?' and isolation.

Here`s the thing about grief: it happens and is normal when it is allowed to surface and be honored. When it isn`t, people struggle far longer than need be. It becomes what is referred to as disenfranchised. People can end up so depressed they shut down from all feeling by turning to drugs and alcohol or other addictions to numb themselves from the pain.

So how do you allow grief to surface and honor it, especially when so many other things need your attention after a hurricane? The chief thing that does not take much time, and can be done once you have found safety and security, is by first off recognizing that what you have lost was valuable to you in ways that gave meaning to YOU. No one else can tell you what was meaningful to you. If a pet was lost in the storm and you valued that pet as a family member, allow yourself to recall them with fondness, shed tears or reach out to other pet owners to garner support and understanding. Second, don`t fight the sadness for too long. If you must hold back the tears or anger (signs of grief) to get work done, then allow time for yourself to reflect. Contact the HelpLine at 877-884-6227 to learn more about grief and trauma.