"Recovering from a disaster is usually a gradual process. Safety is a primary issue, as are mental and physical well-being. If assistance is available, knowing how to access it makes the process faster and less stressful. This section offers some general advice on steps to take after disaster strikes in order to begin getting your home, your community, and your life back to normal.

Your first concern after a disaster is your family’s health and safety. You need to consider possible safety issues and monitor family health and well-being."

Source: FEMA's booklet called "Recovering From Disaster" - an excellent resource for knowing what to do after a disaster or an emergency.

“Anyone who experiences a disaster is affected by it, whether directly or indirectly through location, family or friends, or exposure to media coverage of the event.

Even if a disaster, such as a terrorist act, produces little physical damage, it can bring fear, confusion, and uncertainty into daily life. Strong and varied emotional reactions to such an event are natural. People are resilient and able to recover from difficult experiences.

Given the uncontrollable nature of disasters, some people question whether they can take steps to plan for catastrophic events.

Actually, we know that the more people prepare for the unexpected, the better they manage these situations.” Source: Maintaining a Healthy State of Mind, Red Cross Web site.

If you have survived a disaster or an emergency and think that you need some extra support, one of the resources you might consider is your local mental health center. The community mental health centers in Kansas can be found at Disability Support Maps.