Preventing Violence After a Natural Disaster (Part 1)
The increased stress associated with disruptions in families; challenges in meeting daily needs such as food, water, and shelter; and disruptions in health and law enforcement services can increase the possibility of violence. Strategies for preventing violence after disasters should focus on providing assistance to individuals in need and developing supportive networks for managing daily tasks.
Prevent child maltreatment.
- Be a caring parent. After any natural disaster, parents are under more stress. It is important to still continue to care for your children. Children are strongly affected by their parents' reactions.
- Comfort a crying child. Never shake a child. Shaking a child may cause injury or death.
- Keep your child safe. It is important to know whom your child is with and where they are at all times.
- Ask others for help. Ask trusted friends, family, and other parents for a break if you're stressed. Breaks are needed when dealing with great stress.
- Refer children separated from families to people in charge. Doing this will help children who are left without parents or who are separated from their families to be identified and get special care.
- Report suspected abuse or neglect. If you have reason to believe a child has been or may be harmed, inform the authorities or call the hotline for the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse at 1-800-CHILDREN (1-800-244-5373).
Prevent shaken baby syndrome.
- Do not shake your baby. Shaking a baby by the shoulders, arms, or legs can cause severe injury and death.
- Try to find the reason for the crying. Make sure all of your baby's basic needs (food, diapers, not is too much or too little clothing, and so on) are met. You can also check for signs of sickness or pain, like diaper rash.
- Comfort your baby. Try rubbing your baby's back, gently rocking your baby, giving a pacifier, singing, or talking.
- Take a walk. Take your baby for a walk in a stroller or ride in a car using a secure child safety seat in the back seat.
- Take a time out. It is normal for babies to cry a lot. This may make parents very stressed. When you feel helpless or angry, take a minute to relax and calm down to reduce some of the stress you feel.
- Talk with someone. Talk with a good friend or family member about how you are feeling. This will help you take a break and calm down.
Managing Stress and Relationships
- Take action if you see something. If you see someone who is being violent, take action. If it is safe, remove the person who is in danger from the situation. If your safety is at risk, inform a person in charge about the possible danger.
- Ask for support. If you feel you are in danger, get support from trusted sources like counselors, friends and family, and health clinics. This will help keep you safe.
- Do not use drugs and alcohol. These can increase feelings of anxiety and stress and may put you in places where you could be attacked.
- Take a time out. Relationships become more stressful when families try to replace lost housing, and jobs, and find peace. If you feel stressed, take a time out.
- Get involved, and stay active. Volunteer for work in the shelter, community, or school.
- If you feel you are at risk for violence in your relationship or are concerned about other people's risk, inform a person in charge about suspected danger or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233).
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Updated 2014, June 20). Preventing violence after a natural disaster. Retrieved February 3, 2015, from http://emergency.cdc.gov