“Every time rain is forecast, there's a fear that there will be another flood,” said Teri Lavery, co-chair of suicide prevention efforts at Northeast Kingdom Human Services.
Flooding and severe storms hit Vermont almost back to back during the second week of July and on July 30, with some areas experiencing multiple floods.
First came the remnants of Hurricane Beryl, then just three weeks later came severe storm flooding, and then just one week after those storms, on August 9th, Hurricane Debbie arrived, bringing rain, wind damage, and power outages to at least 21,000 homes.
Researchers have found that such disasters can have significant emotional and psychological effects on survivors. For example, a 2022 study reviewing disaster health research found that an average of 28% of disaster survivors had symptoms of depression. Another 2022 study found that about one-fifth of disaster survivors (analyzing multiple studies) had symptoms of acute stress disorder, which can include symptoms such as intrusive thoughts, feelings of isolation, sleep problems, and irritability.
President Biden on Tuesday declared a major disaster related to the early July storm, allowing federal funds to go toward temporary housing, home repairs and other Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster recovery programs. The declaration does not include assistance for damage caused by the July 30 storm. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott plans to request a separate disaster declaration related to the storm, according to a statement from the governor's office.
Patty Collins, a therapist who volunteered at the Flood Recovery Centre in Lyndon this month, said some of the survivors she worked with were “deeply depressed” and on edge.
“They're asking, 'Why me?'” Collins said.
An aerial view of a destroyed home in the aftermath of flooding on Brook Road in Lyndon, Vermont, on July 30. Kayla Bartkowski, The Boston Globe
Collins said she taught some residents grounding techniques and stress reduction, including exercises such as closing your eyes, taking a deep breath, counting to three, and then exhaling. The Flood Recovery Center also provided phone numbers and a website for residents to contact counselors.
The sound of thunder was one of the triggers most commonly mentioned by survivors, said Megan Mathers, 36, volunteer relief coordinator for Kingdom United Resilience and Recovery Effort, a coalition of nonprofits and grassroots volunteers who organize disaster recovery efforts. Volunteers from the group shoveled snow at dozens of homes across the northeast state this summer.
“It's really hard on people not feeling safe,” Mathers said.
Mathers said many people are also struggling with the loss of personal belongings, especially family photos and other mementos, and uncertainty about whether they qualify for federal relief.
Climate change has created a heightened sense in Vermont communities that the “new normal” is unpredictable and out of their control, Mathers said. “It's the unknown. Is this going to happen again?”
At the same time, she's also seen volunteers' mental health take a toll from witnessing the devastation: Repeated volunteers “get worn out quickly,” Mathers said, and some volunteers don't come back after seeing the terrible devastation, she said.
“It can be really tough for everyone involved,” she said.
State officials have stepped up mental health resources for Vermonters in the wake of the flood damage: Last week, the Vermont Department of Mental Health announced it was extending its “Starting Over Strong Vermont” outreach program, an initiative that provides anonymous, free mental health referrals and education.
James Bengston uses a rake to clear the front of his home from flood damage in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, on July 30. Kayla Bartkowski, The Boston Globe
“We know the impacts of flooding go beyond just physical damage,” state Mental Health Commissioner Emily Hawes said in a statement. “People are suffering from fear, anxiety and re-traumatization from these recurring events and memories of last year's flooding, and we want people in our community to know that we are here for them.”
Last summer, devastating flash floods damaged thousands of Vermont homes and businesses, triggered landslides and damaged dams.
Betty Lai, an associate professor of counseling psychology at Boston University who studies the effects of disasters, said the most common psychological reactions are depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, which can include symptoms such as nightmares and flashbacks.
Lai said the Vermont flooding could have been a traumatic event for residents depending on what they experienced during and after the storm. Stressful events after the initial storm, such as arguments with insurance companies, financial problems or forced relocation, could also be traumatic.
Lai said survivors should be aware that some people experience a delay of around three to six months before they have a psychological reaction to a disaster, even if they aren't suffering now.
She recommended that adults who care for children ask how they are feeling. Parents and guardians sometimes assume that children are experiencing a disaster in the same way as adults, but their emotional responses to a disaster can be very different, she said.
Lai said victims should seek help from friends and family and be mindful of their drug use – some victims cope by drinking alcohol, but this tends to make their symptoms worse.
“After these events, people can feel isolated and alienated,” Lai says. “Rely on social support.”
Lavery, who works in suicide prevention with Northeast Kingdom Human Services, said he stresses to victims that what they're going through is a normal response to a traumatic experience.
And what if it rains again?
“My advice to people is to close the curtains and distract yourself with a movie or a book,” Lavery said. “We can't control the weather, we can only control our reaction to it.”
To connect with a local mental health or referral agency in Vermont, call 211. For immediate and confidential crisis support via text message in Vermont, text VT to 741741. For confidential suicide and crisis support anywhere in the U.S., call or text 988.
Erin Douglas can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her Translator.
