The other side of disaster recovery

Bahamians and residents are understandably anxious to return to the way things were prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As we celebrate the second holiday season since the historic devastation of Hurricane Dorian, it is important for the country to remember that for still too many Abaconians and Grand Bahamians, the way things were consists of displacement, mental health challenges and the grief of death for which closure remains elusive.

After agitation by business owners and homeowners on the two islands and their cays designated a disaster zone in Dorian’s aftermath, government announced this week that it would extend by six months to June 2021, several tax relief provisions of its Special Economic Recovery Zone order.

State Minister Kwasi Thompson indicated that the government made this decision despite its steep falloff in revenue triggered by COVID-19’s impact.

Though substantial revenue losses necessitate cutbacks and deferrals on planned expenditures, the reality is that the country cannot afford is to have its second and third largest island economies marred by ongoing homelessness, limited commercial activity, and deficiencies in the delivery of essential services that diminish redevelopment prospects and quality of life.

It is the quality of life in the disaster zone that, over time, has gotten less public attention, even as research consistently points to the long term health effects of natural disasters; effects that are not only costly economically but socially, making homes and communities less stable and less productive.

According to the Tulane University School of Social Work, mental health issues stemming from the devastation of natural disasters become more obvious in the redevelopment phase – a phase protracted in the disaster zone due in part to COVID-19.

Tulane said, “Mental health problems rank among the most widespread long-term effects of natural disasters. The loss of loved ones, homes, and livelihoods can alter the lives of multiple individuals.

“Grief and shock are normal in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster. When people fail to return to normalcy, however, mental health practitioners must deal with the lasting psychological impact of the disaster.”

Since The Bahamas is prone to the natural disaster of major hurricanes, it is critical that government and stakeholders act appropriately to the health effects of disaster exposure, so that sufficient resources can be brought to bear to rebuild not only infrastructure and buildings, but lives.

A study on the impact of disaster exposure on older adults published in 2018 in the Journal of Social Science and Medicine found that “immediate interventions following a disaster that target people experiencing high levels of peri-traumatic distress may be particularly effective, and that failing to attend to these people may miss a critical opportunity and result in years of suffering”.

Consider the psychological impact of being homeless since last September, and being forced to struggle on another island or in another country as one attempts to re-establish a sense of normalcy with limited resources and limited trusted social support.

This impact can be even more pronounced for older adults who lost everything they worked for in Dorian, who are unable to rebuild, and who lack the family support to assist in working through their trauma.

In Dorian’s aftermath, former Health Minister Dr. Duane Sands indicated he expected to see an increase in disaster-related health impacts, including cardiac events, pointing also to the potential effects of interruptions in care for those suffering from chronic non-communicable diseases, including diabetes and hypertension.

A study of long-term effects on diabetes sufferers published last year by Cambridge University Press suggested that “the effects of disasters on health care utilization may persist for years after the event”, and that “recovery efforts may be improved by addressing both short-term and long-term health care interruptions”.

Government must be careful not to narrow its judgement on the success of disaster recovery to how many physical structures are rebuilt, while paying insufficient attention to whether the minds, spirits and physical health of storm victims are successfully recovering.

“Health is wealth” is not merely a cliche, and the sooner victims of Dorian can return to a normalcy that represents a positive reality, the better the country’s chances of realizing a wholistic rebound.

The post The other side of disaster recovery appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/the-other-side-of-disaster-recovery/