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Extreme weather can whip up anxiety. A safety plan can help

Hurricanes, wildfires, and floods are not just physical threats; extreme weather events often trigger significant anxiety, according to mental health experts analyzing disaster aftereffects.
When Hurricane Helene unleashed torrents of rain in Asheville, North Carolina, two years ago, water and mud destroyed The Corner Kitchen, co-owned by Kevin Westmoreland.
Ruben Juarez, health economist at the University of Hawaii who directed the Maui Wildfires Exposure Study, argues that preparation is "one of the most powerful tools" for mental health during disasters.
After the disaster concludes, experts advise individuals to restore normalcy by returning to daily routines, seeking support, and helping others to mitigate lasting psychological stress.
To manage rebuilding stress, Kevin Westmoreland learned meditation and breathing exercises, emphasizing the need to "take a breath and move forward, step by step.

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Extreme weather can whip up anxiety. Here's how having a safety plan can help

Hurricanes, wildfires, floods and other extreme weather can also kick up storms of anxiety. Thankfully, there are several ways to reduce that stress, according to mental health experts who have helped people who have experienced disasters. One of the most important things to do is have a plan, they say. “Preparation is always one of the most powerful tools that I can imagine — not just for safety, but also for mental health,” said Ruben Juarez, …

13 hours ago·Fort Worth, United States

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