Surviving Storm Stress

Here is a helpful guide for dealing with storm stress written  by Dwight  Bain.  This  guide was extremely  helpful to many folks here in Florida during last year’s heavy storm season. You have permission to pass this on to anyone who can use it. See Redistribution Notice at the end of this blog.
Surviving Storm Stress
A Guide to Dealing with the Psychological Trauma of Natural Disasters
By Dwight Bain, Nationally Certified Counselor

Table of Contents

• Guide Preface


• Storm Stress


• The emotions which follow the storm


• Don’t make a bad situation worse


• Big storms require a lot of time to recover and rebuild


• What are the dangerous warning signs of “Storm Stress Syndrome”?


• Storm Stress Responses


• Physical


• Emotional


• Behavioral


• Cognitive


• Getting back to normal


• Immediate tips which help bring calmness


• Reconnect in relationships


• Rebuild your routines


• Reach out for faith


• Retell your story


• Storm stress and kids


• How does a critical incident like this affect kids?


• What are some ways to help our kids talk about storm stress?


• Are there “hidden dangers” the in media that parents should be concerned about that might make storm stress worse?


• What can people expect in the weeks ahead?


• The Formula to Recover Faster


• Patience


• Attitude


• Trust


• Is it wise to involve kids in the clean up and recovery process?


• Is it okay to talk about what happened to our family with others?


• Why do some people become bitter or hateful after a crisis like this one, instead of just being grateful to be alive?


• What is survivor guilt and how does it negatively impact people?


• So many people are worse off than me— so how can I decide who to help?


• Evaluate Relationship


• Measure Resources


• Do the Right Thing


• Is there a Rule?


• Is it Responsible?


• Is it Reasonable?


• What should people consider when first returning to their homes after being evacuated before the storm?


• Final thoughts to encourage you through this recovery process

Continue reading…
About the author
Dwight Bain is a Nationally Certified Counselor in practice since 1984 specializing in solving crisis events and managing major change. He serves on the Critical Incident Stress Management team of the Orange County Sheriff's Office in Orlando, FL where he lives with his wife Sheila and their children.
Redistribution Notice
You have the permission to copy, pass along or post this material in print or electronically if you believe that it will help others in your family, workplace, church or community; providing that you leave the authors name and contact information attached as follows.  For more counseling strategies from Dwight Bain on solving conflict, managing major change or rebuilding after a crisis check out the counseling blog at http://www.LifeworksGroup.org/ or call the LifeWorks Group in Orlando at 407.647.3900.

Tom Billings on "What Allison Taught Me About Katrina"

June 8-9 2001, Tropical Storm Allison dumped over 40 inches of rain on Houston and the surrounding area. The bayous overflowed their banks and much of the city of Houston was flooded. Tom Billings, Director of Missions for Union Baptist Association, learned more than he ever wanted to know about rescue and recovery. At ubahouston.org, Tom shares from his wisdom of experience...

Tom Billings on "What Allison Taught Me About Katrina"
"Tom, the office is flooded," she said. "You won't believe it." Sharon, our office administrator, called me late Saturday night June 9, 2001. Like many folks in Houston I had watched the rain from Tropical Storm Allison fill the streets of Houston. I heard reports of flooding across the city but never dreamed it would affect the UBA office.

I had no idea what to expect when I stopped by the office on the way to preach the next morning, but I certainly wasn't prepared for what I saw. It was devastating. The sights, the smells, the feel as I walked among the soggy debris … those are sensations that will be with me the rest of my life … sensations that come flooding back when I think of all that's happened along the Gulf coast this week.

The experience with Tropical Storm Allison taught me a few important lessons that I think will help me - and maybe you - as we reach out to folks impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

(1) No matter how bad you think it is, it's worse.
Folks fled the storm thinking they would return in a day or two. Now they know it will be weeks, maybe months before they can go home. Some never will. They thought they might lose their homes. Now many realize they've also lost their jobs and their livelihood. It takes a while for these things to sink in. That's good. If it all hit at once, it might be too much. To the folks going through it, it will seem like things just keep getting worse. Understand their grief and provide appropriate support.

(2 )No matter how long you think it will take to recover, it will take longer.
The day after the flood I received calls from folks wanting to help. In a classic example of understatement I said, "We'll be back up and running in a couple of weeks." At one level, we never missed a beat. One day to sort through the rubble and we were back at work helping others. But in reality it took several years to get back to where we were in 2001, and in some ways we are not there yet. These folks will need help for months to come!

(3) Helping needs to be a long term commitment.
There are two primary phases to disaster relief: rescue and recovery. We are in the rescue phase now. Folks need food, water, a place to sleep, health care, money … the basics. It is easy to respond now. But I want to encourage congregational leaders to think of helping as a long-term commitment. Remediation teams and construction teams will be needed for many months to come. We need to do what we can to help now AND we need to anticipate how we can help next year and the year after.

(4) God is gracious and his people are generous.
I am so glad. UBA could not have helped the churches we did or rebuilt our own offices without the very generous financial support of folks all across the nation. Now is the time to be generous. I commend all those who are donating time, food, clothing, toys, and money to help those in need.

(5) Use the established systems in place to help.
When Allison came I had a chance to see first hand how disaster relief agencies work and how they work together. One of the best things we can do is work with them and through them - Texas Baptist Men, Somebody Cares Houston, Red Cross, Salvation Army, and others. This is what they do. Let's help them do it.

For the latest information on what needs to be done and how you can help, visit our website at http://www.ubahouston.org/ and click on "what's new."

Westpoint Worship Gathering

Here is a video clip of today's worship gathering of Westpoint Fellowship Church near Winter Garden. The church which is sponsored by Church at the Mall in Lakeland and First Baptist Church of Orlando celebrated their grand opening in September of 2004. Jason Dukes is the lead church planter. Jason graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary where his father serves as a Dean. At worship gathering this morning, Jason shared how the church can reach out to victims of Hurricane Katrina. Click the image to view download the video.

Louisiana Church Learns How to Be the Church During Diaspora

Paul Smith, pastor of Life Church of Mandeville, Louisiana is learning how to be the church when you can't do church in the usual way. He and his family along with several from his church relocated to Houston while they wait for flood waters to recede. Entire life groups have had to find temporary shelter in other cities. However, they are still ministering in their home community as well as their temporary communities. It is awesome to see how God is working through them. As you can imagine, their financial needs are overwhelming. Cash flow has become a problem. Please consider making an online donation to help this church so that they can share the love of Jesus with other evacuees and folks back home. Check out Paul's Blog at lifechurchinfo.com.

Disaster Relief

The GOBA clean-up and recovery unit has been mobilized.  The volunteer crew will leave for Hattiesburg, Mississippi on Sunday, September 4. Please pray for our crew as they join SBC disaster relief efforts along the Gulf coast.

Storm Refugees

Good News!

I just got off the phone with a pastor from Houston. Their church family is offering to provide housing for Paul and his crew. Praise God!

Displaced Families Need Help

Many of us know of people who have been displaced from their homes due to the effects of hurricane Katrina...  I’ve been in touch with a friend who is a pastor in Mandeville, LA and has relocated to a hotel in Houston, Texas.   There are 20 adults and children with him from his church.  They are in need of temporary housing and basic necessities.  I am attempting to connect them with churches in the area.  Please pray for Paul Smith, his family and those with him.  

Our hearts are heavy burdened for those who have been affected by this storm and its aftermath.  We can pray, give and volunteer to help those in need.  Here are some suggested prayer items:

1. Healing and health for the injured.


2. Wisdom and strength for relief workers.


3. Consolation for those who have lost loved ones.


4. Peace and comfort for those who are displaced, particularly those housed in the Superdome.


5. Cessation of looting and a spirit of lawfulness on the part of all.


6. Restoration of power and water supplies.


7. Food and water to come quickly to those stranded and homeless.


8. Swift and efficient implementation of aid by government agencies.

If you would like to make a financial contribution to the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Fund, make checks payable to the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and mail to: NAMB, P.O. Box 116543, Atlanta, GA 30368-6543.
To make a donation online,  Click here.
For volunteer opportunities, check the following websites:
SBC Disaster Relief Operations
Florida Baptist Convention Disaster Relief

Godcasting and Spirtuality

Today, I would like to draw your attention to a couple of news article that I think are relevant to reaching our culture.  

The first is the cover story of last week’s Newsweek magazine about Spirituality in America.  The “God is Dead” movement has been dead itself for a long time.  Americans are seeking experiential relationships with God, while most churches are still trying to prove that He exists.  

The second is the International Herald Tribune’s article on “Godcasting.” Podcasting is proving to be an effective medium for reaching busy people with the message of Christ.  

How are you changing your message delivery system to reach a changing culture?

Odyssey Worship Gathering

I had an awesome time with Odyssey Community Church today. Here is the video I shot while I was with them in worship. Odyssey is sponsored by East Orlando Baptist Church. Byron Kirkpatrick is the church planter.




If the video does not play immediately, rick click on the link and save it to your hard drive. This is a 160MB file.

Visionary Leader

I am enjoying a couple of days with the NAMB church planting mentoring team here in Atlanta. We are considering revisions for Church Planter Basic Training for 2006.


After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. (Acts 16:10)

It is the leader’s job to cast a clear and compelling vision. If he can’t do that, he should consider letting someone else lead. Paul received the vision and shared it with his team. The team discerned that the vision was in line with God’s character and that Paul wasn’t off his rocker. Once the vision was confirmed, they acted on it immediately.

Followers are looking for leaders to set the agenda, to have direction and to present it in a clear, consistent and compelling manner. Nobody wants to gamble their precious resources on a leader who doesn’t know where he is leading. However, team members want to be consulted, included in the decision making process and have an opportunity to weigh in on the vision.

A Godly vision becomes obvious to followers of Jesus Christ. Those who live by faith don’t need much time to respond to God’s call for a change in direction. To borrow a phrase... they Just Do It! Make sure it’s real… make sure it’s clear… make sure it’s from God.

Vision Harmony

I am in the Orlando airport waiting for my flight to Atlanta. I will be participating in a workgroup with the Mentoring Team of the NAMB Church Planting Group. We are in the process of developing a Basic Training resource for sponsor churches

Re: Vision - A clear and compelling vision is what unites team members, core groups and congregations. In Acts 16, Paul received a revelation from God. The vision came from God to Paul, he shared it with his team, they concluded it was from God and they adjusted their plans immediately. It is interesting to note that Luke uses the word “we” for the first time in this passage. Obviously he bought in to the vision and made it his own. The result – the gospel was introduced to Europe!

Check it out…

During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. (Acts 16:9-10)

Are you suffering from double vision?

Have you ever noticed that vision is the root word for division? According to Merriam-Webster online dictionary, the prefix di means “twice, twofold, double.” So, couldn’t we conclude that division in a church or organization stems from competing visions? This was a problem for the church at Corinth:

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ." (I Corinthians: 10-12)

Vision harmony is a challenge for many church planters. This is especially true when a core group is developed with people from differing backgrounds and traditions. We will talk more about this tomorrow. For now, I am interested in your thoughts...

Acts 1:8 Who will it take?

I am sitting in a meeting with our ministry staff and the question has been asked, “Who will it take to fulfill Acts 1:8.” One of our pastors has suggested the following:

Visionary Leaders - Getting the vision into the church

• See it clearly
• Say it continuously
• Show it creatively

Engaged Churches - Getting church into the culture

• Locally
• Association
• Globally

Transformed People - Getting God into your world

• Home
• Neighborhood
• Marketplace

What do you think?

To the Ends of the Earth

I'm currently reading...



I am really enjoying this book. It is long overdue. Get more details at imb.org

New Podcast

Westpoint Fellowship Church, a mission of Church at the Mall in Lakeland and FBC Orlando, is podcasting weekly news and events about doing life together. Check it out at http://feeds.feedburner.com/wfclife

Greetings from Atlanta

I am in Atlanta this week for the Church Planter Missionary Forum hosted by the North American Mission Board. NAMB is rolling out some new resources for sponsor churches. Most of these church planting tools are available for download from The Church Planting Village. I am excited to see a shift in focus toward sponsor and partner churches. I think these new resources will go a long way toward fanning the flame of church multiplication movements. While you are at the Village, check out the webcast version of Church Planter Basic Training.

Currently Reading...

UpRising: A Revolution of the Soul

Podcasting Update

Apple just made it easier to automatically download podcasts!

Downloading Podcasts
Christian Podcast Directory
Creating Podcasts


Podcasting is one step closer to going mainstream thanks to Steve Jobs. Apple released itunes 4.9 today with a built in podcast catcher. (For windows users, itunes is like your windows media player.) It allows you to download, play, and sync media files to portable devices like ipods. This means that podcast listeners only need to use one application for managing their podcast subscriptions.

Before today, only a true geek would go through the trouble of downloading ipodder, su
bscribe to a podcast and actually synchronize it to his/her ipod. Now that podcasting is built right into itunes and the itunes music store, average computer users will become more likely to listen to portable radio shows known as podcasts.

Podcasting is a media reformation that rivals the invention of Gutenberg’s moveable type printing press. Anyone (including yours truly) with a computer and a microphone can create their own virtual radio station and make it available to world via the internet. Podcasts are not limited by geography, radio frequency, time of day or broadcast facilities.

Just as the Bible was the first book to be printed on Gutenberg’s press, “Godcasting” has made its mark as one of the most popular podcasting genres. “Godcasting” is a buzz word among podcasters to describe the phenomenon of so many pastors converting audio recordings of their sermons into mp3 files and syndicating them on the web via RSS feeds. A few savvy Christians with the gift of gab have gotten a little creative with podcasting technology and produced some Godcasts specifically with today’s internet users in mind.

Use your imagination. If you could create your own podcast, what would it sound like? How would you get your message out to the world? Post your comments and let me know.

imosaic

This is an official buzz: imosaic is coming. If you're interested in linking up with the iMosaic community register at imosaic.org --a community of bloggers and bohemians.

Church Planter's Network

We had an awesome time at the HolyLand Experience in Orlando yesterday. Twelve church planters gathered for prayer, networking and encouragement. We even enjoyed some great Mediterranean cuisine (if you count "Goliath Burgers" as Mediterranean). The staff at the Holy Land Experience were so hospitable to us that we cannot thank them enough. They provided us with a conference room for our meeting, served us coffee and gave us a tour of the park. After lunch, a few of us went through the Scriptorium, definitely my favorite attraction. The church planters
network meets the 3rd Thursday of each month. Locations and meeting times vary. For information on next month's meeting, email me - mweible@goba.org.