soggybloggy

A welcoming place to point younger survivors towards the light.

Name: Earl

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This blog exists solely because of Hurricane Betsy's effect on me, and my wish to warn you of the possible effects Hurricane Katrina might have on you. If you are young (3-16) you may not yet realize the powerful effect of such a devastating event on your mind and emotions, even your physical comfort. Although I was only 3 years old at the time Hurricane Betsy rolled through "The Parish" the event had a powerful and lasting effect on my life. I have suffered from anxiety, sleep disorders, worry and depression. And over the years I've come to realize the major effect of Hurricane Betsy was to instill in me a deep lack of trust. Trust in the security of my surroundings, trust in my father, and even trust in God all suffered in my reaction to the destruction of '65 and, later, with Hurricane Camille in "69. I needn't imagine what it is like for a child to have to live with the constant fear of such a thing happening again, especially with the annual hurricane season always posing a very real threat. You may not feel that my musings have anything at all to do with you and your situation, but then neither did I for many years. It was only after researching Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that I realized the root cause of my troubles was indeed Betsy (Who would think an event that happened when I was 3 years old could have such an effect on my adult life?. Over the years I had learned to suppress the anxiety and " be strong for others." I also drank too much and tried not to think about the past. Well, as we all learned from Katrina the fear of waking with your bedroom filling with 8-10 feet or more of water is a very real one. I urge anyone who plans to rebuild in the still very vulnerable areas of New Orleans or St. Bernard Parish, especially if you have kids who have gone through Katrina, to take seriously the possible long-term effects of such a decision. At least take the P.T.S.D. test at left under the "Helpful links" section, or let your kids take it... and consider seeking professional help if any of the symptoms apply to you. I am not doctor or professional health provider. I simply wish to help others avoid my demons by sharing my story. God bless, Earl

Saturday, September 10, 2005

A Warning, 40 yrs. Old

A Warning, 40 yrs. Old
Originally uploaded by Gna42.

Katrina was different, worse than any hurrricane to hit St. Bernard Parish in it's history, including Betsy back in November of 1965. Over the years residents were able to push the unease aside and "look sideways" at that unpleasent possibility of evacuation and destruction, but one can dodge a bullet only so many times. How many people really took the lessons of Betsy and Camille to heart?

How does one tell people about the utter devastaion left in Katrina's wake and have them really believe them, I mean have it REALLY sink in? Maybe pictures are needed to help people, especially survivors, come to terms with the vast nature of this particular storm. Please click on the links to the left, especially the Arial Views link, to get a better idea of what has really happened.

2 Comments:

Jessica said...: Hey Earl-
I just wanted to say how proud I am of you for making this inspiring blog. I referenced it on MY blog, in case any of my readers wanted to check it out.
Love
Julie; 10:12 PM
Jessica said...: Ps: my blog uses aliases so as to protect the guilty, so that's why you'll see different names!; 10:13 PM

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Saturday, September 10, 2005

A Warning, 40 yrs. Old

2 Comments: