Psychology of Tornado Recovery Finds Little Support Locally

A tornado recovery "support session" organized by a Crestwood psychologist had plenty of experts Monday night but no tornado survivors from the New Year's Eve local tornado.

Dr. Larry Kiel, leading the group, was puzzled by the lack of turnout from tornado survivors. Topics were to include coping—or perhaps not coping in a healthy way—with the trauma of tornado disaster.

However, psychologist Dr. Steven Bruce, director of the Center for Trauma Recovery at University of Missouri St. Louis, pointed out avoidance is behavior common to post-traumatic stress disorder—something tornado victims may experience. Joplin's tornado devastation may have exacerbated the stress.

Bruce was part of the panel of experts at the recovery session on the Lindbergh campus. He said it was typical to react to disaster afterward with fear, jumpiness, insomnia and other symptoms, for about a month. But if the behavior dragged on and on—ruining a life—it is likely an unhealthy reaction to trauma.

However, only 6 percent react with a full-blown stress disorder, Bruce said. Meaning 94 percent recover, and regain a normal life path.

Kiel proposed confronting reactions to the disaster by talking about it, or sometimes hypnosis. His point was to base it in reality as to what happened, what didn't happen, what could or couldn't happen in the future—for example. He said turning it into an un-reality or fantasy of sorts, did not lead to healthy recovery.

Sunset Hills social worker Arlene Miller, another panelist, said she had seen people turn to gambling, or other addictive behaviors, in order to cope with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Weather anchor for KSDK-TV5 Anthony Slaughter, also a panelist, described how tornadoes are formed. He blamed the Gulf of Mexico for a warm, moist, low air stream that could clash with colder air, and cause dangerous disturbances.

"It's important to have a plan," Slaughter said. "You can survive an EF4 tornado." He said he warns his neighbors if he hears bad weather is coming and he sees them outside, oblivious. He advised others to do the same.

He said part of the plans for disaster should include:

• Keep your shoes on, because of debris
• Find a room as far from windows as possible
• Keep pillows and blankets handy, for cushioning and possible protection
• Get a weather radio
• Don't go out if you hear bad weather is on the way
• Think ahead about where trees or other objects could fall into your house, and avoid

Members of the Fenton Fire District, also panelists, described the scene of the New Year's Eve tornado, and their roles in dealing with the aftermath. One of them said it looked like "a war zone."

Crestwood police Deputy Chief Frank Arnoldy advised residents to know more than one way home by car, since disasters typically cause road closures.

"You'd be surprised at the number of folks who only know one way to get home," Arnoldy said.

Kiel has an office address of Watson Road at Sturdy.