For Immediate Release

Contact: John M. Martino
Phone Number:  (215) 895-1186
Date: 08/29/01

Hurricane Survivors Need Time To Grieve Over Lost Possessions

-- A University of the Sciences in Philadelphia Health Tip --

The Atlantic Hurricane season is upon us, and many residents of the Atlantic and Gulf Coast states are bracing themselves for major storms, high winds and flooding throughout the season.  Even with ample warning, these forces of nature can cause devastation in a blink of an eye.  And when the storms pass, the worst is sometimes left behind.  Knowing that their family has survived is a blessing, but many survivors still feel incredible grief when they realize all their possessions, such as their house, furniture and keepsakes, have been destroyed.  According to Suzanne Trump, instructor of Occupational Therapy at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, hurricane survivors will hurt in relationship to the significance of what they lost.

"If they lost a loved one or friend, there is a deep sense of grief," says Trump.  "Once they learn that everyone is fine, there is a sense of gratitude, but most survivors are still in a very emotionally heightened state.  They look at what used to be their house, and they feel totally helpless.  They're overwhelmed and don't know where to start."

According to Trump, society associates grief only with death.  But what about a family whose house has been demolished and all their belongings are left in rumble?  Trump says hurricane survivors should be allowed to lament over lost possessions.

"Lost or damaged pictures are possessions that survivors grieve over the most," adds Trump.  "Pictures chronicle a family's life and tell their story concretely.  If your sofa or dining room table is destroyed, you can always buy a new one.  To lose pictures of children and loved ones in various stages of life is horrible because they can never be replicated.  It's the same with possessions that are passed down from generation to generation.  People shouldn't feel ashamed to feel sorrow after losing valuable and meaningful possessions after a traumatic event.  They should be reminded that it is normal and healthy to feel this way."

Hurricane survivors put their lives on hold when their major possessions are lost, but Trump says it is important for them to maintain their daily regimen that they have grown accustomed.

"We define our lives by the things we do on a daily basis, it's our routine," says Trump.  "When something like this happens, it destroys that routine.  The normal things that give people meaning, such as going to work or taking care of the family, are disrupted.  The most important thing for them to do is to maintain as much of their normal day-to-day activities as possible.  It's tough to step into their normal routine altogether, but doing so gradually is extremely important."

To arrange an interview, contact John M. Martino at (215) 895-1186 or e-mail at j.martin@usip.edu.

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