1 © Paul Hendy - Scottish Flood Forum You don’t have to die to lose your life Paul Hendy –...

1© Paul Hendy - Scottish Flood Forum

You don’t have to die to lose your life

Paul Hendy –Recovery Consultant Scottish Flood Forum

Phone – 077 477 02299 e-mail - [email protected]


Flooding is a people Flooding is a people issueissue

People get hurt Communities damaged People want to be listened to They want you to care They want to understand who you are, what you do, what your abilities/constraints are, how they can work with you Importantly, they want to be involved in the

planning for their future


Human & Social Human & Social ImpactImpact


Flood Trauma - Effects

• People doing something normal when -something abnormal happens

• Disables us from normal functions• Coping mechanisms fail• People say this is the last straw –

people come with individual history


Flood Effects:Flood Effects:• Recovery period is often worse than the

disaster itself• Recovery must be appropriate to the

phase of the disaster • Responsive help is often more practical

than psychological in nature• Survivors respond to interest and

concern


Top Ten Stressful Life EventsTop Ten Stressful Life Events

1. Spouse’s death 2. Divorce 3. Marriage separation 4. Jail term 5. Death of a close relative 6. Injury or illness 7. Marriage 8. Fired from job 9. Marriage reconciliation 10. Retirement

Its all about LOSS


Grief / Loss Cycle

Human & Social Impact - Human & Social Impact - Key IssuesKey Issues

Lack of Information Poor working / home environment Lack of control over the situation Frequent distractions Failure to achieve Goals Conflict in the home / workplace Conflict with core values and beliefs Loneliness Financial worries


What They Said:

• ‘I had to scream at people on the phone to prompt any response’.

• ‘From the off we have been fed lies, filled with false information, forced to struggle for every minute of service. We have felt helpless, and abandoned’.


Problems Survivors Faced Problems Survivors Faced

Often had multiple needs Usually had to liaise with different

services who didn’t talk to each other Had to do all of the chasing Usually ended up being passed from

pillar to post


‘Builders are not builders, are more like a demolition squad who has left the house in a worse state than the flood ever did!’

What They Said:


Christmas Party

• Children wanted nothing for Christmas because ‘the floods would take it all away’


Human & Social Impact - Human & Social Impact - SymptomsSymptoms

• 65% - 44% Had difficulties following the floods

• 37% - 44% Sought help from their GP

• 26% - 20% Received Medication

• 25% - 66% Said this was insufficient

• 50% - 60% Had trouble sleeping,

• 49% - 62% Felt low,

• 23% - 84% Easily Upset

• 67% / 60% said they had much higher stress levels than last year - of these 72% / 78% had not sought help.


Human & Social Impact – Human & Social Impact – Coping Coping • Turning to friends 41% - 42%

• Family 29% - 32%

• Alcohol 18% - 16%

• Smoking 15% - 16%

• Church 11% - 6%

• Being back home 45% - 76% said this had not reduced their stress levels.

• The highest response came from the 46 - 55 yr. age group 17% - 52% followed by 56 - 64 yrs 17% - 30%

• Saddest response - ‘I wish I was Dead’.


Human & Social Impact - Human & Social Impact - CausesCauses

Main causes of stress: A B• Builders 39% - 54%• Loss Adjusters 38% - 72%• Personal effects 37% - 40%• Accommodation 23% - 44%

The biggest effect of stress: • The Home 45% - 68%• Relationships 29% - 66%• Work 25% - 40%• Finances 22% - 38%


Longer term EffectsLonger term Effects

• Numbness and loss of deep feelings• Depression, guilt and anxiety• Retreat from relationships• Avoidance of activities that may trigger

memories of the event• Avoidance of dealing with the grief and

anger• Avoidance of symptoms by using "self-

medication" with alcohol or drugs

Helping Children Cope with Stress


Defining Defining Community Engagement

“Community Engagement is the process of building relationships with community members who will work side-by-side with you as an ongoing partner, in any and every way imaginable, building an army of support for your programme, with the end goal of making the community a better place to live”.


Why do we need engagement ?Why do we need engagement ?

Emergencies over-stretch resources

No single agency can resolve all issues

Volunteers and local organisations are part of local communities

A large-scale emergency requires a large-scale response


Why engage with communities?Why engage with communities? Local people first to help: Stonehaven, Moray, Perth,

Dumfries, Hawick Evidence shows top-down, interventions less

effective, People at risk may be unknown to their own local

agencies Community-led approaches are more likely to be

self-sustaining when services leave Communities possess vital local knowledge to

create long-lasting solutions to complex disasters Cost-effective


Community Flood Resilience GroupsCommunity Flood Resilience Groups

• Are able to support Vulnerable people • Have contact with individuals who may not

be know to help organisations• Are respected and trusted• Have key local knowledge• Increase the support structure• Remain when task is finished


Contact details - Phone – 077 477 02299e-mail - [email protected]

The End

Thank you

1 © Paul Hendy - Scottish Flood Forum You don’t have to die to lose your life Paul Hendy –...

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