AUSTIN, Texas — The devastating floods that swept through Central Texas have taken lives and washed away homes, but the impact goes beyond physical damage. Even for those not directly impacted, watching the tragedy unfold can take a toll on mental health across the region.
Mary Power and her brother, William, grew up going to summer camp, and their younger sister is currently at a camp in East Texas. Mary says one of her childhood friends was at Camp Mystic as a counselor when the deadly flooding hit, where numerous children and counselors lost their lives in the flash floods.
“It’s just hard to think about a world where, um, that could have happened to her, and she goes, and the unthinkable happens,” William and Mary Power said.
“Something that devastating, middle of the night, not a lot of warning, um, it just makes you really think a lot,” Mary said.
Mary says her friend is safe and was able to get out with her campers.
“Seeing first-hand devastation from them, it was just kind of heartbreaking,” she said.
Licensed clinical social worker Jamie Figari, with Bloom Therapy in Austin, says it is important to talk about your experiences with those who might be sharing similar feelings.
“So initially, it’s shock and feelings of dissociation … that comes with being, you know, bombarded even visually with the stories and things that we’re hearing about,” Figari said.
ALSO| Search for missing Marble Falls fire chief enters fourth day
She says there can be a sense of collective trauma when natural disasters hit in or close to your community.
“We tend to just get pulled into sort of these emotional cycles as well, of, you know, wanting to, wanting to kind of involve ourselves in helping in some way,” Figari said.
That’s what college student Carolina and her friends were doing as they went door-to-door Tuesday, asking businesses if they could hang flyers on windows.
“We’re trying to get funding and, you know, like all of these objects, things that we can go and donate to communities affected around Texas,” Carolina said.
They’re working to spread awareness on how people can help with flood relief across Central Texas.
Some of the items they are collecting are toothbrushes, deodorant, and hand sanitizer.
Donations can be dropped off at Joe S. Mundy Hall, 1001 E. University Ave., Georgetown, TX, 78626.
If you would like to make a monetary donation, you can Venmo @upwardbound_texasfloodrelief.
You can also donate to the American Red Cross, The Caring Place, and the Salvation Army.
“Some of the people affected are people in my community. I have a friend, and some of her classmates passed away,” Carolina said.
The tragedy has caused many to reflect and appreciate the people they have in their lives.
“We’re just praying and hoping everyone stays safe and that families get a lot of closure,” Power said.
Experts say it is normal to feel a range of emotions during disasters like these and recommend checking in with yourself and talking with family, friends, or professionals if you need help processing what happened.
Bloom Therapy in Austin says they are providing discounted rates for therapy for flood victims, and also providing different resources.
If you would like to reach out to them, you can call (512) 810-7645 or email them at [email protected].
link
