Opinion: Milton forced us to evacuate our Tampa home. But my kids won't come out unscathed.
TAMPA, Fla. — As I sit on my bedroom closet floor, writing this column in the middle of preparing for Hurricane Milton, I can't help but think about how natural disasters affect my children.
From missing their friends to long-term school absences, along with the fear of the unknown, my children are resilient, but they won't come out of this unscathed. And that hurts.
This week, I frantically deep-cleaned the house while my spouse put up hurricane shutters around our two-story home. It was raining outside, and not ideal to be atop a 16-foot ladder, but as he stated, it was now or never.
As Milton moved closer, the rain and wind grew stronger and were a precursor of what was to come. On Tuesday, my family evacuated south to Key Largo.
Hurricane takes toll on children's mental health
Natural disasters like Hurricane Milton leave lasting imprints on the physical and emotional landscapes of communities. While the physical destruction receives significant attention, there is much more damage that you don't see, including the mental and academic destruction wreaking havoc in the lives of children.
The emotional toll of hurricanes on children can be long lasting. Imagine the fear and confusion a childfeels when the winds howl, windows shatter and floodwaters rise.
The unpredictability and danger leave many children feeling powerless, anxious and even traumatized. According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, children exposed to such disasters are at a high risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety.
It's hard for children to fully express how they feel, and experiencing trauma like a natural disaster canlead to nightmares or negative behavioral changes. In the past, I’ve noticed that my son became clingier even months after a storm.
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Some children might regress to earlier stages of development, such as bedwetting as a response to the trauma they’ve experienced.
Trauma responses can persist for years, influencing their academic performance, social interactions and emotional growth if left untreated.
Loss of time in school has long-term consequences
In the last three weeks, my children have missed six days of school not by choice but because our schools were closed due to Hurricane Helene and now Hurricane Milton. In the past, our schools have closed because of structural damage to buildings or because they were used as shelters.
Education provides structure, a sense of safety and a chance to socialize with peers − supporting our children’semotional and cognitive development. When school closures are prolonged, it exacerbates feelings of insecurity and delays academic progress, especially for students like my son who have autism and other special needs.
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Thankfully my family has had to evacuate only once before this week. It takes a toll when a family is forced to separate children from their friends and to isolate them during a time when they need connection the most.
Still, children are remarkably resilient when provided with the right support after natural disasters. As parents and caregivers, we can help by encouraging our children to express their fears openly and provide reassurance.
In my family, we involve our children in recovery efforts, such as cleaning up the neighborhood and supporting community members who are without homes. This can increase a sense of empowerment, reduce long-term emotional scarring and help children rebuild their sense of safety and control.
A hurricane can affect children long after the storm passes, hurting their mental health and hindering their education. While children may not always have the tools to understand or communicate the full extent of their trauma, with our support, they can recover and thrive.
It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the most vulnerable among us have the support and love they need to heal and rebuild after disaster strikes.
Marla Bautista is a military fellow columnist at USA TODAY Opinion.