Post-Tornado Mental Health Concerns

One week ago tonight, residents of Belcourt and Rolla were taking shelter, as a major Tornado tor...  More »

One week ago tonight, residents of Belcourt and Rolla were taking shelter, as a major Tornado tore through the area. The National Weather Service measured the twister as an EF-3 on a scale of zero to five, with winds up to 165 miles per hour. Now, mental health providers say they are preparing to offer help to those who lost homes, cars, and other property. Jim Olson reports... (Jim Olson, KX News) When a tornado as scary as this one is bearing down on you, you have reason to be fearful. Especially when you're at a camp for kids and the storm's right on top of you. (So you were in your truck?) (Mark Hamley, Anishinabe Center) Yeah, we were in the truck. First his window blew out, then my window blew out and it was time to hit the floor and so that's what we did. (Jim Olson, KX News) Mark Hamley had to ride out the tornado in his truck (Mark Hamley, Anishinabe Center) They kept the kids close to the buildings and luckily reacted fast and got all the kids inside the buildings and safe. They really reacted fast and saved lives. (Jim Olson, KX News) But what happens now - a week after the storm is passed? Mental health workers spent time with some of the kids at the center today, answering their questions and fears. And those experts say it's important to keep an eye on kids who were near the tornado. (Andrea Laverdure, Social Worker) If they see sleeplessness, or loss of apetite or fear, then they should talk to somebody about their kids and see what they can do about that. (Jim Olson, KX News) Laverdure works at the Lake Region Health Service Center in Rolla. So does Lisa Neameyer, who says it's been great to see the community pull together to get through the storm. (Lisa Neameyer, Social Worker) They've had so much support from the community and their friends that have just pulled together that they haven't had time to realize what has taken place. (Jim Olson, KX News) It's when that realization comes - that homes are a shambles - that so much of what has been accumulated in life is blown away - that mental health services may be needed. (Lisa Neameyer, Social Worker) That's when it kind of hits and you realize the emotional struggles that go along with the physical damages that need to be taken care of. (Duane Gourneau, Mental Health Specialist) There are people out there impacted at greater levels than others and we expect that we're probably going to be seeing some of those folks coming in. (Jim Olson, KX News) Gourneau says mental health offices in Belcourt and Rolla stand ready to help. And he says one thing working in their favor is the fact that no lives were lost in the tornado. (Duane Gourneau, Mental Health Specialist) You might say there were a number of mini-miricles in the community. In Belcourt, Jim Olson, KX News. Officials from the USDA, state Department of Emergency Services, Department of Human Services, and Department of Health are on the scene, offering assistance to those affected by the storm. If you need help, just contact your local county offices for information. On the web, go to helpRolettecounty.blogspot.com  « Less