Know Your Resources Before An Emergency
Our weekly wellness challenge was to “know your resources”. This is a great way to continue our efforts to live a well-balanced life. In time we encounter obstacles that threaten to throw us off course. These obstacles could include natural storms, family issues, and/or personal crisis. These types of emergencies are often out of our control. If you haven’t had a chance to explore the regional resources available to you, fret not! We have compiled some of the most useful ones together in this post.
Environmental Emergency
We can’t stop the damage of natural disasters but by being prepared we can mitigate potential damage. Start by making a plan for environmental disasters most common in your area. Coastal Virginia is threatened by tropical storms, hurricanes, and flooding every year. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management provides every region an evacuation zone. If needed, each zone will receive evacuation notices to give time for a safe departure. Make sure you know your zone and the route you will take when you need to evacuate. The Virginia Department of Health is another great resource. It helps you construct a plan for your family and pets when a hurricane hits.
Family Emergency
It’s equally important to prepare for family emergencies. Support strategies can help prepare us for the unexpected. Whether it be substance abuse, unexpected medical issues, or deteriorating mental wellness there are resources to help. Curb the Crisis is a task force started by Virginia’s Governor to be a comprehensive resource for anyone that is in the fight against opioid misuse. The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services is a great resource for mental health. They use their connections in the community and state to provide information on what steps to take when services are needed.
It would be remiss of us not to acknowledge the support that Virginia provides to our veterans and military families. The Virginia Department of Veterans Services is a statewide organization that supports families through the unique challenges they face.
Personal Emergency
Last but never least we need to prepare for our own personal emergencies. We are often so focused on taking care of others that we can forget to plan and prepare for ourselves. Do you know who you would call if you found yourself in the middle of a crisis? Justice William C. Mims recommends writing down the list of people you would reach out to. Then make a commitment to keep in regular contact with that support group. Sometimes a larger community of support is necessary. Use Psychology Today to find local support groups for a wide range of challenges in life.
We hope you find these resources helpful. Virginia has many resources to help its citizens when needed. What did we miss? Share with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
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