You see Facebook posts circulating about severe weather occurring in a few days.
You are breathless. Your hands are clammy. Your whole body begins to shiver. You search every possible weather account on social media. You want to know every little detail.
Countless questions run through your mind.
Should I flee to my cousin’s house in another state? Am I prepared? Do I have plenty of food in case I lose power for a week? What if the tornado hits me directly and I perish? Why does this have to happen to me?
All because of a severe weather prediction.
This is the reality for people with storm anxiety.
After the Dec. 10, 2021, EF4 tornado plowed through countless western Kentuckians’ homes. The people in the area not only fear storms, but they also fear the potential of storms. They fear the warnings leading up to the storm, the storm itself and their own thoughts regarding the potential aftermath.
Storm anxiety, also known as astraphobia, is the fear of thunder and lightning. This fear is most common in children, but adults can fear thunderstorms.
Additionally, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that is developed by witnessing or experiencing a terrifying event. It is a common misconception that only adults can experience PTSD. The fact is, anyone, at any age, can develop PTSD.
The two can go hand-in-hand, or either can be experienced separately. PTSD can result in anxiety, and anxiety can be felt without the long-lasting psychological effects of PTSD.
Taylor West, a reporter for the Mayfield Messenger in Mayfield, Kentucky, was on a trip to Chicago when the December tornado struck her hometown. West said she has always been someone who loves storms. Ironically, her favorite movie is “Twister.”
However, severe weather hit western Kentucky again April 13. While it was much less severe compared to the December event, it sparked major anxiety for West.
“It got so bad that it knocked pictures off the wall,” West said. “I ended up having a panic attack, which was just random for me, considering I wasn’t even nervous listening to the reporting all day.”
Adults, as well as children and teens, need help processing their emotions about storms, considering anxiety and PTSD can affect a person of any age.
Courtney Williams, the youth coordinator for the Graves County Agency for Substance Abuse Policy (ASAP), said storm anxiety and possibly PTSD in Mayfield youth exists, and it’s extremely evident. Williams said students have experienced flashbacks, emotional numbness, avoidance, sweating, irrational fear, detached personality and sadness. These are all signs of storm anxiety and PTSD.
Specifically, emotional numbness is not a direct result of a traumatic event. However, PTSD is associated with hyperresponsivity to negative stimuli, according to a study by the National Library of Medicine.
“Every case of PTSD is different and shows in different ways,” Williams said. “I had to go to the doctor to get something to help with my nightmares and emotional numbness.”
West said she also experienced numbness when she returned home that December weekend.
“Honestly, I don’t think I reacted in sadness or sorrow,” West said. “I just kind of went numb to it because how are you really supposed to react to something like this? It wasn’t until I got back into town – it was night, and it was absolutely pitch black everywhere. That’s not normal for us here.”
In turn, West said she has noticed that schools in the affected area are adjusting to the aftermath by proceeding with extreme caution if potential exists for severe weather.
Mayfield Independent Schools and Graves County Schools have dismissed early twice this semester for the safety of their students.
“It’s major,” West said. “Schools are letting out early if there is a thunderstorm with risk of a tornado. One, so kids can get to their families, but two, so they can use the schools for shelter.”
Kayla Powell is a children’s therapist in Paducah, Kentucky and a Marshall County tornado victim. Her family lost most of their home, except for two rooms. Powell said there are long-term effects from living through a natural disaster that impacted her whole family.
Powell said her family is unable to eat the same meal they had Dec. 10.
“It’s just a reminder,” Powell said. “It’s odd how things are so different after you experience something like that.”
Powell said she is able to recognize her own traumatic triggers because of her profession as a children’s trauma therapist.
Just knowing that I still struggle with the wind blowing a certain way and that my body will respond. I can still hear the noises from the tornado.
Kayla Powell
“If it’s thundering outside, your body can still respond in ways that you weren’t really prepared,” Powell said. “Just knowing that I still struggle with the wind blowing a certain way and that my body will respond. I can still hear the noises from the tornado.”
Healing from a traumatic event is extremely difficult for every person. Children heal differently because they may not display signs of PTSD until later in life. Most children and teenagers are resilient and will return to normal functioning following a natural disaster, according to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America.
“A key element in a child’s or a teen’s recovery from a traumatic event is the support from parents, teachers and other adults,” according to ADAA.
A way to overcome storm anxiety is to reassure yourself and your children that you are prepared if disaster strikes.
Powell said each member of her family has a backpack with a change of clothes, a toothbrush and basic toiletries.
Williams said she has a friend who lost her home, and she carries a bag with her medication, a change of clothes and chargers everywhere she goes.
Along with support from parents, most children attend school eight hours a day, so there is ample time for teachers to reinforce severe weather safety.
Molly Myers, a third grade teacher at Southwest Calloway County Elementary, said she talks to her students about safety precautions for when they are home during a severe storm.
“We talked about putting shoes on if they heard there was a tornado warning,” Myers said. “We talked about where to go in their house and what an interior room is. We even talked about putting on a bicycle helmet or an old football helmet.”
Members of the weather community have also taken action to help support children in their recovery.
Beau Dodson, chief meteorologist at Weather Talk, LLC, told the Mayfield Messenger he created an outreach program following a 2003 tornado in Southern Illinois where Dodson lives. The program distributed teddy bears and trauma information to the kids and their parents in grades head start through second or third grade.
According to ADAA, accepting what you can’t control can actually alleviate storm anxiety.
“Nobody can control the path of the storm or its damage,” according to ADAA. “Excessive worrying that one may hit you will not change anything except your emotional well-being.”
After a severe storm, it’s important to follow your daily routine as much as possible, do something positive and spend time with trusted people in your life for support.
Next time the thunder rumbles, your house shakes, the tornado sirens blare and your heart feels like it could explode, you and your family will know you are prepared. While recovery is not easy, it is possible.
270 Stories videographer Joey Reynolds talked with Dr. Angie Trzepacz, director of Murray State Counseling Services, and students about how storm anxiety has affected the University community.
If anxiety and PTSD persist and become unbearable, seek the assistance of a mental health professional.
Natural Disaster Emotional Distress Resources:
Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741-741
Disaster Distress Hotline 1-800-985-5990
