As Tsunami Recovery Proceeds, Experts Ponder Lessons for Future Disasters

Institutional Tipping Points in Organizational Climate Change Adaptation Processes

“…Nowhere was this more evident as with the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, which, triggered by extensive media coverage of the vast and confronting impact of the disaster, created an almost global literacy of the physical causes and consequences of submarine earthquakes, and was followed by an outpour of private donations from around the world. As a result, early warning systems were developed, improved and rolled out in most countries around the Indian Ocean, the Pacific and in other parts of the world, and the term tsunami became standard vocabulary of school children in places geographically far removed from tsunami threats (see for example Lamberg 2005;Régnier et al 2008;Raju and Becker 2013).…”

Development of a Screening Instrument for Post-Traumatic Symptoms

“…This tsunami struck Sri Lanka and 13 other countries in and around the Indian Ocean. It is estimated that over 220,000 people lost their lives (Spiegel, 2006), and another fi ve million people were left homeless (Lamberg, 2005). Sri Lankans were among the most affected with the loss of family members, friends, neighbours, homes, neighbourhoods, jobs, personal belongings and a death toll of approximately 40,000 (Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconciliation, 2005).…”

“…These consequences are exacerbated because Sri Lanka has a limited number of mental health professionals. At the time the tsunami hit Sri Lanka, fi ve million people lived in the areas directly affected, yet only fi ve persons with any sort of mental health training (psychiatrists) practiced in this region (Lamberg, 2005). The tsunami's devastation, preceded by generations of civil wars, overwhelmed Sri Lankans' traditional cultural methods of coping (e.g., relying on the support of neighbours, extended family and religious organisations) (Lamberg, 2005;Perera, 1995).…”

Mental Health Needs in a Post-Disaster Environment

“…In this situation, people with mental illness must be allowed to verbalize their feelings and concerns and must be informed of changes occurring during the course of the disaster. They must receive the message that although many aspects of life will change, they are still em-powered and expected to care for themselves within their ability (Lamberg, 2005).…”

“…A disaster may precipitate symptoms of mental distress such as insomnia, anger, and anxiety; these symptoms are normal consequences in the aftermath of a disaster. When the symptoms are experienced by the general population, they are more accurately termed psychological distress and cannot be identified as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or as an onset of severe mental illness (Lamberg, 2005).…”