Supporting Those Affected by Floods

We have listed below an extensive list of links and downloads providing high quality information to assist you, or those relatives and friends that you support, through the trauma and shock of a flood disaster. This page will be updated and remain online for several months as the ongoing floods and their aftermath continues. (Photo above by Sweetbixkid, Dec 27th 2010)

Scroll through to the sections most relevant to you.

See the range of special disaster aftermath and trauma support resources here. These can be purchased online or by phoning Skylight directly on 0800 299 100 (NZ) or +6449296767 (international) and they will be posted to you as soon as possible.

See also the activities and links available in our children's and youth pages, which includes links to activities to help them work through strong feelings.

Flood Specific for Children

My Flood Story - a guided workbook for children, families and teachers, from From The Children's Psychological Health Center, USA

Pups World Activity book for adults to use with young children affected by flooding or worried about it

A book list of post flood children's book titles for teachers and families

For homeowners, businessesand organisations
cleaning up

A guide to restoring your home or business after a flood (UK)

Rebuilding your small business after a cyclone or flood (Queensland)

Cleaning up your business after a flood (USA)

After the Flood:Safety Tips for Business Owners (USA)

For Employers and Managers supporting staff and clients/customers

When Trauma and Grief Come to Work - for employers and managers (NZ) - this was done after the Canterbury earthquake but the majority of it is easily relevant to a flood situation as well, if you have a business, staff or clients affected. Download as a 36 page PDF or for online viewing.

Tips on Recovering from the Trauma and Stress
of a Disaster

Stressed Out? - some Skylight posters to print out for all ages to rmeind people of simple ways to deal with stress.

Coping with Traumatic Situations This was written for those impacted by the Australian bushfires and is very helpful.

Coping with Traumatic Events - A podcast to listen to. Tragedies affect all of us in different ways. Some people might react to the stress immediately, while others may not experience stress until later.

Looking After Yourself After a Disaster - written after the Australian Bushfires, but helpful after any kind of disaster.

Helpful Links to Articles on Breathing - how to breathe to destress and relax when you have been stressed.

Tips for Those Affected by a Traumatic Disaster Incident (USA)

Helping Parents Cope with a Disaster (See also links below around supporting children and teens through traumatic incidents)

Managing Your Stress After a Disaster

Tips for recovering from disasters and other traumatic events (American Psychological Association)

Trauma information Pages (David Baldwin)

Mass Disasters, Trauma and Loss - (International Society For Traumatic Stress Studies)

Supporting Children and Teens after Disaster and Loss

Getting Stronger (NZ) A newly released Skylight Resilience Game supporting children who have faced, or are facing, a disaster of any kind

What's Happened to My World? Helping children after a natural disaster or catastrophe.

Strategies for Helping Children Rebound after a Disaster for infant/toddler/ early childhood teachers and support workers

Tips for Parents and Teachers Supporting Children after a Traumatic Incident (USA)

Tips for supporting pre schoolers after a disaster

Tips for supporting primary school age children after a disaster

Tips for Supporting Teenagers after a Traumatic Event

Tips for Helping Gifted, Highly Sensitive Teens & Kids Cope with Trauma

Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters: What Parents Can Do? (National Institute of Mental Health)

Helping Children After Trauma - by John Cowan, Parents Inc (NZ)

Helping a Child Manage Fears – helping a child cope with traumatic events. (Sidran Institute)

Understanding Child Traumatic Stress – How psychological trauma in children differs from trauma in adults. (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network)

PTSD in Children and Adolescents (USA Dept of Veteran Affairs)