Officials: Florence could have ill effects on mental, physical health

Sept. 29--Being able to get outside and get some fresh air was enough to help couple Gregory Kelley and Brittany Sanders start getting back into their normal routine, they said Wednesday afternoon after wrapping up an appointment at the Federal Emergency Management Agency's disaster relief center on Western Boulevard.

"Being out and about right now is nice, because we've been secluded for a couple weeks now," Kelley said.

"It is nice to just get to walk around," Sanders added.

"That's a little peace of mind to actually be able to drive around because we were confined at one point."

The couple's Piney Green home suffered extensive damage with a collapsed roof along with losing furniture, electronics and other possessions.

"We didn't think (the damage) was going to be this bad, but the amount of help you get here definitely useful," Kelley said of the FEMA center.

The couple had big weekend plans to keep their spirits up.

"His birthday is Saturday, so we're going to continue to celebrate and live life like it's everyday," Sanders said.

Kelley was also planning to get outside and lend a hand to those who need help cleaning up from Florence.

"They've got a lot of assistance with people doing jobs to help clean up and I am definitely planning on doing that and if anyone else out there wants to I suggest they try and help, too," he said.

What normally is about an eight-hour trip from Jacksonville, Florida to Jacksonville, North Carolina was twice as long for retired Navy Corpsman Ryan Keith and his family.

The Sterling Farms resident said his return home after Hurricane Florence was quite the daunting task because of flooding across the state that detoured Keith to uncharted territories.

"We couldn't stay on I-95 because what we heard was that it was either flooded or destroyed after Florence, South Carolina," Keith said. "So our GPS said we had two hours before Jacksonville, North Carolina, but since we couldn't take 95 or the side roads to Myrtle Beach, we went the long way all the way through Hamilton, North Carolina through side roads and then to Greensboro, right above Raleigh and went to Jacksonville through Kinston."

Keith and his family finally returned to its home of 10 years Sept. 18. And what did he see?

"Some of the paneling outside had been torn off and my fence was damaged. It wasn't as much pushed back, but but it was bent. ... The winds were very fast. We were lucky because houses around us sustained a lot more damage and flooding. I had a neighbor who had about $3,000 worth of college text books that were just soaked. His whole house got flooded up to his knees and his car got totaled."

Through it all, however, Keith has noticed people helping out others in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence.

"People always talk about how Americans are inconsiderate to a lot of people, but I've noticed things such as 9-11 and natural disasters, people have gone out of their way to help others," Keith said. "It's comforting that we live in this society that we know we have each other's backs."

Monique Ivanov, a licensed Jacksonville counselor who holds a degree in physiology, sociology and in social work, said Florence can affect people's emotions and mental statuses.

"For individuals under duress, they have excessive stress, but with the support of family, friends and resources like churches, over a period of time they are able to function. They can still show symptoms and have emotions but these things are to be expected," Ivanov said. "These can be like maybe feeling guilty like 'Should I have stayed or left or should I have boarded the windows?' These are normal reactions."

But Ivanov said other symptoms can be seen from individuals who were severely affected by the hurricane.

"Anxiety can manifest into mood swings, irritability, having a short fuse, depression or having fear of another hurricane," she said. "Other symptoms include excessive eating, excessive alcohol or drugs, sleep problems, withdraw from family or crying spells."

"Physical symptoms can be like increased blood pressure, which can lead to headaches and vomiting, nausea and fatigue. All this comes from grief with dealing with loss of possessions, houses or cars. It's people who have a hard time getting back to a daily routine."

Ivanov encourages people with symptoms to seek assistance.

People should also be mindful of their diets when dealing with major disasters, which isn't always an easy thing to remember when you're fighting flood waters or unable to cook and fast food is one of your only options.

Stocking up before a storm hits is a good way to stay on track, according to Sydnie Leroy, a registered dietitian with the Onslow County Health Department.

"A lot of canned goods are typically what people go for," Leroy said, adding that when you're shopping make sure to check the labels and go for the low sodium options.

"You can still stock up on fruits and vegetables in canned goods, just be sure to look for ones that are canned in water instead of fruit juice, so they're lower in sugar. For vegetables, canned in low sodium or just water and make sure you're rinsing them if you have a clean water source."

Whole grain dry cereals such as Honey Nut Cheerios or Life cereal are low in sugar and make a good snack even when eaten dry. Trail mix is another great option that will give you protein and healthy fats.

"You can even add a little treat like chocolate or some M&M's in there, so you still feel like you're getting a treat even in the storm," Leroy said.

The best thing you can do is stay hydrated and away from high-sugar drinks like sodas and energy drinks. Leroy recommends sticking with water, but adding a sugar-free flavoring if you're getting tired of drinking just w

After returning home and getting back into the transition of normal life Leroy recommends getting outside and taking walks or helping with storm recovery.

"Stay active, stay outdoors and help with recovery efforts. That's going to really help you get back on track and be healthier overall," she said.

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