A natural disaster involves severe weather events that damage our property, life, and physical health. Floods and hurricanes are the most dominant in the U.S., but other perils include fires, earthquakes, tsunamis, and tornados. We are about to enter hurricane season in June, which will inevitably create floods and more devastation. I have been through my share of hurricanes, major Nor'easters that dumped 5 feet of snow, and flood waters that rise 20 or 30 feet above ground level. As the former head of a CDC-funded academic emergency preparedness center, I've also helped people get "ready" for these significant events, mainly through structural and physical preparations. But, what I've often found is that we neglect the mental health aspect of emergencies.

Disasters, epidemics, and emergencies can all have a profound and lasting impact on our psychological well-being. This can start as a threat well before the disaster begins and may last many years after the event. From the sudden disruption of daily life to the trauma of loss and destruction, the emotional and mental toll can be overwhelming. Possibly because of attention bias, or the realities of climate change, communities are becoming more vulnerable to catastrophic events with an increasing frequency. Even the warnings or forecasts of a disastrous event can trigger stress and changes in behavioral health.

Here, I focus on psychological and decision readiness, including 1) how to build resiliency and manage the behavioral health impact following a disaster and 2) how to limit the noise and interference in your judgment and decision-making.

Besides the raw emotions of anger and fear, more complex psychological reactions include distressing thoughts, memories, and feelings. Survivors may experience vivid, intrusive recollections of the traumatic event, often accompanied by a........

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