Final Paper.....4.24.07

Evacuation Route: Straight Ahead

Weather Alert! Weather Alert! The words that interrupt your favorite television show to inform you a storm is coming your way. Next thing you know people are outside boarding up their houses, and schools are being closed until further notice. Gas stations are packed, lines that go on for literally hours. People are making sure they have batteries, flashlights, and enough water. You can never be too ready for what might happen. No one wants to take the risk of having something happen to them or their family.
Having experienced many Hurricanes over 18 years I have seen much destruction and have been around many people who have been affected mentally including my family. My memory goes back to 1992 when I was 6 years old and my family and I got in our car and just driving because we were under a mandatory evacuation. I just remember driving and driving until we found someone who let us stay in a spare room they had. In times of need, people help one another out as much as possible. Many people I know lost everything, and till this day people I know still aren’t financially stable. A very close family I know had to move to Canada to restart their business and their daughters moved in with close friends to finish high school.
In a more recent aspect my senior year was one of the worst that I can remember. It was around the last week in October, when they cancelled school for Monday the 24th. I never expected what was about to come. This was about our 3rd one that year and so far they had been all false alarms. So why take this one serious? Early Monday morning was when it all happened. I remember being awakened by my friends’ parents telling us to move downstairs because the storm was getting bad. The next thing I knew the power had gone, but I did not expect it to be the last of it for 2 weeks. My family and I were sleeping 6 people and 2 dogs in one room with a generator that was powering one air conditioning unit. School was cancelled for 2 weeks, no food or water in sight.
The worst had come. I never expected it to be this way. Many people who had homes in other places left and went there so they could have power, food, and water. Hotels were closed, not even did they have power. People started stealing generators and sniffling gas from cars. People were going insane! It started getting too hot to even function. It was getting to be too long. We had to go back to school. They made the decision to send kids back to school with no power. I went to school for 5 days with no power. I never thought it would get to that.
Blue tarps covered neighbor’s roofs. People were pretending to be construction workers and taking people’s money and running. Price gauging became very popular, people started selling bags of ice for 10 dollars. We were faced with many difficulties that we never thought would happen.
When hurricane Katrina hit many of the wealthy people moved to Ft. Lauderdale where they had other businesses and so their children were able to attend school, and have a life. Unfortunately people who are not as fortunate didn’t have anywhere to go and lost everything. Is it fair that the people who are more fortunate got an advantage to get out and had somewhere to go before the storm; meanwhile hundreds of thousands of people did not have anywhere to go?
Much devastation and destruction that people experienced have such an impact on them that the Red Cross offers on hand counselors, psychologists, social workers and psychiatrists. This volunteer mental health program was given as a 100th anniversary gift of the American Psychological Association for the victims of disasters. During hurricane Andrew people looked at the storm as a real person, and were severely scared that he was going to come back and kill them.[1]
Within the first few weeks of destruction people may experience nightmares, mood swings, difficulty sleeping, and feeling depressed. Long term affects that natural disasters have on people are phobias, alcohol and drug problems, and post traumatic stress disorder. [2] Hurricane season in Florida is June 1st to November 30th. People who have experienced hurricanes and past trauma they experience anxiety and dread the upcoming months. Specialists say that there are many ways to help cope with these problems. If you stay active this will help you in a sense that you feel in control. Being prepared is a way to help with the feelings of anxiety.[3]
From my own personal experience I can say that even if I loose power when there is not a storm I would become very unsettled because after living without power for 2 weeks it brings back memories that I have experienced and just the thought of going through that again is the worst feeling. This is an example of how even after storms; the littlest thing that you had gone through can affect you. Many of you can’t imagine what its like to be without food or water. Resources become scarce and the Red Cross Heart Association held sites where they distributed food and water to those who needed it. I personally never thought my family and I would be in need of theses items ever. To experience something like this, and to know that everyone around you rich, and poor are all experiencing the same thing you are, and everyone is in need of the same thing is not something could ever happen to you.
Unfortunately this is an ongoing thing that will never end. Sometimes you will get lucky and not have a bad hurricane season. You can only hope. Just because there might not be a storm, just the thought of them still has an emotional and psychological effect on them. As a community everyone comes together to help one another in a time of need. I never really thought about how much hurricanes can really affect someone, until my recent exposure to one that has mentally affected me. Hurricane Wilma and Hurricane Andrew were just two of many hurricanes to come that people will have to go through.
[1] Mauro, James. "Hurricane Andrew's Other Legacy." Psychology Today. Nov. 1992. 12 Apr. 2007 http://psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-19921101-000020.html.
[2] "Coping in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina:Some Brief Guidance Notes on Stress,Greif and Loss for Front Line Teams." International Medical Corps. 14 Apr. 2007 .
[3] "Hurricane Preparedness." Hurricane Preparedness: University of Miami. 12 Apr. 2007 <http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/1,1770,2441-1;38182-3,00.html>;.

Hurricane Final Paper

Evacuation Route: Straight Ahead

Weather Alert! Weather Alert! The words that interrupt your favorite television show to inform you a storm is coming your way. Next thing you know people are outside boarding up their houses, and schools are being closed until further notice. Gas stations are packed, lines that go on for literally hours. People are making sure they have batteries, flashlights, and enough water. You can never be too ready for what might happen. No one wants to take the risk of having something happen to them or their family.
Having experienced many Hurricanes over 18 years I have seen much destruction and have been around many people who have been affected mentally including my family. My memory goes back to 1992 when I was 6 years old and my family and I got in our car and just driving because we were under a mandatory evacuation. I just remember driving and driving until we found someone who let us stay in a spare room they had. In times of need, people help one another out as much as possible. Many people I know lost everything, and till this day people I know still aren’t financially stable. A very close family I know had to move to Canada to restart their business and their daughters moved in with close friends to finish high school.
In a more recent aspect my senior year was one of the worst that I can remember. It was around the last week in October, when they cancelled school for Monday the 24th. I never expected what was about to come. This was about our 3rd one that year and so far they had been all false alarms. So why take this one serious? Early Monday morning was when it all happened. I remember being awakened by my friends’ parents telling us to move downstairs because the storm was getting bad. The next thing I knew the power had gone, but I did not expect it to be the last of it for 2 weeks. My family and I were sleeping 6 people and 2 dogs in one room with a generator that was powering one air conditioning unit. School was cancelled for 2 weeks, no food or water in sight.
The worst had come. I never expected it to be this way. Many people who had homes in other places left and went there so they could have power, food, and water. Hotels were closed, not even did they have power. People started stealing generators and sniffling gas from cars. People were going insane! It started getting too hot to even function. It was getting to be too long. We had to go back to school. They made the decision to send kids back to school with no power. I went to school for 5 days with no power. I never thought it would get to that.
Blue tarps covered neighbor’s roofs. People were pretending to be construction workers and taking people’s money and running. Price gauging became very popular, people started selling bags of ice for 10 dollars. We were faced with many difficulties that we never thought would happen.
When hurricane Katrina hit many of the wealthy people moved to Ft. Lauderdale where they had other businesses and so their children were able to attend school, and have a life. Unfortunately people who are not as fortunate didn’t have anywhere to go and lost everything. Is it fair that the people who are more fortunate got an advantage to get out and had somewhere to go before the storm; meanwhile hundreds of thousands of people did not have anywhere to go?
Much devastation and destruction that people experienced have such an impact on them that the Red Cross offers on hand counselors, psychologists, social workers and psychiatrists. This volunteer mental health program was given as a 100th anniversary gift of the American Psychological Association for the victims of disasters. During hurricane Andrew people looked at the storm as a real person, and were severely scared that he was going to come back and kill them.[1]
Within the first few weeks of destruction people may experience nightmares, mood swings, difficulty sleeping, and feeling depressed. Long term affects that natural disasters have on people are phobias, alcohol and drug problems, and post traumatic stress disorder. [2] Hurricane season in Florida is June 1st to November 30th. People who have experienced hurricanes and past trauma they experience anxiety and dread the upcoming months. Specialists say that there are many ways to help cope with these problems. If you stay active this will help you in a sense that you feel in control. Being prepared is a way to help with the feelings of anxiety.[3]
From my own personal experience I can say that even if I loose power when there is not a storm I would become very unsettled because after living without power for 2 weeks it brings back memories that I have experienced and just the thought of going through that again is the worst feeling. This is an example of how even after storms; the littlest thing that you had gone through can affect you. Many of you can’t imagine what its like to be without food or water. Resources become scarce and the Red Cross Heart Association held sites where they distributed food and water to those who needed it. I personally never thought my family and I would be in need of theses items ever. To experience something like this, and to know that everyone around you rich, and poor are all experiencing the same thing you are, and everyone is in need of the same thing is not something could ever happen to you.
Unfortunately this is an ongoing thing that will never end. Sometimes you will get lucky and not have a bad hurricane season. You can only hope. Just because there might not be a storm, just the thought of them still has an emotional and psychological effect on them. As a community everyone comes together to help one another in a time of need. I never really thought about how much hurricanes can really affect someone, until my recent exposure to one that has mentally affected me. Hurricane Wilma and Hurricane Andrew were just two of many hurricanes to come that people will have to go through.
[1] Mauro, James. "Hurricane Andrew's Other Legacy." Psychology Today. Nov. 1992. 12 Apr. 2007 http://psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-19921101-000020.html.
[2] "Coping in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina:Some Brief Guidance Notes on Stress,Greif and Loss for Front Line Teams." International Medical Corps. 14 Apr. 2007 .
[3] "Hurricane Preparedness." Hurricane Preparedness: University of Miami. 12 Apr. 2007 <http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/1,1770,2441-1;38182-3,00.html>;.

I Can't Believe it's over Already ! :(

I’m so sad. I can’t believe my freshmen year in college is coming to an end! I had such a great time, made so many new friends, and got to experience life in New York City. It is going to be so hard to say goodbye to all my friends, and especially this one boy, he means so much to me. It sucks that I am going to be so far away from everyone, but hopefully I can come back and visit. Although I’m so sad that my first year of college is over, I’m also excited that summer is on the way. This summer I’m going to work at a summer camp with young children, I love working with kids, it’s so fun and rewarding I cant wait.

Home Sweet Home !!!!!!!!

Sometimes I get so homesick, especially when it’s cold. I miss the warm sunshine from back home and my family. I love Florida so much, it’s such a great state, the whole atmosphere is so much better sometimes. It’s always warm and sunny. The palm trees always make me feel better. In New York it gets way too cold! Its spring time and it’s still freezing outside! If New York City was in Florida it would be the most incredible place in the world. The nightlife in New York City is so breathtaking, there is so much to do and there is never a dull moment. New York is turning into my new home but Florida will always be number one in my heart.

Bermuda!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Family means so much to me! Once my whole family and I went on a cruise to Bermuda, I had so much fun and it so amazing to be able to spend so much time with my whole family. I loved relaxing in the sun and not having to worry about anything. The food on the cruise was so good; they had every type of food you could imagine. Pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, lobsters, it was amazing! Every night we had a big family dinner, it was so enjoyable. After three days of cruising in the ocean we finally got to Bermuda. Bermuda was gorgeous, my cousins and I spent the whole day on the beach. First we went snorkeling, and I was able to show my cousin Laura all different types of fish. She was only eleven at the time and I was fifteen. She looked up to me a lot and I had such a great time taking her under my wing. After we lounged at the beach for a while we went shopping, my mom and my aunts took all the girls to go shopping down the Bermuda strip.

Yayyyyyyyyyyy i got a Car

My father promised me that he would get me a car for my 17^th birthday. One day after school we went to the car dealership and spent 4 hours choosing a car and bargaining for a price. After finally agreeing on a model and price, I left the dealership knowing I had a car waiting for me on the day of 17^th birthday. The next day I woke up it was beautiful out and I passed my drivers license, my parents congratulated me and broke to me the news that the paper work did not go threw and we were unable to get a lease on the car. To my surprise when I pulled up to my house I had a brand new white car waiting for me on my driveway with balloons everywhere. I was so surprised I started jumping up and down with joy, I have never felt so good before in my life, I was so thankful and appreciative of my parents, I will never forget that day.

Six Flags

Six flags, as a kid you’re always just 5 inches shorter than acceptable height, so you get disappointed and always say there’s next year. I had the opportunity to experience six flags for the first time in New Jersey. The tallest rollercoaster ride called Kingda Ka is located here at the New Jersey Six Flags Great Adventure. The wait for a single ride was 3 hours long but it was all worth it for that feeling of thrill. I had never experienced such a mind blowing ride until three hours later when I got on Kingda Ka. Halfway through it I thought I was going to die, my heart completely dropped when we hit the peak of the roller coaster. Regardless, it was absolutely amazing. I could not believe that I had been missing out on this for so many years.