Kentuckians have experienced firsthand how natural disasters can occur any time and often with little warning. Disasters take many forms, and we can feel their impacts across most areas of family life. Because there is no “one-size-fits-all” disaster model, planning community outreach can be challenging, and Cooperative Extension is often involved in disaster preparation and response at the local level. 

Kentuckians has experienced increasing severity and frequency of Natural Disasters in recent years. These events have impacted numerous counties, impacting the residents' finances, mental and physical health.   In response, the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service Family and Consumer Sciences developed In the Face of Disaster: An Agent Toolkit for Disaster Readiness.   This program is designed to help FCS Agents meet the unique needs of their counties by empowering participants to prepare and respond to natural disasters.  

As a part of the program, the Navigating Trauma After a Disaster lesson was selected as an Extension Homemakers lesson. In the Lincoln Trail Area, FCS Agent, Danielle Hagler led leader trainings for each of the 8 counties.  The 31 participants took part in the lesson and learned how they could implement the lesson or broader program in their clubs and communities.  Participants also learned how to make a disaster kit and were given access to Cooperative Extension and FEMA publications that could assist them in preparing, responding and recovering from natural disasters.  

Following the event, participants completed evaluations. 29 of participants gained a better understanding of trauma and its affects on the body. 30 of participants increased their understanding of ow to use coping skills after a natural disaster and how to help others who experience trauma after a natural disaster. Most importantly, 29 of participants reported they intended to look for signs of trauma in others after a disaster,   27  plan to use coping tips to help themselves or others after a disaster.  

Participants specifically shared the most significant things they learned from the lesson was gaining new life skills, being able to recognize needs for themselves and learning how to plan for what can happen without notice.  One participant specifically noted that they will be making a disaster tote for their family.