When you have one of these massive disasters, the effects are long-range,” he said. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, for example, researchers found no decline in cases of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms even after more than two years. “Even now we have seen a relatively small drop-off in symptoms. This suggests that we will have to respond to future disasters in new ways.

My housemate and friend lost it mentally when we evacuated New Bern NC before Flourance and stayed in VA with 5 cats and my rabbit during the storm.. My friend ended up being hospitalized several times for severe anxiety and depression and came close to committing suicide,. I left NC and now live in a different state. My friend is just now starting to recover from the trauma of the ordeal.