Less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated vast swaths of the south-eastern United States, Hurricane Milton barreled into the state of Florida. Communities and emergency recovery crews in the area have struggled to cope with the rapid succession of disasters, a phenomenon that’s only likely to become more common due to global heating.
“It’s not just about a natural disaster, it’s about a series of natural disasters,” says Dr Tia Dole, chief 988 lifeline officer for Vibrant Emotional Health. Dole says survivors and their loved ones are feeling despair, shock, grief and sadness – as well as helplessness because their suffering has been politicized.
