Even months after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the psychological impact on children could still be significant, according to Dr. Steve O’Brien, a Clinical Child Psychologist in Tampa Bay.

“Children really grasp that this is now a part of their reality, and unfortunately, they’ll see these events as even more likely than they might have before,” Dr. O’Brien explained. “So, it’s becoming part of their psyche.”

This influence extends into educational settings. At Gene Witt Elementary School, an art contest revealed how deeply the hurricanes had affected students. Art teacher Kim Hoy noticed many of her students reflecting the storms in their artwork.

“It was really fascinating to see how the children were processing what was happening around them,” Hoy remarked. “We saw a lot of houses built high up or on stilts in their drawings.”

Dr. O’Brien suggests that talking about available resources, emergency plans, and support systems can be instrumental in alleviating children’s anxiety in the wake of such natural disasters.

Follow the St. Pete-Clearwater Sun on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Google, & X

(Image credit: Michelle Chernicoff)