BEMIDJI — After a devastating storm like the one Bemidji suffered on June 21, there can be a lot of talk about cleanup and repairs.
Something that may be ignored is the emotional toll of losing so much of our familiar natural surroundings.
Angela Gupta, a University of Minnesota Extension forester, told the KAXE Morning Show it’s normal to feel nervous and worried about the future of the forest after a big disturbance like this.
“I think it's good that we can talk about it so that people don't feel isolated in those very, very normal emotions,” Gupta said.
One feeling Gupta said people may be experiencing is solastalgia. It’s a sort of homesickness experienced while still living in a familiar environment that has been drastically changed by something like a storm.
Maybe a departed oak served as a gathering spot in the yard, or you're no longer able to hang a hammock on favorite trees anymore because they’ve fallen.
Have you lost a favorite tree recently? We'd love to hear your remembrances. Email us at comments@kaxe.org or text 218-326-1234.
“These emotions might strike you at different times and they might kind of catch you off balance, and that's normal," Gupta said. "So, I think it's also important to be able to sort of sit with those, recognize them, express them to someone else and then figure out how you're going to adapt."
Gupta advised people experiencing these emotions to consider there might be opportunities, like adding new trees or finding new favorite spots.
Cleaning up
Another emotion residents may feel is overwhelm, because of how much cleanup is involved. Gupta said that is normal.
“When you start to feel overwhelmed — you're out there working, you're getting tired — take a few deep breaths," she said. " ... We call it box breathing. You breathe in for a count of four, or you hold for a count of four. You breathe out. ... Bring a sense of calm back to those emotions."
Gupta said while working on cleanup, people are still spending time out in nature. They’re being active, and there is a sense of community, seeing other neighbors cleaning up as well.
“It is important to find those small moments of joy as you're really having to do this, because it is hard work both physically and mentally.”
Gupta also recommended creating rituals during this time. We have rituals for when someone we know dies, like funerals and bringing hot dishes. But there aren’t well-known rituals for when a tree dies.
Maybe people want to take a small cookie slice of the tree and bring it home. Perhaps it's a good idea to make a small picnic ring or fire ring where their favorite tree was.
Impact on kids
Another important emotion to acknowledge after a storm is the "eco-anxiety" kids may be feeling. They may develop a fear of windstorms after experiencing such a devastating one. It can be important for parents and caregivers to sort through these visceral emotions and make new plans for safety and protection.
“You might not realize that you're focused on getting the driveway clear, getting access to the roads. The city's probably really focused on the roads. That's as it should be," Gupta said. "But that means the bike trails are getting pushed off in their secondary. Well, that might be where those tweens are getting to and from friend's house. ... Their transportation corridors are disrupted.
"So anything we can do to help them work through those, to enable them to kind of get back to normal ... can be really important.”
It can also be a chance for family events, like planting new trees together. Maybe everyone can decide together what to plant in the yard. The kids will have that memory of planting it and feel pride watching it grow through the years.
It’s also an opportunity to come up with plans for the future. What does it mean to be "storm safe" or "tornado safe"? Where is the safest space in the house? Where are the exits? Now that the kids have experienced a storm like this, they may be more engaged on what needs to be done.
Patience
Gupta reminds people to be patient with themselves during this time. It’s going to be a long process in cleaning up, but it helps to know the community is going through it, too.
“I really want people to think about empowering hope and agency. So where are the places that you can make a difference? Gupta said. " ... Fall is a wonderful time to plant trees. So that opportunity is not missed.”
The University of Minnesota Extension has a list of climate ready trees that people can plant on their website.
Gupta added, “You have the opportunity. It might not feel like it right now, but ultimately have the opportunity to influence the future in a way you didn’t a couple of weeks ago.”
