Hurricane Ian tore through the East Coast of the United States during the last days of September, leaving behind a mess for its victims to rebuild. Efforts are underway to recover and rebuild. Amongst these efforts are, of course, the efforts of individuals, families, and local and national businesses, including the well-known ever-going efforts of the likes of American Red Cross and FEMA. If we have learned anything from the COVID Pandemic, it is that intimate partner violence increases when individuals are faced with life-changing situations.
Post-natural disaster studies have been conducted over the years, and the data compiled has revealed insightful information on intimate partner violence. “Research shows that survivors of natural disasters are significantly more likely to experience physical and emotional IPV after the event” [1].
The most immediate thoughts that come to mind with natural disaster aftermath is the impact on our basic needs: food, water, and shelter. The severity affects each individual and each family differently. If severe enough, natural disasters leave behind housing insecurity. This vulnerability makes it all the more difficult for those already facing intimate partner violence.
Typically, an abusive partner has already instilled an emotional insecurity in his or her partner, which often leaves the victims with the mindset that they are dependent on their abuser, so much so that they need the abuser to survive. Tied to this need to survive is usually an unhealthy level of co-dependency. Whether this manifests as a constant “checking in” with their partner throughout the day or as being financially dependent on their partner, the bottom line is that the partner has an unhealthy level of co-dependency. As such, statistics have revealed that victims are more likely to return to their abusers when they are facing a “nowhere to go” type of situation. Sometimes, it is true that there is no personal infrastructure for a victim to lean onto. Public and private institutions provide assistance for these very reasons.
Money is a resource, and when this very vital resource either runs low or is depleted, there is a domino effect. Money has a defining hold on the value of life in our capitalistic society. While this may not be the most virtuous of our values, the fact is – it’s there. The risk of financial loss further frustrates those who bear financial responsibility. Naturally, this creates feelings of inadequacy, and possibly even identity crises. For example, people have been known to commit suicide due to financial strain. This was seen in the news nationwide during the 2008 housing crisis. Additionally, one of the most commonly cited reason for divorce is financial strain. Ultimately, threatening the very resource that makes it possible to maintain the basic food, water, and shelter needs throws people into survival mode. If there was any inclination to be an abuser, it is heightened with any threat to financial stability.
For generations worldwide, America has been known as the place where dreams come true. We have been sold “The American Dream”. When we lose our grasp on the resources for that dream, such as following a natural disaster, our emotions begin to change. If we lose control of that, we may also lose control of our actions. During a “grasping at straws” situation, people’s actions manifest from their emotions.
“There seem to be at least two schools of thoughts as to why domestic violence increases after disasters:
- Violence is inflicted by the perpetrator to gain a sense of control in a situation that seems out of control
- The strain of the disaster creates family violence that develops when there is increases drug use, poor coping skills, sleep distubances (sic), increased depression, re-surfacing of PTSD, etc.” [2].
The intention here is not to justify an abuser’s actions, but to understand them for the sake of protecting victims and potential victims. There is solace in knowing that we have consistently put forth the efforts to provide resources for IPV victims, as well as implemented preventative measures.
As more light has been shed on the increased vulnerabilities of survivors of natural disasters, resources are made more available. Earlier this year, the Legal Services Corporation awarded Legal Aid of North Carolina $4.35 million out of the $40 million provided to it in grants by Congress for natural disasters faced in 2020 and 2021, which will help to provide assistance for matters such as “…FEMA appeals, bankruptcy, public housing and domestic violence…” [3]. Although not hardest hit, efforts such as this will assist residents of North Carolina in ways that are not always at the forefronts of our minds.
Each of us has the ability to contribute above and beyond what has been made available through grant funding. Contributions can be made financially or with a time commitment or both. Consider making a charitable contribution for IPV victims after Hurricane Ian or any other natural disaster. These disaster victims are survivors of more than the disasters we see.
Works Cited