Natural Disasters Hit, What Happens to School Students?

I imagine work and school are not a top priority when a Hurricane comes through a city of state.  Additionally, if a fire burns across a large geographical area affecting the residents resources.  Although, after the initial shock wears off (which is subjective for each resident), what happens to students?  I was thinking about this consequence after reading the excerpt below from 'Politico Education' this morning:

CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES DISPLACE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS: California wildfires forced about 132 schools to close as of Tuesday, displacing nearly 63,000 students, according to data from the California Department of Education. That's just 1 percent of the Golden State's total student population. But for some schools - like those located in Napa County's five school districts - students have been out of the classroom for almost two weeks.

- Napa County students were supposed to return to school today. But as staff members on Tuesday prepared for their arrival, they quickly realized that the air quality was dangerous, choked with smoke and ash. "Some staff said they weren't feeling well, so we released them," said Janet Tufts, superintendent and principal of Howell Mountain Elementary School District. The five school districts in Napa County have canceled school for the rest of the week, said Barbara Nemko, superintendent of the Napa County Office of Education. They'll be adhering to strict air quality guidelines to determine whether it's safe for students to return. They've been distributing air masks, replacing air filters, shampooing carpets and washing down desks, hallways and playgrounds. And they'll likely have to do it again this weekend, since schools are closed until Monday.

- School is pretty much the main social hub for kids who live in the rolling hills of rural Napa County, said Susan Eakle, who teaches kindergarten through second grade for Pope Valley Union Elementary School District - a school district with just one school, five teachers and 58 students. Many of the parents work for vineyards, and the fires have hit during harvest season. The nearest grocery store is about a half-hour away and the nearest Walmart is about an hour away, said Ken Burkhart, who is principal and superintendent of Pope Valley Union Elementary School, in addition to being a full-time teacher. The school wasn't in an evacuation zone, but two of the school's five teachers weren't able to return this week because they were evacuated, he said. Burkhart said that when he was evacuated from his home, he drove his RV to school and stayed in the parking lot.

- Napa County schools are now figuring out how to make up for two weeks of lost learning time. But they're also bringing in counselors and psychologists to help students and staff dealing with trauma and stress. "Evacuations are a big deal for kids," Burkhart said. "They'll remember it for the rest of their lives." School officials are still assessing exactly how the wildfires have affected students and their families, and whether they sustained damage or lost their homes. But even if families didn't see any damage, the stress caused by evacuations, fire and smoke have affected everyone. "These students have been exposed to something that not many of us will see," Nemko said. "You can see the fire from their neighborhood, even if it's not in your neighborhood."

Parents go to work during the day and children go to school - right?  That is the logic that is instilled in kids during growing up.  After a terrible disaster hits an area, the following questions naturally arise in each persons mind:



1) What happens if my house is destroyed and I have no means to live in an area after a disaster?

2) What happens when the place I work at is destroyed?

3) What happens when the school does not exist anymore -- has been wiped out?

4) How does our family return to a 'normal life'?

5) How do we make up for lost education?



The first four questions are immediate concerns for each member of the family to consider after a natural disaster hits their place of residence. Whereas the fifth question is one that is typically not entertained unless the disaster has completely destroyed the school.  Although, when students are displaced from school either for psychological or physiological reasons, their educational journey can be greatly affected.



Puerto Rico...



In a previous post, I briefly stated the observation that after Hurricane Maria hit the island of Puerto Rico, nearly 80% of the crops were decimated -- stripping the island of an important food source.  Not to mention that the 95% of residents were without electricity.  Upon starting the recovery process, the fifth question above -- school students -- must be addressed.  Can they catch up on missed material?  What is the function of education during a time of disaster recovery?  Maybe the students are better served by assisting with the recovery process to feel part of the recovery?



I also mentioned in that previous post that I had a friend who is finishing up Medical School down in Puerto Rico.  This is his final year.  During which, he is predominantly occupied with "rotations" in different subdisciplines in medicine.  He is training to be a psychiatrist, but part of his medical school education requires him to rotate to other sub-specialties such as 'gynecology' or 'family practice', etc.  Which brings me to the point -- what is the function of education during a time like this?



Interestingly enough, he had a test two weeks after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in Dallas, Texas.  Therefore, he needed to come back to the states on a humanitarian flight to make the exam.  During his stay, he received a call from his medical school administrative office asking him if he could do a few of the remaining rotations in the states rather than on the island.  Especially, since he was missing time on his current rotation to take a 'clinical exam' -- Step 2 exam.  He agreed to find rotations state side.



To close, a recent article in the New York Times details that one of the most needed forms of assistance now on the island of Puerto Rico is that of 'Psychiatrists' at his medical school - Ponce University.  Hurricane Maria's adverse impact on my friend's remains to be seen.  With all of the problems occurring on the island, is there anything medical school to return to?



In Conclusion...



The last aspect of our lives we consider in a disaster is the educational process.  I am not proposing that from now on we place a greater emphasis.  I am bringing to light the fact that education in its entirety in relation to the world we live in.  Educating the young during the disaster recovery might be a missed opportunity rather than worrying about "missing school".  Regardless, as a society, school is secondary to survival.  At the very least, consider the disruption to your life (in all aspects) given the tragedy of experiencing a natural disaster.  Lets keep those who have suffered and continue to suffer from the disastrous consequences recently in our thoughts as we progress forward on a daily basis.  Life is precious.  We are larger than just ourselves.  Community education is powerful as is university education.  Until next time, have a great day!