It's been a sad and frightening few days in the aftermath of the terrorist attack and I've found it difficult to focus on much but watching the news reports. I hope that you and your loved ones are safe, and that you've had the time and opportunity to share your feelings with others. I think most of us are still in shock and it's normal at such a time to feel more disorganized than usual. Even I have been forgetting tasks, misplacing things and missing freeway turnoffs. It can be comforting to rely on your routines as much as possible, but don't be too hard on yourself if even mundane activities seem difficult or alienating. We've all been through a terrible disaster and it will take some time to heal.

My professional association meeting last night was not a normal one. We considered canceling the meeting but then decided that people might want to get together and talk and share their feelings. So instead of our usual agenda we simply took turns talking about the terrorist attack and its affect on us. We also talked about what we as organizers could do to help. While giving blood is a very worthwhile contribution, we wanted to come up with ways to help that would utilize our special skills.

One suggestion was to become involved in organizing a relief effort for future incidents. The work involved in mobilizing people to respond in an emergency demands good organization skills.

Other suggestions focused on what we can do for our clients so that they are prepared for future disasters. Here in the Bay Area many of us already have earthquake preparedness kits and procedures, but often these are no more than some water jugs and canned food and instructions on how to turn off the gas. Also important is having a contact person for your family who lives outside the area, carrying pictures of loved ones in case searches need to be made (also, providing children with pictures of their families can comfort them if they must be separated due to disaster), and writing specific instructions regarding finances, medical and household procedures, including a will.

While none of these things can prevent a terrorist attack, they can save some pain and difficulty in recovering from a disaster and give you more time to grieve and heal. My fellow organizers are planning to compile their ideas for publication soon, and I hope to be able to share more of them with you.

Take Care,
Claire