Q&A: Trauma in the Aftermath of the Marshall Fire
Author(s)
Jon Stone
Media Relations Manager
The Marshall fire that devastated Boulder County on Dec. 30, 2021, qualifies as the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history, surpassing the East Troublesome fire only a year earlier. In the matter of just a few hours, high winds swept the grass fire through the towns of Superior and Louisville, resulting in the destruction of more than 1,000 homes. Those families now face the daunting process of rebuilding their lives, while hundreds more are returning to homes severely damaged by smoke and water.
The in the 快活app鈥檚 Graduate School of Professional Psychology provides psychological support to individuals and communities confronting trauma. is co-director of the program and has extensive experience working in the area of global mental health and humanitarian aid. She answered some questions for the 快活app Newsroom regarding the trauma Colorado communities are facing in the aftermath of the Marshall fire.
What kind of lasting impact do you typically see when a large disaster like the Marshall fire wreaks havoc on an entire community?听
While we have learned much from events like 9/11, Katrina and the Paradise fires in California, the first answer is always, it depends.听Generally,听we assume two-thirds听of those impacted will recover naturally without intervention,听while听the other third would benefit from听psychotherapeutic听services to help听with recovery. The听Camp fires听in California showed us that听delayed听trauma听responses听were听more common than expected and,听months and even years later,听post-traumatic stress听disorder听(PTSD) was being identified听and diagnosed even though听these same individuals were听not听meeting criteria for diagnosis in the听weeks and months after the fire.
A recent book published by psychologist Jack Saul 鈥 鈥淐ollective Trauma, Collective Healing鈥 鈥攃aptures the听fact that when trauma听is collective, we need to be mindful of the various impacts it can have.听Collective trauma is trauma that happens to large groups of individuals and can be transmitted听across communities and听transgenerationally.听War, genocide, slavery, terrorism and natural disasters can cause collective trauma, which can be further defined as historical, ancestral or cultural.听Some of the symptoms of collective trauma include听grief,听rage, depression, denial, survivor guilt and internalized oppression, as well as physiological changes in the brain and body that can bring on chronic disease.听The good news is that听collective resilience听and post-traumatic听growth听can also happen, and there are many noteworthy ways that听communities protect and support each other听that help to听prevent more severe psychological impacts.听听
Does it help with mental听and physical recovery when individuals have others in the community who have experienced the same trauma?听
Again,听my first听response听here is, it depends.听While听yes,听the shared nature of collective trauma can be听deeply听binding听for some听and can lead to a honeymoon effect of sorts (as we saw in听some parts of the country听after 9/11). We听also know disasters are not equal opportunity events,听and this same disaster听also led to听increased trauma and social stress听and alienation听for听certain segments of the community.听Those听experiencing economic stress, racism, structural inequities听and/or听gender discrimination听prior to the disaster are already feeling stress听on their bodies, minds and听coping capacities. The new听stress听of the natural disaster can听impact functioning across various domains听in more acute听and complex听ways. Paradoxically, these same individuals have hard-earned lived experience that听serves as proof they can withstand adversity. These are听often the individuals who rise to听the challenge听the community is facing,听quickly get creative and are innovative about ways to support their friends and neighbors during times of crisis.
When we see large disasters like this, how common is it for people to decide to rebuild their lives elsewhere rather than rebuild where the disaster occurred?听
There is a lot that goes into this decision for听individuals听impacted听by a natural disaster,听and听typically听it is a complex analysis of the push-pull factors involved.听Many people choose to stay after a natural disaster and rebuild. People and communities are resilient. The nation has seen entire communities rebuild and come back even stronger after disasters. In addition to a natural desire to stay at home, other factors make it more likely that people will stay.听In contrast, some people feel more comfortable leaving and听starting over听somewhere new. For example, after dealing with damage from a flood, some people opt to move to higher ground. Others find听themselves听forced to relocate due to the extent of the damage听to their听homes,听communities and local economy.听听
How can a disaster like this听effect听those living in neighboring communities that were spared the destruction?听
While it鈥檚听complicated and multidimensional, natural disasters can sometimes serve as a great equalizer and be quite grounding from an existential听perspective. People all over Boulder are driving to appointments, the grocery store and work, and听they are all听realizing just how random the impact听of the fire听was. The randomness often impacts people in a very听visceral听way.听Though fire damage will be far-reaching, it will be felt most by the communities most vulnerable to their destruction: lower-income communities and communities of color.听Because of the human-driven reality of climate change, natural disasters will only become听more听frequent,听and this is hitting听home听for many听in the wake of this fire.
How can GSPP's Trauma & Disaster Recovery Clinic support those affected by the Marshall fire and other destructive events?听
The Trauma & Disaster Recovery Clinic (TDRC) provides psychological support to individuals and communities who have experienced stress, adversity and/or trauma. We utilize an integrative and strengths-based approach that is culturally informed.听We never turn anyone away tied to cost barriers and can offer pro-bono support to survivors of recent disasters. We also offer technical assistance and training to those interested in receiving training or workshops to help groups and organizations听better serve their communities听and beneficiaries.
To learn more about the Trauma & Disaster Recovery Clinic and clinic director Tiamo Katsonga-Phiri, please .