Heavy rains increase stress for many 2008 flood victims

Thursday's downpour was a scary reminder for many about how devastating floods can be - especially for those who are still recovering from the June 2008 flood.

“Seeing the waters flooding is a visible cue that reminds them of what happened,” said Marizen Ramirez, a University of Iowa assistant professor of occupational and environmental health.

And while Thursday's flash floods weren't nearly as severe of the June flood, it was an event that could cause those suffering from post traumatic stress disorder to experience a relapse of sorts.

“Flash floods (are) a traumatic reminder, and that specifically could be one of the symptoms of re-experiencing the flood,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez says a person's reaction to flash flooding could depend on how hard hit they were in the 2008 flood.

“Their home might have been lost,” she said. “They fear for their lives or the lives of a loved one.”

For those trying to cope with the on-going fear of flooding, Ramirez said some comfort can come from realizing they are not the only one experiencing the traumatic event. And she encourages people to rely on medical resources on handling emotional distress.

Finally, Ramirez says it's helpful to realize that “there's a period of time after an event that (people) go through these reactions and, over time, they can heal.”

If that doesn't happen over time, a person should see a medical professional, she said.

Linda Seger, whose Cedar Rapids home at 1629 Eighth St. NW flooded, is one of those on her way to healing. She said she was pretty calm during the height of Thursday's rainstorm.

“I'm at peace with what's going on,” she said. “First of all, I didn't see the situation similarly.  This (rain) is more like in '93 when we got the rain here and it was going downstream. It didn't come (downstream) in a wall. It just didn't seem the same."

-- Jami Brinton, KCRG-TV9