Your First Steps After a Disaster
Hope starts here.
As you begin the recovery process, one of the first practical steps is contacting your insurance company and starting the claim process. And if you don’t have insurance, please skip down to Module 4 to calm your nervous system. For many people, this can be one of the most overwhelming, confusing, and exhausting parts of recovery. Please know you’re not alone in this — we’ll walk you through it step by step.
What’s included in this toolkit
✺ What disaster survivors have to say ✺
“I haven’t cried enough. I am numb. Getting mental health assistance helped me see this was normal.”
“It’s just all so confusing, so thank you for helping me better understand.”
“I know my landlord is angry so the advice to write him a letter about my security deposit was very helpful.”
Journal Prompts
Journaling after a disaster can be a gentle way to care for yourself during an overwhelming time. Putting your thoughts and emotions into words helps your brain and body make sense of what you’ve been through, easing anxiety and bringing back a small sense of control. Even a few sentences or simple notes can make a meaningful difference in supporting your healing and emotional balance.
For adults: What's the first emotion that came to mind right after the disaster?
Who is someone I can rely on?
For kids: Download this activity sheet to help with identifying their feelings.
Have a question about your recovery?
You can call Our Front Porch at 720-593-8606 to speak to someone or email helpline@ourfrontporchco.org and one of our Disaster Stabilization Specialists will get back to you within 48 hours.