situations. Any specific complaints that document violence, seen or unseen (heard through the walls) the complainant should be directed to call authorities immediately. Knowing what to do during a violent experience is key to saving lives. The best resources for violence include any of the following:
USCCA Situational Awareness
NRA Situational Awareness
NFPA Active Shooter Info
Run Hide Fight -
Ready.Gov
ALICE Organization - Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate
Recovering from a traumatic event requires a look at the effects of PTSD. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) says post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event.
It is natural to feel afraid during and after a traumatic situation. Fear triggers many split-second changes in the body to help defend against danger or to avoid it. This “fight-or- flight” response is a typical reaction meant to protect a person from harm. Nearly everyone will experience a range of reactions after trauma, yet most people recover from initial symptoms naturally in due course. Those who continue to experience long-term problems may be diagnosed with PTSD. People who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened, even when they are not in danger. This is extremely important to try to understand. This is a real fear, a real feeling, and shouldn’t be minimized because it’s not understood.
There are a wide variety of symptoms of PTSD from mild to severe. While some victims of PTSD with mild symptoms may recover
more quickly, others can suffer flashbacks, and/or frightening thoughts. There are even studies of PTSD that reveal victims are more likely to develop sleep disturbances such as sleep paralysis and night terrors. 1
Although some individuals may suffer more than others after trauma, communities often suffer trauma together. That same community has the power to be a unique and effective support network to its members. A community impacted by a traumatic event creates a relatable space and level ground for its members to focus on healing together.
To quote a publication from the Urban Institute on community trauma, “As they confront traumas, communities can heal. Outlets for community members to express their collective trauma, efforts to reframe community narratives, peer support networks, and investment in community health and well-being are opportunities for healing from trauma. Further, community organizing and opportunities to engage in work that helps the community can give residents an avenue to affect their community’s future and strengthen their sense of control and self- determination.”
Property managers and community leaders can help the healing process by spreading awareness and encouraging the following process:
Therapy. There are lots of helpful tools to heal PTSD, the most important one is guidance from a professional).
Take Action! Action can be a driving force in healing communities and people after trauma (avoid future trauma through prevention)
Plan for disasters and other traumatic events (, evacuation plans, meeting locations, etc)
Practice scenarios and execution of those plans (make
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it fun and be sensitive to those who have suffered trauma before)
Communicate (create a phone tree and also make plan and practice information easily accessible to members of the community. Make sure the info is secure from outsiders who will prey on vulnerabilities.
Community Support groups (communities can help support individuals or be a collective support for one another after trauma by being able to relate, recount events and face their trauma together).
Communities that suffer trauma together can heal together and make a community even closer and stronger. In providing tools and facilitating healing in your community, you can display a powerful level of leadership through compassion and care.
FOOTNOTE 1 Clum GA, Nishith P, Resick PA. Trauma-related sleep disturbance and self-reported physical health symptoms in treatment-seeking female rape victims.
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/ health/topics/post-traumatic-stress- disorder-ptsd/
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Robyn Colajezzi is Director of Marketing and Business Development at SERVPRO of Upper Bucks, Pennypack/ Bustleton, and Germantown and has 20+ years experience as a marketing professional in the Philadelphia and Mid- Atlantic region. Robyn holds a BA from Kutztown University.
Robyn is a CAI Educated Business Partner and currently serves as Chairwoman for CAI’s Communications & Content Committee. She can be contacted via e-mail at:
robyn@148response.com.
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