Call Us Today: (407) 875-3700

News

Hurricane Season Preparation Tips for Orange County, Seminole County, and Osceola County, FL

July 25, 2025

As Florida enters hurricane season, preparation often centers around stocking supplies, securing property, and reviewing evacuation plans. While these physical precautions are vital, it’s equally important to prepare mentally—especially for individuals who have experienced previous trauma related to storms.

For many, hurricane season brings more than just logistical stress. It can reactivate emotional wounds from past storms, especially if prior experiences involved displacement, loss, or life-threatening situations. This process, known as retraumatization, occurs when a new traumatic event—like a hurricane warning or severe weather alert—triggers intense emotional, physical, and psychological reactions tied to earlier trauma.

Recognizing the Signs of Retraumatization
Understanding retraumatization is the first step toward managing it. Symptoms may include:

  • Thoughts: Intrusive memories, flashbacks, difficulty concentrating, nightmares, or dissociation.
  • Physical Symptoms: Feeling tense or hyper-alert, disrupted sleep, fatigue, appetite changes, or strong physical reactions to triggers (e.g., storm sounds).
  • Behaviors: Avoiding reminders of the trauma, withdrawing socially, or increasing substance use.
  • Emotions: Heightened feelings of fear, anxiety, sadness, anger, or guilt.

These responses are common and valid—but they don’t have to be endured alone.

Building a Mental Health Preparedness Plan
Just as Floridians develop hurricane kits and evacuation routes, it’s equally wise to create a mental wellness plan. Aspire Health Partners encourages Central Florida residents to take these proactive steps:

  • Acknowledge Your Strength: Past trauma can leave lasting impacts, but it also reveals resilience. Recognizing how far you’ve come is empowering.
  • Strengthen Your Support System: Connect with friends, family, neighbors, or support groups—especially those who understand your experiences.
  • Practice Coping Skills: Lean on healthy outlets like mindfulness, journaling, breathing exercises, or peer support during times of stress.
  • Establish a Self-Care Routine: Include regular movement, restful downtime, nourishing food, and, if desired, spiritual or faith-based practices.
  • Seek Trauma-Informed Help: A trained clinician can provide individualized, evidence-based care to address emotional responses tied to disaster-related trauma.

Resources and Support in Central Florida
If you or a loved one is struggling emotionally this hurricane season, Aspire Health Partners offers trauma-informed counseling in Orlando and throughout Central Florida. From outpatient services to emergency crisis response, Aspire is here to support the emotional safety of individuals and families during and after storms.

For disaster-related information and statewide mental health resources, visit FloridaDisaster.org and explore their Florida Disaster Mental Health Resources.

Aspire’s 24/7 crisis hotline is available anytime at (407) 875-3700, option 3—providing round-the-clock assistance to anyone in need.

Final Reminder
Mental health is just as critical as physical safety when facing a storm. As we prepare homes and families this hurricane season, let’s also take time to care for emotional well-being—our most important foundation in times of crisis.