Kids fared well in earthquake

SARAH JACKSON, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Mar. 12

Six-year-old Trista Heenan's biggest concern after the earthquake was her family.

She wondered if her brothers and sisters were alright, especially after she was knocked to the gym floor by the force of the lunchtime quake.

And while she said the 6.8 Ash Wednesday quake was "scary" and "weird," she's "OK" now.

Since the quake Trista's mom Tina has noticed that her daughter "checks in" more often with her parents. It's as if she wants to see her mom is still there, Tina said.

But that's tapering off now.

"She definitely needed more love and reassurance just in general," she said. "We discussed what had happened. She's doing great right now."

Tina Heenan attributes her daughter's ability to recover from the upset to Olympic View Elementary's monthly earthquake drills.

"She did like she'd been taught," Heenan said. "The teachers were wonderful. It all goes back to how well the school prepared."

Deborah Larkin-Morgan's two daughters, Rhiannon Larkin, 17, and Miranda Morgan, 11, had different experiences.

Rhiannon was at the doctor's office. She was separated from her own 3-year-old daughter, Tearney.

"(Rhiannon) was crying and upset because she was trying to get to her daughter," Larkin-Morgan said. However, Larkin-Morgan's other daughter, Miranda, was at school and thought the quake wasn't that bad, although the 11-year-old fears predictions of another one.

But for Rhiannon, there's still fear, Larkin-Morgan said. She's not as comfortable with her own daughter visiting the Larkin-Morgan's 1930s style home, damaged in the quake.

"I've told her, it's OK," Larkin-Morgan said.

James Masson, a pediatric psychologist in Olympia, said he's heard very few cases of post-traumatic stress disorder caused by the quake, in part because the event wasn't traumatic for many.

"It didn't really seem to have much of an impact," he said of the quake and his practice. "I wouldn't look for it. I would say respond to your child the way they are."

Still Masson said he'll have the quake in the back of his mind if children seem anxious, irritable or a little on edge, but added: "There may be an number of explanations."

Most students at Lacey Elementary have settled back into the school-day routine.

Many teachers have found a way to incorporate the natural disaster into learning opportunity through writing projects and plate tectonics studies.

"It lets things out, and it's a chance for teachers to pick up on concerns," said Jim Howie, the school's intervention specialist. "What we're seeing at Lacey, basically, has been very minimal continued reaction."

Howie said if children are still having problems sleeping and going to school or if they won't go into the room they were in when the quake hit, professional help is a good idea.

Ken Urie, who runs an Emergency Supply Center from his home, believes disaster preparation and involving children in those plans can help kids gain a sense of control amid the chaos.

He recommends creating a family disaster plan, including places to meet and numbers to call when disaster strikes.

However, Howie cautions against putting too much emphasis on the quake.

"You can focus the thing to death to the point where it probably causes more problems," Howie said, adding that while the kids put their earthquake-related projects on the walls at the school, "that'll all come down after a bit and they'll move on."

Sarah Jackson writes for The Olympian and can be reached at 704-6871.

Helping your child cope

- Develop a family disaster plan. Make your children part of the planning process.

- Discuss what each member of the family will do in each situation such as earthquake. Everyone should have a responsibility.

- Post emergency phone numbers at all phones and have the children memorize basic family information. Teach children when to use -- and not use -- 9-1-1.

- Select an out-of-area family contact to be your family "emergency information center."

- Put together disaster supply kits.

- Practice the disaster plan.

- Help the child understand that fear is normal.

- Encourage children to talk about their experiences, fears and feelings.

Source: "Helping Your Child Cope With Disaster," By Ken Urie, owner, Emergency Supply Center in Olympia

More resources

For additional information and helpful materials for helping children cope:

- Visit Federal Emergency Management Agency's Web site for kids at: www.fema.gov/kids/quake.htm.

- Visit the American Red Cross in Olympia at 2618 12th Court S.W., or call 352-8575 for an "After the Quake" coloring book, which explains earthquakes to children and guides parent through the recovering process.

- Call the Emergency Supply Center (888) 459-9723 for "Yogi, the BE-PREPARED Bear: Earthquake Preparedness for Children" and other guides.

On the web:

Federal Emergency Management Agency.

American Red Cross.

Earthquake stories archive.

Earthquake links.

The Olympian Copyright 2000

back to main Earthquake Stories index