Coping with extreme weather events and disasters

Disasters and extreme weather events are serious disruptions to community life that exceed local capacity to cope using existing resources. Coping with these events takes time, and that timeframe varies for each person and community. The following insights and tips can support your recovery. 

Extreme weather in Australia

Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe in Australia due to our changing climate and the ways communities are built and managed. What may have been a once-in-a-lifetime event a generation ago is now occurring more regularly.

Recovering from these experiences often involves grieving the loss of home, livelihood, community, or a sense of safety.

Floods

In Australia, floods can develop rapidly and escalate suddenly. The consequences are often devastating and far-reaching, extending beyond the loss of possessions. Alongside the destruction of homes and properties, floods can lead to the loss of lives, pets, livestock, and livelihoods. Businesses and farms may be destroyed, causing job losses and community displacement. Contaminated floodwaters can also lead to disease outbreaks. 

The emotional impact can last for years and may lead to cumulative or compounding grief. 

Recent years have seen significant flooding across multiple states — from the widespread 2021–22 floods in New South Wales and Queensland to further severe events in 2023 and 2025, including the tropical cyclone-driven floods in northern Australia and major inundation across Victoria and Tasmania. Each recurrence can trigger memories of previous disasters, intensifying feelings of anxiety and loss. 

Griefline offers resources to support people affected by floods. You can contact our Helpline to speak with a trained volunteer who will listen with compassion and help you explore strategies for recovery and wellbeing. You can also connect with others through our online forums to share experiences and mutual support. 

Bushfires

The 2019–20 bushfires caused widespread destruction across Australia, devastating communities, homes, and ecosystems. Beyond the physical damage, bushfires can cause deep emotional and psychological distress — grief for what was lost, fear for what might come again, and exhaustion from repeated recovery efforts. 

The fires claimed the lives of community members, wildlife, and livestock, while many survivors experienced the loss of businesses, jobs, and stability in the years that followed. 

Surviving a bushfire can be shocking, terrifying, and overwhelming. Being threatened by an out-of-control fire can leave you feeling paralysed and powerless. Emotional responses such as fear, anger, confusion, and sadness are not only trauma reactions — they are also natural grief responses. 

Drought

Droughts are slow-onset disasters that unfold over time and are often intensified by land-use practices, water management decisions, and changing climate patterns. Their effects can be devastating and long-lasting, both environmentally and emotionally. 

The gradual destruction of land, property, livestock, and infrastructure can deeply affect families and communities, leading to financial hardship and emotional strain. Some families are forced to abandon their farms and towns, leaving behind generations of history and connection. 

Extended financial stress can also create additional grief — not being able to afford necessities, community activities, or educational opportunities for children. 

Cyclones, heatwaves and storms

Extreme weather events such as cyclones, heatwaves, and storms are becoming more common and more severe in Australia. The distress they cause often extends beyond the event itself — from navigating government support and cleaning up debris to enduring ongoing uncertainty about the future. 

In June 2021, a powerful storm struck the Dandenong Ranges in Victoria, leaving residents without power and clean water for weeks. After a night of destructive winds and falling trees, thousands of families faced bitter cold without heating, refrigeration, or communication. Experiences like these can create feelings of abandonment, frustration, fear, and anger, compounding grief and trauma. 

Social connection is an essential tool for emotional recovery. Griefline offers support through our free telephone service and online community forums. 

Disasters occur where hazards and human vulnerability intersect — understanding both helps communities prepare, adapt, and recover more effectively. 

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How to cope after a natural disaster

Speaking with someone about your experience can help you process what has happened. Griefline’s trained volunteers can support you through this time and help you explore your feelings, reconnect with your strengths, and find ways to heal. 

You can call our national Helpline on 1300 845 745, 8am–8pm (AEST/AEDT), 7 days a week. 

Connect with other people

Even when it feels like your community has been torn apart, shared experiences can foster connection and collective strength. Seeking support early can make recovery easier. Checking in with neighbours, volunteering, or simply sharing stories can help you and others make sense of your experiences. 

Look for tailored support

When disasters occur, support services are usually deployed quickly. Counsellors and psychologists may be available in affected regions, and phone-based services like Griefline are accessible immediately. Early emotional support can make a meaningful difference to your recovery. 

Look after yourself

The shock and instability of a disaster can be overwhelming, both physically and emotionally. Creating small, consistent self-care routines can help you regain a sense of control. Try to rest, eat nourishing meals, and practise mindfulness or gentle movement. 

You can find self-care resources in the Griefline Resource Hub, including a selection of self-care resources including tips for mindful breathing, journaling, and meditation. 

Find order in disorder

When chaos surrounds you, small routines can restore stability. Waking up at a regular time, maintaining mealtimes, and resuming enjoyable activities — even in small ways — can help you feel grounded and capable. 

Avoid unhealthy options

In times of distress, it can be tempting to seek comfort through alcohol, drugs, or other numbing behaviours such as overeating or excessive screen time. While these may offer short-term relief, they can hinder emotional recovery. Instead, acknowledge what you’re facing and focus on healthy, restorative strategies. 

Delay big decisions

In the aftermath of disaster, it’s natural to crave control or make significant life changes. However, major decisions made under emotional strain can lead to regret. Allow yourself to grieve, rebuild routines, and wait until the initial shock subsides before making big choices. 

Resources and support

If you’ve been affected by an extreme weather event or disaster, help is available. 

• Call Griefline on 1300 845 745 to speak with a trained volunteer. 

• Visit our online forums at griefline.org.au/forums to connect with others. 

• Listen to our Life After Loss podcast, where Dr Robert Neimeyer explores the relationship between grief and trauma and how meaning-making supports recovery.