- The psychologists of the Ribera healthcare group explain how grief is reactivated after a catastrophe, such as the one that occurred in Valencia a year ago, when weather alerts are reactivated, also in nearby regions such as Catalonia, Aragon, and the Balearic Islands.
- They remind us that emotional management and community support are key to preventing suffering from becoming chronic: "It's normal for sadness, fear, or anxiety to return. It doesn't mean we haven't made progress."
Almost a year after the devastating DANA storm that struck several parts of the province of Valencia and claimed more than 220 lives, the weather alerts of recent weeks have reopened still-tender wounds. The population of affected areas, such as the Valencia metropolitan area (districts of the capital and towns such as Catarroja, Alfafar, Paiporta, and Aldaia), the Ribera Alta, and the Safor region, have intensely relived the fear, anguish, and uncertainty of that fateful October 29, 2024.
The team of psychologists of the health group Ribera at the hospital Ribera Polusa Remember that "grief after a natural disaster doesn't disappear over time, but rather evolves." "Anniversaries and situations that remind us of what we experienced act as emotional triggers, and it's normal for sadness, fear, or anxiety to return. This doesn't mean we haven't made progress, but rather that we are facing a deep emotional scar that needs to be acknowledged and supported," they explain.
Grief after a disaster: a necessary and different process for each person
Grief is the psychological process that arises in the face of a significant loss—whether a person, a home, or a life project—and serves an adaptive function: it allows us to assimilate what has happened and rebuild our lives. In the context of a catastrophe like Dana, this process is multiplied. “Those affected don't face a single loss, but many at once: material losses, emotional losses, losses of security, loss of identity, or loss of environment. That's why the impact is so devastating,” note the specialists from the Ribera group.
Grief, they add, can manifest itself in very different ways. “Some people need to talk, cry, or remember; others withdraw into silence or carry on as if nothing had happened. There is no right way to grieve, but there are signs that indicate when it's necessary to seek help: intense pain that doesn't go away, feelings of guilt, disconnection from reality, or an inability to return to everyday life.”
In these cases, they warn, it may be a case of pathological or chronic grief, which requires professional attention to prevent the onset of mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder.
From individual grief to collective grief: the importance of feeling accompanied
The Psychology team at Ribera Polusa Hospital distinguishes two levels of grief following a disaster: the individual, which depends on each person's personal circumstances and emotional history; and the collective, which is experienced within the affected community. The latter "serves a protective function because it helps people feel understood and supported in their grief." Events such as tributes to the victims, neighborhood gatherings, or remembrance rituals are essential for healing the shared wound. "Sharing grief, talking about what happened, keeping traditions alive, or rebuilding damaged spaces together are not just symbolic gestures, but authentic mechanisms of social resilience," they emphasize.
They also emphasize the importance of not denying or repressing emotions. “Pain needs space. It's not about eliminating sadness or fear, but rather giving them a place and allowing them to flow. Listening, accompanying, and offering support without judgment is more valuable than any clichés or attempts at quick consolation,” they point out.
Among the expressions to avoid are the typical ones like "it could have been worse," "I know how you feel," or "at least you're okay." Instead, empathetic listening and a willingness to support are much more powerful tools.
New weather alerts reactivate the emotional footprint
In recent weeks, the activation of red alerts for heavy rains in Valencia and other regions such as the Balearic Islands, Murcia, and Catalonia has triggered a wave of memories and anxiety among the population. "Those who experienced the Dana a year ago have felt their bodies and minds react the same as they did then, even though the danger was objectively less," explains Ribera Polusa.
This reactivation is a common phenomenon in post-traumatic grief. “The brain associates threatening signals—such as the sound of rain, sirens, or emergency messages—with the original trauma. Therefore, even if the present is safe, the body responds as if the disaster were happening again,” the psychologists explain.
In these situations, they recommend naming emotions, maintaining safe routines, and seeking social or professional support if the discomfort intensifies or persists. "You don't have to face it alone. Recognizing vulnerability is a step toward strength, not weakness."
Caring for the especially vulnerable population
Grief following a disaster doesn't affect everyone equally. Children, the elderly, and those already experiencing pre-existing difficulties—economic, emotional, or health-related—are the most vulnerable.
In the case of childhood, the psychologists of the Ribera group remind us that "children can't always put words to what they feel, but they do express it with fear, irritability, regression, or sleep problems." The loss of home, the disruption of routines, or separation from attachment figures can be deeply destabilizing. "The key is to offer them security, explain what happened calmly, and allow them to express their emotions."
Older adults, for their part, may see their resilience affected by the loss of connections and the difficulty rebuilding their surroundings. And emergency teams, often considered heroes, also need psychological care: "Taking care of those you care for is essential to prevent emotional burnout," Ribera Polusa points out.
Resilience and hope: rebuilding through mutual support
The pain after a disaster is inevitable, but not eternal. The experience of the last year has shown that solidarity and cooperation strengthen communities. “Resilience is not forgetting, but learning to live with what happened, adapting, and regaining the ability to enjoy life,” conclude the psychologists of the Ribera group.
Among the resources that facilitate this process are talking about what happened, participating in reconstruction activities, maintaining local traditions, and holding memorial services. And, above all, seeking psychological help when the pain becomes unbearable.
"The first anniversary of Dana reminds us that emotional wounds also need attention. Only by acknowledging suffering can we transform it into strength to move forward," say the specialists from the Ribera group.
