By PEYTON SWEENEY
As wildfires continue to bring devastation to people in California, we see just how crucial it is to be prepared and for first responders to have every tool they need to be able to handle disasters.
However, one group may not be getting any resources at all, and that group is mothers.
Melissa Saleh, a lawyer and journalist turned entrepreneur, evacuated to a hotel and found herself realizing just how much mothers go through during times of disaster without any resources or even public awareness. As she recalls:
“I was alone with the kids earlier this week, my husband was traveling, so when things were very touch and go with evacuations I packed up the kids and headed south to a hotel. It was filled with families who’d evac-ed. I locked eyes with many mothers herding their kids around, desperately trying to maintain normalcy for their kids while their entire community and their homes burned.”
The workload that women go through is already ignored on a regular basis, but the tasks, duties and stress is amplified during times of crisis.
“Nationally, we are not talking about the additional workload–and the additional trauma–of motherhood in these situations,” says Saleh. “The added burden is ENORMOUS–you barely have time to look after your own life and needs as you use every ounce of strength to try to keep your kids and family safe and intact–physically, mentally and emotionally.
“There’s the trauma of the event, then the after- trauma–school, homes, routines and plans for childcare all destroyed.”
We need to be having a conversation about the lack of resources any and all first responders and victims receive, especially women who still carry the majority burden of taking care of their families and children.
“This needs to be discussed at the national level. Disasters, be they manmade or natural, are not going away,” says Saleh. “Moms are literal first responders for children. They need more attention and resources.”
