March 25, 2008

• Spring marks start of tornado season

• Storms can cause anxiety or PTSD

• 10 year anniversary of killer storms

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Spring marks the onset of tornado season across the region, and the prospect of dangerous storms can lead to a great deal of anxiety, particularly in people who have been in a tornado's path. The tornado siren or a weatherman's warning can trigger conditions such as post traumatic stress disorder.

"Many people think that PTSD is only seen in soldiers, but it can be very real for those who have experienced catastrophic events such as tornados," said Andree Stoves, M.D., associate professor of psychiatry at UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham).

This April marks the 10th anniversary of major tornados in the Birmingham area that killed more than 30 people in 1998.

Stoves says PTSD can be so severe that some patients are unable to function. Others may have milder symptoms that may go unrecognized. She says avoiding the triggers that cause anxiety is a key to handling a major storm.

"Be prepared. Have a plan in place so you know where to go and what to do in the event of a major storm in your area," Stoves said. "Being ready for a storm lowers your stress levels and helps you cope."

Stoves also has some advice about handling the non-stop flow of information from weather forecasters on TV and radio. Find out what's going on ... then turn it off.

"It is important to listen to weather reports as a storm approaches to keep informed and make plans," she said. "But don't listen non-stop. That's like pouring salt in a wound. Keep informed, but don't allow weather reports to consume you."

The April 8, 1998 storms swept through Tuscaloosa, Jefferson and St. Clair Counties in Alabama, killing 34 people and injuring 256. The storm produced a F5 tornado, that left a track approximately 21 miles long and a half mile wide through western Jefferson County.