Bemidji’s June 21 Derecho Leaves Lasting Mental Impacts | Lakeland News
THE JUNE 21ST DERECHO STORM CAUSED SIGNIFICANT PHYSICAL
DAMAGE TO THE BEMIDJI AREA, BUT OUR REPORTER MATTHEW FREEMAN
SPOKE WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EXPERTS TO DISCUSS THE EMOTIONAL
DISTRESS AND TRAUMA THAT WAS ALSO LEFT BEHIND.
>> Reporter: THE JUNE 21ST STORM THAT SWEPT THROUGH THE BEMIDJI
AREA DOWNED 9 MILLION TREES, CAUSED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
RESIDENTS TO LOSE POWER, SOME FOR SEVERAL DAYS, AND CAUSED
DAMAGE TO STRUCTURES AND HOMES. THAT’S THE DESTRUCTION THAT YOU
CAN SEE WITH YOUR EYES BUT WHAT YOU CAN’T SEE IS THE DAMAGE
CAUSED TO A PERSON’S MENTAL HEALTH.
>> EVERYONE IS TYPICALLY IMPACT IN SOME PSYCHOLOGICAL WAY OF A
COMMUNITY-WIDE DISASTER. THE ONGOING IMPLICATIONS OF
THOSE EXPERIENCES ARE WIDE. >> Reporter: THIS MAKES
MINNESOTA A PRIMETIME DESTINATION, SO THOSE WANTING TO
DO OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES FIND DIFFICULTY ADJUSTING TO THE
NEWLAND ESCAPE. >> PEOPLE MAY AVOID GOING
OUTSIDE, THEY MAY LOOK OUT THEIR WINDOW AND FEEL A HEAVINESS.
I FOUND MYSELFER — MYSELF IRRITABLE BECAUSE I DON’T WANT
TO CLEAN. >> Reporter: NOT EVERYONE CAN
SAY THE SAME FOR ANY CHILDREN WHO ARE AFFECTED.
>> KIDS MIGHT HAVE MORE KIND OF BLUNT STATEMENTS, LIKE IS THE
TREE GOING TO FALL ON THE HOUSE AGAIN?
IS THE ROOF GOING TO BLOW OFF? I ENCOURAGE CAREGIVERS NOT TO GET
STARTLED BY THOSE COMMENTS, IT’S THEIR BRAINS MAKING SENSE OF
WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW DO THEY STAY SAFE AS THEY MOVE FORWARD
AND THEIR BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM DEVELOPS.
>> Reporter: THERE ARE A LOT OF UPS AND DOWNS.
SOME WILL EXPERIENCE DAYS WITH HAWAII ENERGY AND SOME DAYS YOU
MAY NOT WANT TO LEAVE THE HOUSE. THIS IS COMPLETELY NORMAL AND
IT’S JUST HOW OUR NERVOUS SYSTEM IS KEEPING US ALIVE.
>> AS WE MOVE FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY FROM THE TIMEFRAME
OF A STORM, OUR NERVOUS SYSTEM WILL HAVE NEW INFORMATION THAT
SAYS EVERY TIME IT LIGHTNINGS DOESN’T MEAN THERE IS A TREE
THAT FALLS ON THE ROOF. JUST REASSURE OURSELVES, MY
NERVOUS SYSTEM IS WATCHING OUT FOR ME, IT WANTS ME TO BE SAFE,
IT WANTS ME TO BE SECURE, HOW CAN I REESTABLISH THAT.
>> Reporter: DEPENDING ON THE DISASTER, 20% OF THOSE WHO WENT
THROUGH IT MAY HAVE ONGOING SYSTEMS THAT MAY REQUIRE
CONTINUED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
REPORTING IN BEMIDJI, I’M MATTHEW FREEMAN, LAKELAND NEWS.
>> IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF ANY SUPPORT AND WANT TO TALK SOMEONE
ABOUT THE EMOTIONAL DISTRESS YOU ARE EXPERIENCING FROM THE STORM.
YOU CAN CALL THE DISASTER DISTRESS HELPLINE AT THE NUMBER
ON THE SCREEN. THE HELPLINE IS AVAILABLE 24/7.
Originally aired August 1, 2025 on Lakeland News
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