The hurricanes in the Gulf and Florida over the last few weeks have left people displaced — and from more than just their homes. Places of worship, community centers, parks and schools are underwater, missing roofs or windows. And those losses can set the social infrastructure of a person’s life adrift. Years after the family is safe and the home is rebuilt, disaster victims could still be struggling with health problems that got a start because of the way a stressful, terrifying situation disrupted their lives. It’s even possible, some researchers say, that the stress and fear alone could create health problems later.

It’s easy to take social support systems for granted, but the role they play in reducing stress and keeping us healthy is crucial.

When the federal Disaster Distress Helpline starts taking calls after an event like a hurricane, the requests it fields are less about direct let’s-talk-about-feelings therapy, and more about solving practical problems in survivors’ lives, said Maryann Robinson, chief of the Emergency Mental Health and Traumatic Stress Services Branch of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which operates the service.

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