Vincentians in the red zone impacted by emotional trauma from the eruption

Though eruptions of La Soufriere volcano ended almost a year ago, Vincentians from communities in the red zone are still being impacted by the emotional trauma of the event.

Richard Robertson

“The eruption has significantly impacted on people’s minds and what they do after. I’m not sure if there has been enough emphasis on helping them through that,” Professor Richard Robertson said this week during an appearance on WEFM’s Morning programme.

Robertson, who was part of the UWI Seismic team monitoring and updating the nation during last year’s eruptions, is currently in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), with regard to several projects.

This includes the Risk Margins project, which is a component of a larger project, and focuses on communities north of the Rabacca River to teach residents how to use cameras to capture changes in the landscape.

The scientist noted that following a volcanic eruption, there are bound to be ongoing changes in the landscape and this project will help to build awareness to allow persons to observe those changes ,which will in turn help them to understand and be more conscious of the hazardous environment they inhabit.

“I have always found that the impact of the volcano on the people who live on the windward side vs the leeward side is quite different and their response to it is quite different,” Robertson said, while adding that those North of the Rabacca River live directly on the volcano’s mountain range.

“I think it has to do with where they are and the impact it has had on them and I don’t know whether the interventions that have been had, whether it’s considered- the mental effects- and therefore if you don’t deal with that, the trauma and the way in which people are thinking and feeling, their ability to do things, which seems to you should be obvious; they get help to do xyz, why is it that they’re not doing it? But if you’re totally traumatised, you might be just paralysed and not doing anything,” he said.

Robertson also disclosed that there was still a significant amount of ash in those communities, which has presented a challenge, specifically for persons looking to return to agriculture.

And while there are people replanting, it is likely that they will still have a lot of issues to work through.

A part of the Risk Margins project is expected to result in an exhibition this April, where photos taken by residents will be on display.

Robertson added that this will also be a time for residents from the various red zone communities to express themselves by telling stories of what they experienced during the eruption.

Rain gauges are also expected to be installed in these communities to help raise awareness “of the hazardous landscape they live in but also beauty of landscape”, by drawing attention to the cause and effect relationship between rain in the mountains and the consequent lahars that flow through communities.