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Background: Natural disasters cause much hardship and suffering, loss of property, and increased morbidity and mortality amongst those affected. Timely and effective response for relief and rescue services go a long way in mitigating these consequences. Material and Methods: This population-based cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted in the immediate aftermath of the catastrophic flood that occurred in Kerala, South India, in 2018, documents the experiences of the victims, the community's preparedness, and response to the disaster. Results: Flood waters reached levels of over four feet within the premises of 55% of the houses and nearly 97% had water flooding inside their homes. More than 93% of the households were evacuated to safer locations and relief camps. The elderly and those with chronic illnesses were the worst sufferers, unable to access medical aid. Many families (62%) received help from neighbors. Conclusion: However, the loss of lives was minimal, and could be attributed to the immediate response of the local community in rescue and relief work. This experience underscores the vital importance of the local community as first responders, and their preparedness for disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Natural disasters like floods have various physical and psychological effects on victims. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that arises as a delayed reaction to extraordinarily threatening or catastrophic situations., Aim: The objective was to screen for PTSD and associated factors among victims residing in the flood-affected areas of Kerala, India., Methodology: A community-based screening for PTSD was done among 600 flood victims residing in three selected districts (Pathanamthitta, Alleppey, and Kottayam) of Kerala. A trauma screening questionnaire was used to screen for PTSD., Results: More than 90% of them had to stay in relief camps during floods. More than 80% had damage to houses, followed by loss of domestic animals and vehicle damage. Among participants, 298 (49.7%) screened positive for PTSD 3 months post disaster. No previous history of flooding, odds ratio (OR) = 8.6 [confidence interval (CI) 5.7-13.1]; younger age, OR = 1.41 (CI 1-1.9); higher family income, OR = 4.2 (CI 2.5-6.8); education, OR = 1.4 (CI 1-2.1); flood-related morbidity, OR = 8.8 (CI 5.3-14.8); and death of a family member, OR = 3.4 (CI 1.2-9.3), were the factors that were found to be significantly associated with stress among respondents., Conclusion: Almost 50% of flood victims were screened positive for PTSD. This study's findings reiterate the need to provide psychological support as a priority along with other disaster control measures., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Indian Journal of Psychiatry.)