Here are some things to know if you’re planning to host a storm evacuee

As mandatory evacuations for Hurricane Irma begin for parts of Florida, and many more people make plans to flee their homes if the need arises, residents of Columbus may be faced with the possibility of hosting a victim of a natural disaster, whether that be a family member, friend or stranger.

Evacuees can face a gauntlet of harsh emotions, especially if they are uncertain about whether their home will still be there when they return, or if their friends are safe.

The most important immediate responsibility is making sure that they feel safe, welcome and taken care of, wrote Jamie Aten, co-director of the Humanitarian Disaster Institute. That could be simply by preparing a room and hot meal for them or by picking up often-overlooked supplies like diapers, medicines, toothpaste, feminine products or other toiletries.

They could also be worried about what to do with a pet, so see if you can accommodate an animal companion and set that part of their mind at ease.

“Everyone who sees or experiences a disaster is affected by it in some way,” the Federal Emergency Management Agency wroye on coping with disasters..

“The emotional toll that disaster brings can sometimes be even more devastating than the financial strains of damage and loss of home, business, or personal property.”

It can be awkward to try to comfort someone about their loss and uncertainty when you’re still safe and sound, but experts say that feeling is normal.

“People don't know what to say to someone who is heartbroken. It's not their fault. No one has taught them what to say. If you say the wrong thing, you can actually make matters worse," said Aurora Winter, grief expert and founder of the Grief Coach Academy.

The first and most important step is simply to stop and listen.

“When you listen without fixing, you are being a true friend. Be patient and allow people to vent their feelings,” Aurora said. “Don't argue with a person's feelings. Don't interrupt to 'problem solve.' Having a sounding board helps people discover their own answers and their own solutions.”

FEMA said that it can also be helpful to visit local faith groups or other support organizations and to try to maintain a normal routine. This can be especially important for children.

“Children’s coping with disaster or emergencies is often tied to the way parents cope,” FEMA wrote. “They can detect adults’ fears and sadness. Parents and adults can make disasters less traumatic for children by taking steps to manage their own feelings and plans for coping.”

FEMA says that kids can feel distressed, but in the abscence of severe threat to life, their feelings are only temporary. Establishing a sense of control by helping a family keep to a normal, everyday routine can alleviate the stress of the abnormal event.

Most evacuees are staying wth friends, family or in hotels at this time, but that could change if Hurricane Irma strikes hard.

Airbnb hosts a program that easily connects evacuees with people willing to share their homes. The program comes online in active disaster areas, and is currently operating in Texas and Lousiana, but keep a lookout for it to open to states like Georgia if Irma strikes the mainland.

This story was originally published September 7, 2017 at 7:02 AM with the headline "Here are some things to know if you’re planning to host a storm evacuee."