Hurricane Lala's damage on Hawaii Island is leaving an emotional mark that will outlast the physical wreckage, and the hardest hit include the people doing the helping.

• Survivors, volunteers, and first responders are walking into scenes people are not meant to see, including a washed-out cemetery with human remains scattered.
• Days without food, water, and power have piled stress on top of shock, along with anger over who is to blame.
• Grief does not move in a straight line — people bounce between denial, shock, and mourning, says mental health specialist Kathleen Merriam.
• Department of Health staff are offering counseling at the Na'alehu Elementary School gym, aiming for simple conversation and connection rather than formal treatment.
• The 988 crisis line is open around the clock for anyone needing more help.

Outlook: As power returns to Pahala and Ka'u Hospital, the emotional recovery is only starting and will likely stretch on well past the cleanup.