FEMA Approves Crisis Counseling Grant For Arkansas
Release Date: February 26, 2008
Release Number: 1744-026
» More Information on Arkansas Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved a grant of $137,552 to the state's mental health agency to supplement state efforts to provide crisis counseling services for those affected by the Feb. 5 severe storms, tornadoes and flooding.
The federal funds will support counseling in Izard, Sharp, Stone and Van Buren counties. Counseling services in other counties will be funded by the state's mental health agency, the Division of Behavioral Health Services of the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services.
The crisis counseling program helps individuals cope with the psychological aftermath of a disaster. It provides short-term crisis counseling services, referral services and short-term intervention counseling. If you or someone you know lives in the following counties and exhibits signs of stress, you are encouraged to call:
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Baxter and Marion - 1-800-946-1111 or 870-425-6901 (Mountain Home)
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Conway and Pope - 1-800-844-2066, Counseling Associates.
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Izard, Independence, Sharp, Stone and Van Buren - 1-800-592-9503, Health Resources of Arkansas.
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Randolph - 1-800-356-3035 or 870-892-7111 (Pocahontas)
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Union - 870-862-7921
The emotional consequences of disasters, such as the severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding of Feb. 5, can be far-reaching and long lasting. Stress can surface in many forms, and it often appears weeks or months after the traumatic event, mental health experts say.
"Dealing with problems caused by the disaster wears on people," said Richard Griffin, state coordinating officer for the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM). "Keeping stress levels down as the recovery process continues is no easy task. We see more physical stress-related symptoms when people are exhausted."
"Disaster victims are likely to experience at least one of several emotional responses," said FEMA's Federal Coordinating Officer, Phil Parr. These responses can include anger, fatigue, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, nightmares, depression, inability to concentrate, hyperactivity and increased alcohol or drug use. Mental health experts suggest a number of ways to relieve the symptoms of emotional distress:
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Talk about your feelings with family, friends and neighbors. Friends and family are good medicine, and sharing common experiences helps people overcome anxiety and feelings of helplessness.
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Get back into daily routines as soon as you can and try to maintain a healthy diet and get plenty of sleep.
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Get some physical exercise every day.
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Children are particularly vulnerable to emotional stress after a disaster, including excessive fear of the dark, crying, fear of being alone and constant worry. Reassure children that they are safe. Encourage them to talk about their fears; emphasize that they are not responsible for what happened; hold and hug them frequently.
The Arkansas crisis counseling program helps state or local agencies respond to immediate mental health needs with screening, diagnostic and counseling techniques. It also supports outreach services such as public information and community networking.
Ten counties are now authorized to receive federal Individual Assistance: Baxter, Conway, Izard, Marion, Pope, Randolph, Sharp, Stone, Union and Van Buren. Homeowners, renters and business owners who are located in one of these counties and suffered damage and/or financial loss from the Feb. 5 storms and tornadoes can register for other forms of state or federal disaster assistance. They can register online at www.fema.gov or call FEMA's registration line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Individuals with hearing or speech impairments can call (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. FEMA operators are available 7 a.m. to midnight CST seven days a week, until further notice. If residents are not sure if they will be eligible, they should still make the call. They should not disqualify themselves from assistance by not registering. The deadline for registration with FEMA is April 8, 2008.
Residents also can visit a local Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) to speak with representatives from the state, FEMA and the SBA to discuss the types of assistance available. They also can meet with representatives from other state and local agencies such as the Arkansas Department of Insurance and the Arkansas Department of Human Services' Food Stamp Program. Residents are urged to apply online or by phone before visiting a DRC.
FEMA coordinates the Federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terrorism.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 26-Feb-2008 15:18:09