Crisis Counseling Services are Widely Available to Hurricane Katrina Survivors
Release Date: January 11, 2006
Release Number: 1605-159
» More Information on Alabama Hurricane Katrina
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- By the end of 2005 "Project Rebound," a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Crisis Counseling Program, had reached out to more than 10,000 individuals affected by Hurricane Katrina.
"Considering the terrible events of last August--the worst disaster our country has ever had--we wanted to be sure Katrina survivors would be able to take advantage of counseling," said Michael Bolch, federal coordinating officer for FEMA. The program, administered by the Alabama Department of Mental Health, is funded by FEMA and available to Alabamians of eleven disaster-declared counties and evacuees.
Project Rebound Personnel continue to visit communities throughout the state, working in partnership with a range of agencies, both public and private, to bring services to individuals suffering from disaster-related stress, and to receive referrals. Alabama residents and evacuees in need of counseling can call the toll-free Help-Line, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The number is 800-971-7401.
It is important for people to examine their feelings following a traumatic event, counselors point out. Common symptoms are loss of appetite, fatigue or sleeplessness. More serious reactions might be depression or the unusual use of alcohol or drugs. Counselors say these problems may not be associated with the disaster by an individual or his/her family. When symptoms like this surface, contacting a crisis counselor may help.
FEMA has allocated $1.5 million for "Project Rebound" Crisis Counseling in Alabama .
Last Modified: Wednesday, 11-Jan-2006 10:51:38