Crisis Outreach Grant Approved For Kentucky Flood Victims 

Release Date: July 24, 2003
Release Number: 1475-09

» More Information on Kentucky Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved a $103,000 grant to the Commonwealth of Kentucky to help survivors of the severe June storms cope with emotional stress left by the disaster.

"All people are vulnerable to the overwhelming nature of disasters which impact people in many ways," said Renelle B. Grubbs, executive director of the Kentucky Community Crisis Response Board. "Emotional effects from loss of home, family pets, displacement from neighbors, friends, family, church and school may cause unusual stress as people begin to reconstruct their lives. People need to know that sometimes talking with Project Recovery outreach staff can be helpful."

The grant enables three Project Recovery service providers in the impacted areas to listen, provide emotional support and link survivors to needed resources. They are Mountain Comprehensive Care Center (800-422-1060), Kentucky River Community Care, Inc. (800-262-7491) and Pathways, Inc. (800-562-8909).

Common stress reactions may include: fear, disbelief, reluctance to leave one's property, overwhelmed feelings, trouble with eating or sleeping, nightmares, worry, difficulty in making decisions and a roller coaster of emotions.

"We want to reassure people that these are normal reactions and are time-limited," Grubbs said. "Sometimes it helps to talk about it."

Project Recovery services are available at Disaster Recovery Centers in Eastern Kentucky. Also, the project's outreach workers are conducting field visits in hard-hit areas. For more information, call toll-free at 1-888-522-7228.

Project Recovery services are being offered in the 20 disaster-declared counties to victims of storms between June 14 and June 27. The counties are Boyd, Breathitt, Carter, Clay, Elliott, Floyd, Greenup, Harlan, Johnson, Knott, Lawrence, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike, and Rowan.

Last Modified: Thursday, 24-Jul-2003 10:37:09