Crisis Counseling Gets $5.1 Million in Additional Funding 

Release Date: March 1, 2006
Release Number: 1603-376

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BATON ROUGE, La. -- In the aftermath of a disaster, it is not uncommon for victims to experience stress and anxiety. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the State of Louisiana aids these victims by funding free crisis counseling services through grants to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. Another $5.1 million in funding has been approved in addition to the $6.1 million previously obligated. To date, more than $11.2 million have been approved for crisis counseling in Louisiana.

The goal of crisis counseling is to help individuals cope with the psychological aftermath of the disaster. The crisis counseling program provides short-term crisis counseling services to eligible survivors of federally declared disasters. When a person calls the crisis counseling hotline, a representative provides the needed assistance. Individuals are eligible for crisis counseling services if they were physically in areas directly affected by the hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Individuals in need of assistance should call:

All of the crisis lines operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003

Last Modified: Wednesday, 01-Mar-2006 11:57:50