Crisis Counseling Available For Those Affected By Fay
Release Date: September 30, 2002
Release Number: 1434-06
» More Information on Texas Tropical Storm Fay
San Antonio, TX -- South Texas residents suffering emotional turmoil in the nine declared counties affected by Tropical Storm Fay may seek crisis counseling by calling designated Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (TDMHMR) centers, or by visiting a Disaster Recovery Center.
Crisis counseling helps disaster victims deal with emotional reactions, such as sadness or anger, caused by stressful situations. Counselors can help adults and children gain emotional control by offering them coping mechanisms, including stress management techniques.
To support those affected in the declared areas, state and federal officials have a crisis counselor at the Disaster Recovery Center now open at the Live Oak County Volunteer Fire Department at 914 FM 3024 in Swinney Switch, and more will open soon to serve other regions. The Swinney Switch center is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Counseling services for those affected by the tropical storm are available to individuals and families in nine counties designated as major disaster areas: Brazoria, Frio, Galveston, La Salle, Live Oak, Matagorda, Nueces, San Patricio and Wharton.
"A disaster is difficult when there is home or property damage involved, and people should know that sometimes it's helpful to speak to someone about it," said Duke Mazurek, state coordinating officer.
"Stress can show up in many unexpected ways when a disaster strikes," said Scott Wells, head of the recovery effort for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "The best way to combat it is to try and keep people from being overwhelmed from things beyond their control."
FEMA applicants may call the regional numbers listed below to seek support.
| Center | Counties | Phone number |
|---|---|---|
| Camino Real MHMR Center | Frio, La Salle | 800-543-5750 |
| Gulf Coast MHMR Center | Brazoria, Galveston | 409-763-2373 |
| Harris County Flood Recovery Team | Brazoria, Galveston | 281-272-5796 |
| Nueces County MHMR Center | Live Oak, Nueces, San Patricio | 800-841-6467 |
| Crisis Counseling Team | Live Oak, Nueces, San Patricio | 361-215-8641 |
| Texana MHMR Center | Matagorda, Wharton | 800-633-5686 |
Last Modified: Thursday, 31-Jul-2003 11:24:34