
(Updated: October 4, 2017)
In the wake of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, service members and their families living in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have been impacted and may be displaced from their homes. Access to emergency response resources can make a critical difference for those impacted by the hurricanes and providers should encourage service members, veterans and military families to leverage all available resources.
General Hurricane Assistance and Information
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Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
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Registration: https://www.disasterassistance.gov/ or 1-800-621-3362 (en espanol)
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FEMA App: https://www.fema.gov/mobile-app
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Red Cross (en espanol)
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National Hurricane Center (en español)
Military-specific Information and Resources
- Tricare
- Information regarding emergency prescription refills and the process for getting a referral requirement waived
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Defense Department News Special Reports
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Red Cross for Military Families (en español)
Air Force Resources
Army Resources
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Army Disaster Personnel Accountability and Assessment System (ADPAAS)
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Army Info Hotline: 1-800-833-6622
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Navy / Marine Corps Resources
Coast Guard Resources
Veteran-specific Resources
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VA Blog: “Hurricane Irma and Maria Updates”
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VA Blog: “VA Continues to Provide Benefits and Services in the Aftermath of Hurricane Harvey”
For updates for the following VA facilities visit their websites:
Child-focused Resources
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National Child Traumatic Stress Network: Resources for Hurricane Harvey
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American Psychological Association: Tornados, Hurricanes, and Children
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Sesame Street Emergency Toolkit (en espanol)
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American Academy of Pediatrics: Responding to Children's Emotional Needs During Times of Crisis
Information for Psychological Health Providers
Following natural disasters of this magnitude, it is common (and normal) to experience a whirlwind of emotions. People may report feeling emotionally overwhelmed, shocked, helpless or “numb.” Others will report that they are easily distracted, very fatigued or experience intrusive or repeated images of what they have seen. These responses are to be expected and for many, the symptoms will fade with time. If symptoms do not fade within several weeks or begin to contribute to unhealthy coping responses, professional help may be needed.
For now, providers should focus on immediate assistance, which may take the form of psychological first aid. Consult these resources for more information on post-disaster psychological health support:
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National Center for PTSD Psychological First Aid: Field Operations Guide
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American Psychology Association: Managing Stress After Hurricanes
Dr. Holly N. O’Reilly is a clinical psychologist and evidence-based practice subject matter expert at the Deployment Health Clinical Center. Her specialties include the consequences of traumatic exposure as well as gender studies
The views expressed in Clinician's Corner blogs are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Psychological Health Center of Excellence or Department of Defense.
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