Symposia
Disaster Mental Health
Katharine L. Thomas, PhD
Baylor Scott & White Health
Waco, Texas
Emily Beattie, BA
Research Assistant
Baylor Scott & White, Warriors Research Institute
Dallas, Texas
Jordan Smith, MPH
clinical Research Assistant
Baylor Scott & White, Warriors Research Institute
Dallas, Texas
Victoria Torres, MA
Graduate Student
University of Mississippi
University, Mississippi
Elizabeth Coe, PsyD
Assistant Investigator
Baylor Scott & White, Warriors Research Institute
Dallas, Texas
Suzy B. Gulliver, Ph.D.
Director
Texas A&M College of Medicine
Waco, Texas
Our communities rely on first responders in times of disaster for search and rescue, evacuation, supply distribution, and maintaining safety, in addition to fire fighting. As a critical part of disaster response, firefighters face toxic exposures, physical injury, psychological strain, and a variety of other potentially traumatic exposures. Fire Service plays a crucial role in aiding our communities in times of disaster and subsequent recovery; however, these occupational obligations often compete with the direct personal impacts the disaster places on emergency responders. For example, a firefighter may be working a post-hurricane water rescue while worrying that his or her own home has been flooded. Thus, disaster places a potentially cumulative or even synergistic emotional and physical load on firefighters.
In August of 2017, Hurricane Harvey devastated Texas and Louisiana communities, leading to $125 billion in damages, second only to 2005’s Hurricane Katrina. In particular, the Houston area experienced catastrophic flooding resulting in extensive property damage and loss of life. In the wake of the storm, 37,000 Texans were displaced to shelters, more than 15,000 homes were destroyed, and parts of the Houston area remained without power for over 10 days. Following the storm, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) deployed Disaster Relief Peer Support Teams to Houston. Peer Support Team members conducted fire station visits over two weeks and distributed a brief Needs Assessment to Houston-area firefighters. The assessment consisted of 32 items assessing immediate disaster-related needs such as home damage, station damage, medical concerns, and nutritional concerns. Needs Assessment responses were reviewed nightly by a clinician and a senior Peer. Peers triaged areas of need to solution-focused support; clinicians assessed any firefighters deemed by Peers as unusually distressed and made referrals as appropriate. The results of the Needs Assessment quantified the most common and immediate needs of firefighters in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. Information gleaned from this study can be used to inform and improve future disaster response and recovery efforts.