Flood Affected Communities Continue Recovery and Counseling

(Continued from newsletter)

Through a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton program, has been responding to the flooding that occurred in April in the city of Trenton.   Counselors have been active since the date of the disaster, visiting people who were displaced to a shelter established by the American Red Cross (ARC).

The Crisis Counseling Program has provided numerous hours of community and group crisis counseling events as well as activity days for children and their families. Counselors accompanied residents with the American Red Cross when they returned to assess the damage to their homes.  They canvassed the affected neighborhoods offering support and distributing literature that provided information on coping with the affects of floods, as well as available resources. 

Two activity day outings were held within or adjacent to the flooded neighborhood. Program staff served over 1,000 of the residents through these forums whose lives were touched by the flood. Events included such activities as creative movement and streamers, feelings murals, wish wands, family feelings banners, serenity sticks, and power percussion.

Children and adults alike reported consistently that the activities were fun and helped them to articulate and express feelings and experiences associated with the flood.  The program is especially important for this community as they were just recovering from the floods this past fall when they were flooded again in the spring. Residents have expressed much gratitude for the support the program has provided.

In northern New Jersey, NewBridge Services, a non-profit community provider of health and education services, worked with FEMA to bring crisis counseling and support to 200 individuals affected by the floods.  NewBridge crisis counselors offered resources such as crisis counseling, reassurance, referrals to health and social services, advocacy and support during interviews regarding insurance, recovery and financial assistance. 

At the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center opened in Little Falls for Bergen, Passaic, Morris and Essex Counties, NewBridge crisis counselors worked closely with FEMA and the Small Business Administration for close to 5 weeks, helping people understand what recovery and compensation options were available to them.  Crisis counselors met with individuals and families to ascertain just what kind of emotional impact the flooding and recovery activities were having.  Crisis counseling was provided to children, adolescents, adults and seniors, helping them to recognize the normal reactions they were experiencing, identifying their coping skills and resources, and helping them to focus on "next steps" for recovery.

 Written information about managing stress during disasters was distributed to individuals, schools, religious organizations, town nurses, and local Office of Emergency Management Coordinators.  Counselors attended several community meetings designed specifically to address recovery options, and outreach to victims in their communities followed the closing of the Recovery Center.  If you would like a copy of the "Managing Stress & Staying Strong During  Uncertain Times" brochure developed for this program, please contact Michelle Borden at NewBridge Services at mborden@newbridge.org or 973-839-2521, ext. 225.