Disaster Response – Texas Wildfire Aftermath

The Disaster Strikes Labor Day Weekend Within the first day, 290 homes and 5,000 acres are destroyed 4,500 Persons are evacuated from Bastrop County during the first week of the wildfires By the end of week one, 950 homes and 11,000 acres are destroyed By the end of the declared active fires, 1,600 homes and 34,000 acres are destroyed

The Unique Nature of this Disaster Sustained disastrous effect – Wildfires flared from September 4 through October 10 Multiple evacuations Number of lives lost Personal loss amid First Responders Immediate local response – desire to keep it local Resiliency of Bastrop County It was personal

Plan for the Response Federal Disaster Declaration Received September 9 Immediate Services Program (ISP) grant application submitted on September 23 $207,249 approved for Crisis Counseling Services As of September 30, BTCS has made 757 contacts Community Survivors First Responders Disaster Workers Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response – CASPER My Disaster Recovery Research Project with University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

Innovation Leading the Response Disaster Services Van from the Gulf Coast Center – Equipped with Televideo Conferencing Capability Electronic Surveys of Persons Affected by the Disaster Therapy Dog AccuDetox Services Mental Health Deputy Donation Page on Website Communication via Facebook

Next Steps Regular Services Crisis Counseling Program (RSP) Grant application due to SAMHSA November 8, 2011 Provide funding to support 36 weeks of Crisis Counseling Services – Proposed Budget $544,000 Community Canvassing Individual & Group Crisis Counseling Long Term Recovery Committees Coalition Building & Networking Recovery4Teens – On-line adolescent trauma site

Lessons Learned Importance of staff debriefing and self-care Importance of community relationships Importance of being identified as a key community provider Importance of keeping the media informed Importance of keeping our legislators informed Importance of being integrated into Incident Command System There is a need for disaster behavioral health services