Crisis Counseling Available to Disaster Survivors in Gregg, Harrison and Marion Counties

AUSTIN, Texas – Crisis counselors are available to help Texans affected by disaster-related stress in Gregg, Harrison and Marion counties.

For survivors who are having trouble coping or those feeling hopeless, angry or sad—all telltale signs of stress—the Texas crisis counseling hotline will connect them with the help they may need. The toll-free number is 800-832-1009 and the line is answered 24 hours a day.

Crisis counseling services are part of a grant program that assists individuals and communities recovering from the effects of the March 7-29 storms, tornadoes and flooding. Mental health specialists are available to provide emotional support and help survivors develop recovery options as well as direct them to other individuals and agencies for more extensive help.

Experts suggest several ways to relieve the symptoms of stress after a disaster:

• get back to a daily routine as soon as possible;
• maintain a healthy diet and get plenty of sleep;
• get physical exercise every day, even if it is just walking; and
• spend extra time with children and older friends or family who may feel more vulnerable or confused by the disruption and changes.

For more information on the Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage for the March storms at fema.gov/disaster/4266; or visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at txdps.state.tx.us/dem. Follow us on Twitter @femaregion6.

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.