PREPARING FOR DISASTER STRESS INTERVENTION

As any boy scout, coach, professional painter, or chef will tell you, proper preparation is a necessary element of success. Careful and comprehensive preparation enables us to retain as much control as possible in uncertain situations, while without it we are forced to react to whatever happens. Unfortunately, such preparation requires a great deal of organization, skill and effort, and all too often the communities and individuals in greatest need are those with the least time and resources to devote.

Our goal is to give you a running start. The materials presented below are designed to help take the guesswork out of preparing for a disaster. They also allow you to avoid "reinventing the wheel", allowing precious time and resources to be spent on other, no less crucial needs.

We urge you to keep in mind that the best time to prepare for a disaster is NOW. Every minute spent waiting is a minute squandered. Every household, neighborhood, community, county and state should have a disaster plan of some kind in place, and should work diligently to implement and improve upon it.

Blue bullets are specific and helpful to individual disaster relief workers, households, and businesses

Red bullets are most useful to government and mental health agencies, and disaster relief organizations

Of course, these categories are not set in stone, by any means we encourage you to decide for yourself and use everything you find helpful.

VDSI Preparation Checklist

Are you ready to help? Print or download a copy of our checklist and you'll know!

How to Prepare for an Emergency!

As the name of this portion of the EPICENTER web site suggests, it offers suggestions to help you prepare for an emergency, including a list of recommended emergency supplies.

Emergency Preparedness Checklist

Are you ready for an emergency? Are you sure? Print a copy of this checklist (also from the excellent EPICENTER web site) and you will know!

State Planning

Part of the Center for Mental Health Services Knowledge Exchange Network web site, this guide offers information on grants, performance blocks, and performance measures.

A Model Disaster Plan

This copy of the Norfolk Community Service Board's disaster plan can be downloaded and customized to fit your individual situation and needs.

Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Personnel and Training Policy # 1.15: Employees and Disaster Relief

Must reading for all employees of the Commonwealth of Virginia! According to this policy, any full- or part-time employee is entitled to up to two weeks (or 80 hours) of fully-paid leave per year to assist with disaster intervention and cleanup efforts. Follow the link to review it yourself.

Community Services Board Performance Contract: Disaster Response and Emergency Preparedness Addendum

Indicates agreement by CSB's to comply with the Virginia Emergency Operations Plan, and sets forth procedures for doing so.

Preparing to work with Special Needs Populations

Lists common symptoms and treatment options for diverse groups of disaster survivors, including people in emotional crises, children and adolescents, middle-aged adults, senior citizens, culturally unique groups, and institutionalized persons.

US Census Database

Use this site to calculate the total population and cultural/ethnic/age distribution of virtually any area of the United States. Very handy for planning, as well as filling out FEMA grant applications!

 

Information Publisher: Virginia Disaster Stress Intervention

Last modified: April 23, 2001