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OLYMPIA -- Washington residents in areas still soggy from last week's flooding aren't really flood survivors – yet.
In fact, they and their families can expect to be affected weeks and months from now as their bodies and minds continue to react to the trauma they have undergone.
"It's very common for people to have a wide range of emotional reactions to life- and property-threatening events like flooding or personal trauma," said Karie Castleberry, a mental health professional with experience in disaster outreach counseling, who is establishing the crisis counseling teams in the federal field office being set up for disaster relief in flood-affected areas.
"That doesn't mean everyone will have a need for therapy, but many will – and they should simply recognize that this is something that happens to ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances."
"These aren't emotions that easily go away just because the threat to physical well-being has passed with the tragedy or the trauma," Castleberry said. "They linger on, disguised with other symptoms. They underlie other emotions and can affect our relationships with family and friends – even the way we feel about ourselves. And they can come and go, like flashbacks of the trauma itself."
Mental health counseling services are available now in Lewis and Grays Harbor counties as well as other flood-affected counties. These crisis lines were established by regular community health programs and are available now for people who need immediate help dealing with their experiences, the Department of Social and Health Services reported.
In addition, the state is setting up federally funded outreach and crisis counseling teams in Lewis and Grays Harbor counties – as well as other counties in the region if the federal government expands its disaster declaration.
Experts say the counseling meets a natural need in the wake of tragedies like the recent floods.
Castleberry said the federal funds in Lewis and Grays Harbor counties will help pay for expanded outreach efforts in the hardest hit areas, getting counselors out into the communities where they can meet with individuals and groups. She said she hopes to have that operation up and running by the holidays.
Castleberry said the state is also applying for an additional grant so that the extra services can be provided over a longer period. She said it may be months before some flooding victims are able to start dealing with some of the deep-seated emotions they have shrugged off for now.
Castleberry said people who experienced life-threatening moments during the flooding should look for these signs of continuing trauma:
She said parents need to be particularly sensitive to children's post-traumatic reactions. Bedtime problems, tantrums, stomach aches or other vague illnesses, flashback memories -- all of these can signal a deeper problem that may need to be addressed by a mental health professional.
Crisis counseling for flood victims
People interested in mental health services and counseling should call:
NEWS EDITORS, ASSIGNMENT EDITORS: To set up an interview with Karie Castleberry or other members of the DSHS crisis response team, please contact Jim Stevenson, 360-725-1915 or e-mail stevejh2@dshs.wa.gov.
FOR ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND, INFORMATION: Jim Stevenson, Communications Director, HRSA, DSHS, 360-725-1915 (Pager 360-971-4067).
