ST. CROIX, Virgin Islands – Throughout this holiday season federal and territorial officials would like to remind residents to take care of themselves and stay safe. Virgin Islanders who lost their home, business or personal property, may be struggling to cope with the emotional impact of the disaster. For individuals and families looking to rebuild, the approaching holidays may be especially difficult.
Survivors who are experiencing feelings of shock, difficulty concentrating and problems sleeping are advised to speak with someone about what they’ve been through. Survivors may meet with crisis counselors at the FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers located throughout the territory. The crisis counselors can make referrals to other local health professionals.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides multilingual and confidential support on its Disaster Distress Helpline. Call 800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. Spanish speakers can call 212-461-4635.
Disasters can leave children feeling frightened, confused, and insecure. Whether a child has personally experienced trauma, or has heard it discussed by adults, it is important for parents and teachers to be informed and ready to help if reactions to stress begin to occur.
Talking to children about a crisis can be difficult, but it is very important to help them cope. Resources for helping you and your child cope after the disaster can be found at National Center for Child Traumatic Stress http://www.nctsn.org/trauma-types/natural-disasters or by calling 310-235-2633 or 919-682-1552.
Additional resources are available to survivors in need of medical prescriptions and supplies.
“When people become distracted from their normal routines sometimes they don’t take care of themselves,” said Mona Barnes, the Territorial Coordinating Officer for the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency. “Some even go off their medications. And that can be very dangerous.”
Residents affected by the hurricanes who have no prescription insurance may receive a free 30-day supply of eligible drugs and medical supplies through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP). Currently, the enrollment period runs through Feb. 1, 2018. For more information on the program call 855-793-7470.
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Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362 (voice, 711/VRS - Video Relay Service) (TTY: 800-462-7585). Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish).
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.
For official information on the recovery effort following the hurricanes, please visit www.informusvi.com or www.usviupdate.com. Follow us on social media at twitter.com/femaregion2 and www.facebook.com/FEMAUSVirginIslands.
To donate or volunteer, contact the voluntary or charitable organization of your choice through the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) at www.nvoad.org. For those who wish to help, cash donations offer voluntary agencies the most flexibility in obtaining the most-needed resources and pumps money into the local economy to help businesses recover. The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands also has the “Fund for the Virgin Islands” at www.USVIrecovery.org.