Support for Hurricanes Helene and Milton First Responders

First responders help residents evacuate from a neighborhood flooded by a hurricane. Photo by EPA.

The extraordinary skill and expertise of land management employees are critical to support communities impacted by this year’s hurricanes. While this work is extremely important and meaningful, those working in disaster response may be exposed to highly stressful experiences, including challenging working conditions and weather, potentially working with distressed individuals, or potential exposure to loss of human life.

It is important to proactively attend to the human impact of these events, both for ourselves and those we work with. Monitoring your own stress level and performing self-care can be difficult in situations where resources are limited. However, these steps are critical for those working in disaster response.

The Interior Department and Forest Service are working collaboratively to support employees responding to Hurricanes Helen and Milton. We will periodically reach out to employees by email to share wellbeing information, including opportunities to attend information sessions on post-disaster response wellbeing, mental health resources, and ways to monitor your own wellbeing in the weeks and months after your assignment. 

This site serves as an online resource hub and will be be updated regularly with additional information and support resources.

If you would like to receive periodic updates on mental health support resources for hurricane responders, please sign up.

Resources for All Responders

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. 

988 Lifeline 

Dial or text 988 anytime, from anywhere in the U.S., if you need support. The 988 Lifeline provides free, confidential support for people in distress. You can also call 988 if you are worried about someone else. 

Disaster Distress Hotline 

Call or text 1-800-985-5990. The Disaster Distress Hotline is a national hotline dedicated to providing year-round crisis counseling for disaster responders and anyone affected by a disaster. This free, multilingual crisis support service is available 24/7 to anyone in the U.S. and its territories who is experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. 

A Guide to Managing Stress for Disaster Responders and First Responders 

This guide provides a framework for stress management strategies for responders and their leadership. It was developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Drop-in Webinars on Disaster Responder Mental Health

The Federal Wildland Firefighter Health and Wellbeing Program is hosting a series of webinars on post-disaster response to help develop and strengthen psychological endurance to prevent potential impacts of disaster response. These webinars are open to Interior Department and Forest Service employees who served in a role supporting Hurricane Helene or response.

During these drop-in webinar sessions, we will address common reactions following disaster response, ways of recognizing stress, tips for effective coping, and share resources. Both sessions will cover the same content.

Webinar Session 1
November 12, 2024
1:00 pm ET / 11:00 am MT / 10:00 am PT 

Webinar Session 2
November 21, 2024
4:00 pm ET / 2:00 pm MT / 1:00 pm PT 

Interior employees can find webinar details on DOI Ready (employee access only) and Forest Service employees can learn more on Inside the Forest Service (employee access only). For help accessing the webinars, you can also email OWF_media@ios.doi.gov. If you are unable to attended either of these sessions, additional sessions will be offered. 

Mental Health Self-Assessments

One way to track your reactions after returning from disaster response work is to take an anonymous self-assessment of mental health symptoms. It’s important to note that these symptom screeners do not provide a diagnosis of mental health conditions. The results can be helpful to understand the intensity of potential symptoms and to assist with monitoring over time. Sharing the results of your assessment with a healthcare provider can be a great way to start the conversation about mental health.

• Post Traumatic Stress Test
• Anxiety Test
• Depression Test
• Addiction Test

Please note that these mental health screeners are anonymous, but they do ask for voluntary information about demographics and other contextual information at the end of each test. You can choose to skip these questions and score the test without sharing any additional information about yourself.

Interior Department Resources

Department of the Interior’s Employee Assistance Program 

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers free, confidential, short-term counseling (up to 6 sessions) and consultation for Interior employees and eligible family members.

EAP services can be accessed online or by phone:

• Call 1-800-869-0276 to speak to a live counselor 24/7
• Member Log-In (Org ID: interioreap)
• Download the Espyr Connect mobile app from Apple Store or Google Play. (To download the app on some government-furnished mobile phones, you will need to use the Department-approved portal.)

Forest Service Resources

Forest Service Employee Assistance Program

Forest Service employees and eligible family members can access employee support and wellbeing and development resources through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) vendor Espyr. 

• Call 1-833-621-2989
• Password: USFS

Employees may access Espyr services directly through the 24/7 toll-free line or website. All requests will be answered by certified clinicians. 

Employees who would like assistance navigating this support system may connect with a Forest Service employee support specialist at SM.FS.employeesupp@usda.gov or (202) 205-1284 (staffed during regular business hours).

Managers may request a management consultation for help navigating challenges. Contact the Employee Support and Wellbeing Branch within the Work Environment and Performance Office at SM.FS.employeesupp@usda.gov.