Hurricane Katrina and the Gulf oil spill: lessons learned

Education and training about immediate responses are important for all mental health providers of immediate and continuing services to assist children, adolescents, adults, and families in the aftermath of disasters. To sensitively help with evacuations and return to normalcy, responders must also be trained to understand the culture and traditions of affected communities. It is important to provide knowledge about available resources and to emphasize the need for routines and self-care for both victims and responders in an environment that, with recovery, will reflect a new normal.