New Paltz forum offers help to flood stressed residents
We've all seen the damage dished out by Tropical Storms Irene and Lee. But as Christian Farrell tells us - what's harder to see is the toll the storms take on people once they're gone.
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NEW PALTZ, N.Y. - Tropical Storm Irene and the remnants of Lee have certainly left their mark on our area. Homes, vehicles, property destroyed and damage estimates easily reaching in the millions. But there's other damage you can't put a price on - the damage to one's mental state.
"People might see changes in the way they're thinking, their concentration. There might even be a sense of confusion," said Ellen Pendegar of the Mental Health Association in Ulster County.
Mental Health Experts spoke to residents Thursday during a forum. The topic was how to handle the stress and anxiety many in this community are feeling because of flooding.
"We want to give out the information to people that when disasters happen, human beings have reactions. These are normal reactions to abnormal events," said Pendegar.
New Paltz Mayor Jason West is well aware of those stresses.
"It doesn't make headlines anymore, but there are still people who aren't back in their homes, there are still kids going to school with no new school clothes, and there are families who've lost everything, and hundreds of acres of farms," said West.
What some people might not know is FEMA also provides assistance for storm related mental health issues.
"FEMA will not get involved directly. We will refer these incidents to the appropriate organizations that can take care of that kind of situation," said FEMA representative Miguel Angelcarrillo.
The Mental Health Association in Ulster County is one of those organizations. Recently receiving a FEMA grant of nearly $60,000 to create crisis counseling teams.
"We want to tell people to make sure to take care of themselves in the middle of trying to may be take care of their family, their pets, their basements that are flooded or any of that. Do things to help themselves feel better," said Pendegar.