Planning to Manage a Crisis: Tornado Disaster Response in Rural Alabama Slide 1: Title Slide Plann ...

---

Planning to Manage a Crisis: Tornado Disaster Response in Rural Alabama Slide 1: Title Slide Planning to Manage a Crisis: Tornado Disaster Response in Rural Alabama Slide 2: Crisis Identification and Categorization • EF-3 tornado impacting Abbeville, Alabama • Crisis Category: Ecosystemic • Community-wide disruption affecting individuals, families, infrastructure, and services Slide 3: Readiness and Preparedness • Foundational crisis intervention training • Experience with disaster-affected populations • Familiarity with Alabama emergency management systems • Growth areas: advanced disaster mental health, FEMA/VOAD coordination Slide 4: Influence of Values, Beliefs, and Cultural Identity • Commitment to service, dignity, and equity • Faith-informed compassion and community-centered approach • Rural Southern cultural attunement • Awareness of personal worldview and communication style Slide 5: Cultural Humility or Reflexivity Challenge • Challenge: Assuming survivors prefer formal agencies over informal supports • Importance: Rural communities may prioritize privacy and self-reliance • Need for ongoing self-reflection to avoid misinterpretation Slide 6: Initial Crisis Reactions • Shock, confusion, disorientation • Grief and loss • Heightened anxiety and fear • Survivor guilt • Overwhelm due to disrupted housing, employment, and transportation Slide 7: Treatment Model (Part 1) Psychological First Aid (PFA) • Evidence-based and flexible • Prioritizes safety, stabilization, and immediate needs • Supports diverse populations without requiring diagnosis Slide 8: Treatment Model (Part 2) Roberts’ Seven-Stage Crisis Intervention Model • Assess lethality and safety • Establish rapport • Identify major problems • Explore feelings • Generate coping strategies • Develop action plan • Follow-up Slide 9: Resource List (Local Resources) • Henry County EMA • Wiregrass United Way 2-1-1 • Southeast Alabama Mental Health Center Slide 10: Resource List (Regional/National Resources) • American Red Cross – Alabama Region • FEMA Disaster Assistance • Alabama VOAD Slide 11: Team Wellness and Burnout Prevention • Structured debriefing and rotation schedules • Clear role assignments • Access to supervision and peer consultation • Encouraging boundaries and time off • Monitoring for compassion fatigue Slide 12: Leadership Characteristics and Social Change • Trauma-informed, culturally responsive leadership • Transparent communication • Strength-based team empowerment • Advocacy for equitable disaster recovery • Modeling cultural humility Slide 13: References (Part 1) • James, R. K., & Gilliland, B. E. (2017). Crisis intervention strategies (8th ed.). Cengage Learning. • Aradhya, U. (2018). 10 tips to effective time management. Human Capital, 22(6). Slide 14: References (Part 2) • Chaneski, W. S. (2017). Time management: How effective are you? Manufacturing Engineering. • FEMA. Disaster assistance resources. • American Red Cross. Alabama Region disaster services. Slide 15: Appendix (Resource List Summary) • Summary of agencies and services for survivors.