Because of the pain and suffering that often accompany large-scale tragedies of every type, the development and sustainability of local health and medical planning groups are crucial to mitigate the severity of adverse psychological effects and help restore social and psychological functioning for individuals, families, and communities.

In Kansas, all-hazards disaster planning efforts of behavioral health providers are coordinated by the Kansas Department for Aging & Disability Services (KDADS) - Behavioral Health Services, Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), Kansas Division of Emergency Management (KDEM), American Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Following a state or federally declared disaster, partners work with multiple agencies and organizations to assist disaster survivors in obtaining resources such as:

• Shelter
• Meals
• Emergency first aid
• Bulk distribution of emergency relief items
• Emergency food assistance
• Support and services for functional needs populations
• Emotional Support
• Housing
• Pet Sheltering
• Disaster well-being

Are you experiencing signs of distress as a result of a disaster? Please call the toll-free Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. This free, confidential, and multilingual crisis support service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is also available via SMS-text “TalkWithUs” to 66746. Callers and texters are connected to trained and caring professionals who provide confidential counseling, referrals to the closest crisis centers, and other needed support services.