Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Students and Faculty Assist Red Cross with Disaster Relief

We are blessed to have so many wonderful events and items to write about each day that sometimes one of them gets overlooked. A prime example of this is the help provided to the Red Cross when disaster struck Monroe earlier this year (October, 2014). lore dickey, a Disaster Services Volunteer, was contacted by the Shreveport Chapter of the American Red Cross asking if he could help with the response to the storm. He was disappointed thinking that it wouldn't be possible as he was scheduled to teach two classes that day, but he approached his department chair, Dr. Donna Thomas with the question - "is it allowable to have my class join me in Monroe?' She agreed, and the plan was presented to the students, most of whom readily agreed.

They arrived in Monroe at about 9:30 AM. Due to the Red Cross Chapter office had no electricity. they waited for a short period of time, as people gathered, to get assignments. Soon they were provided training in the function of Damage Assessment. This is typically the 2nd area of response that Red Cross engages in after a disaster strikes. They split into two groups and were provided with "street sheets" and maps of the area.  Their job was to walk (or drive) up and down each of the streets in the neighborhoods to determine whether homes had sustained any damage. Homes are listed on the street sheets and marked as having been affected, minor damage, major damage, or destroyed.

This task is critically important - as the data that is collected about the numbers of homes and type of damage to homes is used to determine how much assistance a person will receive. It is also used to help determine the "cost" of the storm. Data from the Damage Assessment is ultimately used to determine whether federal resources will be made available, by relief agencies such as such FEMA.

While the majority of the group were conducting the Damage Assessments, one member of our group remained at the Chapter Office and helped to tally the damage assessments, prepare feeding resources, and assist with other administrative duties. The students enjoyed this activity, as it was a natural extension of the conversations they had been having during their coursework. Specifically, they had been discussing Social Justice and the ways that psychologists can help to meet the needs of people who are marginalized or disenfranchised. Pictured from left to right in the photo are:Mercedes Bonnette, Mandi Ardoin, Megan Kuhl, and lore m. dickey.