Addressing Disaster and Emergency Stress Beyond First Responders: Implications for Individuals, Families, and the Workplace

Course Description:

After the recent series of deadly hurricanes, few people need to be convinced that the stressors of responding to and recovering from these events are overwhelming. When disaster and emergency stress are discussed, it is most frequently in the context of primary victims and first responders. However, as we have all seen so dramatically in recent months, these stressors are also significant issues for those who are not typically thought of as first responders. These include FEMA, state and local emergency managers, governmental public health, utilities, social service workers and political leaders, to name a few. Those who do not do disaster work as part of their usual jobs (and their families, co-workers and supervisors) are often the least prepared to anticipate and effectively intervene when stress reactions occur.

The focus of this program is to discuss the scope and nature of this type of stress and describe immediate and longer term individual, family and workplace impact. Suggestions and strategies for pre-, during and post-event mitigation of adverse stress related outcomes will be provided.

Target Audience

Academic Faculty/Staff, Federal Government Employees, State Government Employees, Local Government Employees, Non-Government Employees and Students

Learning Objectives

  • Identify the nature of stressors for disaster workers who are not first responders
  • List the individual, family and workplace impacts of these stressors
  • Describe potential strategies for reducing and/or intervening stress reactions
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 2.00 Participation/CE
    Tulane Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE) awards 2.00 hour(s) of credit for completing Addressing Disaster and Emergency Stress Beyond First Responders: Implications for Individuals, Families, and the Workplace
Course opens: 
10/20/2021
Course expires: 
01/01/2040
Cost:
$0.00
Rating: 
4

Instructors:

Brian W. Flynn

Brian W. Flynn, Ed.D.

Brian Flynn is a consultant, writer, trainer, and speaker specializing in preparation for, response to, and recovery from, the psychosocial aspects of large-scale emergencies and disasters. He has served numerous national and international organizations, states, and academic institutions.  In addition, he currently serves as Associate Director of the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, in Bethesda, Maryland.

On January 1, 2002, he left federal service as a Rear Admiral/Assistant Surgeon General in the United States Public Health Service (USPHS). He has directly operated, and supervised the operation of, the Federal Government’s domestic disaster mental health program (including terrorism), programs in suicide and youth violence prevention, child trauma, refugee mental health, women’s and minority mental health concerns, and rural mental health.

He has served as an advisor to many federal departments and agencies, states, and national professional organizations. He is recognized internationally for his expertise in large-scale trauma and has served as an advisor to practitioners, academicians, and government officials in many nations.

He received his B.A. from North Carolina Wesleyan College, his M.A. in Clinical Psychology from East Carolina University, and his Ed.D. in Mental Health Administration from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Available Credit

  • 2.00 Participation/CE
    Tulane Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE) awards 2.00 hour(s) of credit for completing Addressing Disaster and Emergency Stress Beyond First Responders: Implications for Individuals, Families, and the Workplace

Price

Cost:
$0.00
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Required Hardware/software

System Settings 
This course is designed to work most effectively if your computer and internet connection meet certain minimal requirements. This course can be accessed using a Windows 10 PC or a Mac with High Sierra1, Mojave, or Catalina. Pop-up blockers should be disabled when viewing the course. Internet Explorer 11 (for Windows 10), or the current version of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari (for Windows 10 and or Mac) is required. Many of our courses require Java and JavaScript enabled. 

Links to External Websites   
Links to websites outside this course will open in a new window or tab. Some browsers may minimize the course window. If this occurs, maximize the course window to return to the course. 

Adobe Acrobat Reader (for desktops and laptops)  
Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to access some documents in this course. If you need to download a free copy of Acrobat Reader, click here.  

Internet Connection Speed 
A minimum download speed of 1.5 Mbps is recommended for an optimal experience, which is commonly the speed associated with a basic DSL or a cellular/satellite connection. A faster connection, such as cable or fiber service, with further enhance your online experience. A Wi-Fi connection is generally acceptable, but it is dependent upon one of the two services mentioned above. You can check your internet connection speed at http://www.speedtest.net/.