부산대학교 도서관

When natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and levee breaks occur, the focus tends to be on taking care of the immediate physical needs of residents, such as shelter, water and food, and acute medical services. The availability of power and water services, the removal of debris, and the availability of gasoline are the next concerns. Behavioral/mental health services, although critical for the victims' recovery, tend to be lower on the emergency services list. This case describes the realization by community organizations in Sarasota County, Florida, of the need to be more inclusive and to include behavioral and mental health services agencies in developing service plans in the aftermath of natural disasters. The collaborative strategy they employed is discussed. KEYWORDS: behavioral health and human services, emergency health services, hurricanes, mental health, tornadoes