Coping with Floods: Assessment, Intervention, and Recovery Processes for Survivors and Helpers

There has been unprecedented and destructive flooding in various parts of the United States during the past five years, particularly during the period of 1997 to 1998. Survivors' predictable emotional and physiological responses usually progress through five phases over a period of time toward either resolution or symptom development To preclude more severe and chronic symptoms, survivors should be debriefed by trained professionals within 48 hours, followed by more specific psychotherapy if they are more severely distressed. Finally, survivors and their families can benefit from participating in a unique twelve step program called SWWIM, which is described in detail in the paper.