When tragedy strikes, a quick response is critical. And thatincludes organizations with employees impacted by the situation.Experiences with recent and ongoing examples, such as HurricanesHarvey, Irma and Maria, wildfires in the western U.S., and a numberof other natural disasters, demonstrate the need to act fast, whichrequires having a plan in place before something happens. While itis impossible to be fully prepared when something like thishappens, organizations can turn to their employee assistance program (EAP) for supporthelping employees recover and create a path forward.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),there were 102 disaster declarations in 2016, ranging from severestorms and flooding to fires and tornadoes. It should come as nosurprise to learn that we are on track to exceed that number in2017. Each of these natural disasters carries a hefty price tag forfederal and local governments, businesses and individuals. Forexample, damages from Hurricane Irma alone are estimated to costbetween $20 and $40 billion.

There is only so much organizations can do to prevent thefinancial cost in the face of one of these catastrophes, butpartnering with an EAP in the aftermath can help address theemotional toll on employees.

The initial response

Immediately following a disaster, the first priority is survivaland ensuring people have access to the resources they need,including food, fuel, electricity and shelter. Before psychologicalneeds can be addressed, EAPs ensure employees have the resourcesnecessary to begin reestablishing some sense of normalcy. An EAPcan serve as a hub, connecting people with essential resources andservices such as the Red Cross, emergency services, governmentrelief organizations, food banks and more.

While EAPs cannot always be physically present immediatelyfollowing a disaster, many can provide telephonic support to aidorganizations and their employees. By understanding what peopleneed most and helping them access those services, it is possiblefor the EAP to relieve some of the overwhelming feelings manypeople experience during these difficult times. In addition toconnecting people with necessary resources, EAP psychologists andtrained counselors can offer emotional support during this phase,including:

• Talking to a licensed clinician about the situation

• Strategies to help with the adjustment period

• Help with anxiety, stress, how to talk with kids

• Tips to stay positive and productive

Psychological support

Following the initial phase of immediate recovery, the EAP canprovide the second line of defense, stepping in with psychologicalfirst aid. Within a few weeks of an event, if not sooner, most EAPscan have people on site to provide critical incident response toorganizations and their employees.

At this time, the EAPs can shift the focus toward emotional andpsychological healing. Counselors will work with employees to focuson addressing how the disaster has impacted each of them. For some,this will be a challenging road. If they have lost loved ones ortheir homes, getting back to normalcy may not be feasible, but atrained EAP expert can help them develop a plan and take steps tocreate a new normal and begin improving one day at a time.

While this is the time to more fully address psychologicalneeds, the physical recovery does not stop. Experts and specialistswith the EAP can help ensure people know where to go for help tostart the journey to get back on their feet:

• Locate temporary or permanent housing

• Arrange school and child care transfers

• Find government relief organizations

• Access local and community agencies

• Connect with insurance, legal services, tax relief, andothers

Preparing for a natural disaster

Organizations can only do so much to prepare for the unexpected.EAPs have witnessed many incidents and can leverage lessons learnedto help others know what tools to put in place in advance should anatural disaster or other critical incident impact theirorganization or employees.

Building a disaster recovery plan is essential to respondingquickly should something happen, including the steps organizationswill take immediately following the disaster and in the months tocome. It is important to consider where the EAP fits, includingwhen to access their services. The EAP may not be the first call anorganization makes, but it should be close to the top as a criticalresource to help and support employees.

By partnering with their EAP, organizations can utilize theirexpertise and understand how the EAP can help support recoveryefforts if a natural disaster occurs.

When a natural disaster or other tragedy occurs, EAPs canpartner with brokers and consultants to address their clients'needs. By having previously established relationships with EAPs, aswell as other resources and professionals, brokers have the abilityto quickly connect their clients with experienced expertise andsupport when they need it most or are unsure where to turn.

Looking ahead to 2018, consider proactively contracting directlywith an EAP to retain disruptive-event management support servicesfor clients in the event of a natural disaster or other tragedythat could occur in the workplace.

By having these services available and on standby, brokers canstep in and address immediate needs for any of their clients. Thisis especially beneficial for smaller clients who may not have anEAP, but will still need assistance should a potential disaster orother critical event occur. Contact your EAP to determine if theyoffer a specific critical-event support program for brokers.

Organizations cannot predict when a natural disaster will affecttheir employees, but their EAP partners can be instrumental inpreparing and addressing these tragic incidents to ensure employeeshave the support they need.