ABSTRACT
Consider the following case study and think about how it differs from your typical counseling or social work training or your current work situation.
Tropical Storm Allison dropped as much as 40 inches of rain in Southern Texas and Louisiana in spring 2001. There were 41 fatalities, most by drowning. In rural Louisiana, there was talk of copperhead snakes and alligators roaming the neighborhood as their habitats were disturbed. Fire ants too were considered a danger; as one resident said: “Don’t worry about the gators, but if you see a stick on the ground that appears to undulate-do not touch it! It’s covered with fire ants and they can cause you a world of pain.” Local residents were less afraid of wildlife and more distressed about their flooded homes. At the Family Assistance Center, clients from varied economic classes, races, religions, and ethnicities waited to meet with caseworkers, who would be able to arrange for damage assessment and provide them with immediate emergency funds for food, clothes, and lodging. The line was long, extending far outside. Some had to wait for hours in the blazing heat; some held children; some were in tears. Some were wet, and all were hot and miserable. Most mental health workers were inside the building. However, others were assigned to “work the line.” This meant letting survivors in the queue know how long we thought the wait would be, and getting them water and snacks or small toys for the children. Most of what we did involved making contact and conversations, letting them know they were not alone-that we cared about them and what they were going through. We introduced ourselves, told them where we were from, gave them a bottle of water, and asked how they were doing. We did a lot of listening. Clients told us about belongings that were lost. They struggled to do a mental inventory of what would need to be replaced-and they talked about items destroyed that were not replaceable, such as wedding albums or photos of deceased relatives. Many were
thankful that they and their family members were not injured, but most were upset and frustrated with family members, nature, luck, and God. Many were upset with themselves for not having enough home insurance, or not protecting their property, or keeping valuables in the basement, or living in an area that tends to flood.
