Texas Health and Human Services / Texas Health Steps

How to Recover from a Disaster

The recovery phase is the longest lasting element of a disaster. While Texas does have a lot of disasters, both natural and otherwise, many of the associated problems can be reduced through good planning. The state also maintains disaster preparedness resources to assist in recovery.

Medicaid has provided states with matching funds to help offset unanticipated costs associated with disasters and in some cases, a declaration of an emergency or disaster has allowed the program to provide a heightened response, for example by facilitating short-term changes to program rules affecting eligibility, benefits, and provider payment.

Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, 2021

Federal Laws and Programs

There are several laws that allow some Medicaid requirements to be waived during and after a disaster:

The Stafford Act authorizes the federal government to provide financial and other assistance to state, local and tribal governments; certain nonprofit organizations; and individuals to support response, recovery and mitigation efforts following a declaration of an emergency or disaster by the president (HHS, 2017). In some circumstances, this act may enable states to waive Medicaid requirements.

The National Emergencies Act authorizes the president to declare a national emergency without a specific request from a state. During the 2009 H1N1 outbreak (swine flu), this act enabled President Obama to waive certain Medicare, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) requirements.

Other emergency Medicaid waivers may be possible: Under what became known as the Disaster Relief Medicaid (DRM) Section 1115 waiver, New York offered four months of Medicaid coverage to eligible New York City residents following the 9-11 attacks.

Your young patients may have additional disaster-related needs following a disaster. Monitor government and nonprofit organization websites and social media to learn about support services available in your area.

Children should be screened carefully after a disaster for physical risks such as tuberculosis exposure, infections and respiratory problems. Families should also be advised to monitor children more closely because there can be increased safety risks caused by electrical damage, debris, standing water or other hazards.

To help children recover, encourage families to establish a predictable routine that includes balanced nutrition, regular physical activity and good sleep hygiene. Encourage simple relaxation techniques, like breathing exercises, yoga or journaling.

Your practice may experience a variety of patient needs after a disaster:

  • Physical
    • Mold and mosquitoes following a hurricane or storm. Advise families to assess their properties for mold and drain any standing water.
    • Respiratory issues following a fire or exposure to smoke or noxious fumes.
    • Medical recovery, such as from injuries or from reduced medical care during the disaster.
    • Quick replacement for lost or damaged medications and vaccines. To replace lost vaccines, contact the Texas Vaccines for Children program, which provides free vaccines to health-care providers to be administered to eligible children.
    • Difficulty in conducting in-person appointments due to disease outbreak.
  • Mental
    • Children are at higher risk for mental health challenges after a disaster. Screen children to determine whether they would benefit from support systems to deal with loss, stress and traumatic memories resulting from a disaster. Refer them to an appropriate mental health resource.

Talking to Children and Teens about Disasters

In addition to using a trauma-informed approach, use a child-centered approach when talking about disasters and helping families recover from the trauma and disruption they’ve experienced.

  • Initiate a conversation with children.
  • Don’t automatically reassure them “everything is okay.” Acknowledge they are dealing with a difficult situation and ask about their concerns.
  • Answer their questions honestly, using developmentally appropriate language.
  • Encourage children to ask questions and voice their fears and worries. Normalize their feelings.
  • Be a source of accurate information for them and their families. Help reduce or correct misinformation that is common during a disaster or crisis.

As a trusted partner in children’s lives, your approach and your words are powerful and positive tools in the recovery process.







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