Because the damage assessment response team members are on the “front line” of the disaster, they will be exposed firsthand to the human impact of the event. They may encounter community members who are injured, devastated by the loss of their property, or searching for friends, family members, or lost pets. Some may be mourning the death of a loved one. In addition, the disaster response team members may themselves have been personally affected by the event.

The human impact of disasters can be very unsettling and stressful for disaster response team members and may become overwhelming, particularly if they have suffered losses themselves. They need to be educated about recognizing the signs of stress and how to manage it. By managing stress levels and taking time to take care of themselves, the team members will be better prepared to help others during the deployment.

When debriefing disaster response teams to gain a better understanding of the physical impact of the disaster, supervisors should also be aware of the mental impact – both to the community and to the responders. Following an event, a community should be prepared for an increased demand for mental health services. The need for Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) should be acknowledged in emergency plans, and providers of mental health services, such as voluntary agencies, faith-based groups, and private agencies, should be pre-identified with contracts in place for support after a disaster.