Restoration and Recovery Station: Support for First Responders During Mass Casualties and Natural Disasters

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

8:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET

Location: 258A

Submitter and Speaker(s)

LaMaurice H. Gardner, Psy.D.

Police Psychologist
Oakland County (MI) Sheriff's Office
West Bloomfield, Michigan, United States

Speaker(s)

Eamonn Arble, Ph.D.

Psychology Professor
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States
Sneha Shankar, MPsy

Doctoral Candidate Clinical Psychology Intern
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States

Major events of the past several years have created what some researchers believe to be the highest level of strain among police officers in the modern era. The emotional burden of these events is compounded by the lack of immediate resources for police when facing disasters. This presentation outlines a way to address this need: the development of a “Restoration and Recovery Station” manual. This manual provides guidance for the provision of practical and psychological assistance for first responders during and after a mass casualty or natural disaster incident. Drawing upon the scientific literature, as well as the expertise of law enforcement and mental health practitioners, this manual can be an invaluable resource for organizations as they seek to support first responders.