The American Red Cross is providing emotional support to people suffering stress from the flood. North Dakotans pride themselves on their ability to pick themselves up by the bootstraps and take care of the situation. However, it is important to recognize that the majority of people living in Bismarck and Mandan are impacted in one way or another by this disaster. Asking for help is a sign of strength, rather than weakness.
Disaster Mental Health Volunteers are available at the Horizon Middle School Shelter.
Volunteers may also visit with individuals in their home. If symptoms last more than one month, see your physician or a mental health counselor. Alcohol/ drugs may delay recovery. If you would like to talk to someone, please call the American Red Cross at 223.6700 or 1.888.800.9259.
Any of these reactions are normal in a disaster:
You may feel
• Apathetic
• Depressed
• Fatigued
• Overwhelmed
• Disbelief
• Anxious
• Moody
• Restless
• Irritable
• Numb
• Guilty
• Withdrawn
• Fearful
Or you may experience
• Startle reactions
• Muscle tremors
• Sleep disturbance
• Inability to concentrate or make decision
• Nightmares
For your mental health survival:
• Exercise
• Allow yourself to cry
• Seek out friends/ family
• Stay calm
• Accept help
• Talk about feelings
• Look for positives
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters;
supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international
humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a
charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the
generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit
www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.
Help people affected by disasters like the recent flooding by donating to the American Red Cross
Disaster Relief Fund. On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for
a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters.
Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for disasters and provide shelter, food, emotional
support and other assistance to victims of all disasters. Call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-
2767) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to
your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243,
Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting
www.redcross.org.