AUBURN — Local mental health professionals are providing assistance to individuals impacted by devastating floods in West Virginia.

Three Health Affiliates Maine clinicians, Echo Dixon, LCSW, Karen Hardy, LCPC, and Shannon Morris, LCPC, are currently in West Virginia providing mental health support to individuals within communities impacted by devastating floods.

Andrea Krebs, executive director of Health Affiliates Maine, confirmed the mental health clinicians’ deployment and said that others are waiting their call to deploy.

Jan Frost, disaster mental health manager with the American Red Cross of Maine, reached out for volunteers to Luanne Rhoades, outpatient therapy program director with Health Affiliates Maine. 

Preliminary reports indicate over 2,000 homes may have been damaged or destroyed. Many areas are still inaccessible and the number of affected homes is likely to change. Since flooding began, there have been over 1,900 overnight stays in emergency shelters. The Red Cross, in coordination with partner agencies, has served more than 113,800 meals and snacks and distributed more than 103,600 relief supplies, including cleaning supplies and comfort items. This is a difficult time for many families unexpectedly forced from their homes, and Red Cross disaster mental health workers and their partners are helping people cope.

Those who would like to help people affected by disasters like flooding and countless other crises can make a donation by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.