The role of EAPs in the wake of natural disasters

EAPs ensure employees have the resources necessary to begin reestablishing some sense of normalcy. (Photo: Shutterstock)

When tragedy strikes, a quick response is critical. And that includes organizations with employees impacted by the situation. Experiences with recent and ongoing examples, such as Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, wildfires in the western U.S., and a number of other natural disasters, demonstrate the need to act fast, which requires having a plan in place before something happens. While it is impossible to be fully prepared when something like this happens, organizations can turn to their employee assistance program (EAP) for support helping employees recover and create a path forward.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), there were 102 disaster declarations in 2016, ranging from severe storms and flooding to fires and tornadoes. It should come as no surprise to learn that we are on track to exceed that number in 2017. Each of these natural disasters carries a hefty price tag for federal and local governments, businesses and individuals. For example, damages from Hurricane Irma alone are estimated to cost between $20 and $40 billion.