Comet staff report

Indiana Project Aftermath is a federally funded outreach program that provides counseling and emotional support to victims of disasters who have evacuated to Indiana. In the weeks following the Gulf Coast hurricanes last year, an estimated 5,000 people moved to Indiana and currently about 2,500 remain in 69 counties.

Project Aftermath staff is involved in a variety of projects in an effort to reach evacuees who may be in need of emotional support. Staff members work closely with other agencies and organizations serving these families. In Marion, Lake, and Tippecanoe counties, where there are larger concentrations of evacuees, reunion events are being scheduled as opportunities for sharing, reminiscing, and renewing of old friendships. Project Aftermath representatives will also be attending other community activities at which they hope to interact with evacuees.

Project Aftermath provides a hotline (1-866-679-4631) staffed by crisis counselors and outreach workers from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The hotline hours may expand to 24 hours as need dictates. Additional information is available at www.projectafter mathindiana.org.