Molly Fischer, a volunteer with National Animal Assisted Crisis Response, visited the Joint Field Office in Everett, Washington on April 29 with her care dog, Oscar. Oscar – an Australian Shephard who was rescued once himself after a fire in San Diego – is now helping SR530 Slide survivors.
Fischer and Oscar are among the more than 500 trained relief volunteers helping with stress, trauma and crisis relief. The volunteers – which travel to Washington from as far away as Virginia – have spent thousands of hours helping residents, office workers and first responders.
At peak, some 500 disaster workers per day were assisting each day. Since the SR530 Slide, volunteers have connected with workers at the search site – often meeting with them as they exited the mud. Teams are also visiting the State-FEMA Joint Field Office in Everett and the Disaster Recovery Centers in Arlington and Darrington. Care services have also been provided at senior centers and community centers.
Some fifty of the volunteers are with the Green Cross Academy of Traumatology, a nonprofit organization that coordinates with groups like National Animal Assisted Crisis Response.
Assistance is also available by phone. Survivors may call the following phone numbers:
Snohomish County Care Crisis Line: 800-584-3578
Navigators with Snohomish County Human Services Joint Resource Center are available to speak with survivors. The numbers are as follows:
- Arlington: 425-583-9760
- Oso: 425-583-9762
- Darrington: 425-583-9912
So far, $97,199 has been obligated through FEMA’s Individual Assistance program to the State of Washington to support crisis counseling.
More information is available from FEMA's Crisis Counseling Assistance & Training Program.