FEMA gives South Carolina $1.1M for crisis counseling in aftermath of Hurricane Matthew

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded the S.C. Department of Mental Health a grant of more than $1.1 million for crisis counseling for survivors of Hurricane Matthew.

The counseling program will allow SCDMH to hire and train people locally to provide free, short-term crisis counseling to hurricane survivors having trouble adjusting to the effects of the storm, according to a Beaufort County news release.

Stress, anxiety and other depression-like symptoms are common reactions after a disaster, the release said.

If you or someone you know is suffering from hurricane-related stress or anxiety, call the 24-hour confidential helpline at 800-985-5990. Multilingual operators are available.

This story was originally published December 30, 2016 at 1:17 PM with the headline "FEMA gives South Carolina $1.1M for crisis counseling in aftermath of Hurricane Matthew."