The Stafford Act is the legislation that enables Federal emergency response and services to be provided following a disaster. Section 416 authorizes the President to provide Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training for disaster victims following Presidentially declared disasters. CMHS provides the technical assistance to FEMA for the Crisis Counseling Program. The SCO is the person appointed by the Governor to work in cooperation with the Federal Coordinating Officer. Often, the SCO and the GAR are the same person.
Committees meet on a regular basis.
Crisis counseling representatives ensure that the disaster mental health needs are met not only for the survivors but for committee members as well.