THE ATLANTIC HURRICANE DISASTER RELIEF ON THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RESPONSE FOR FLORIDA'S INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS (IAFF) MEMBERS

Abstract

The state of Florida's fire service is affected by natural disasters, significant incidents, and hazardous conditions that threaten disaster behavioral health of its members when Atlantic hurricanes hit. Hazardous conditions are threats of significance such as hurricanes, storm surges, wildfires, tornados, flash flooding, and mass casualty incidents. When these hazards occur, assistance from the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Go Team’s plan for the response, recovery and preparedness can lower the risk to their member's behavior health, physical health, as well as their spiritual wellbeing with developing a collaboration policy. A behavioral health response collaboration policy is the best way to extinguish negative impacts to these emergency disasters. This research discusses the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and hazards of the IAFF Go team's peer support response. Would a policy impact Atlantic hurricane response from Florida Firefighters Safety and Health Collaborative Team, State of Florida Fire Marshal’s office, and the state of Florida's IAFF union firefighters peer support post disaster from Atlantic hurricanes? This is a qualitative study with an ethnographic methodology within observance of participants for the IAFF peer support teams. This research also collects data from interviews, and virtual meetings with IAFF officials in charge of past hurricane responses, Florida Firefighters Safety and Health Collaborative, as well as the State Fire Marshal’s office. Results recommend Florida non-profit organizations, and the Florida State Fire Marshal’s office build a policy with structure for the broadband of IAFF members who are at risk and need the peer support teams who respond to these disasters while reducing the risk.