Catastrophic floods caused by Hurricane Harvey will affect about 100 Houston-area George Washington University students, as well as families, faculty and staff. The flooding—called “unprecedented” by the National Weather Service—is expected to worsen as torrential rains continue over the coming days.
“We encourage everyone to seek help if they need it,” said Peter Konwerski, vice provost and dean of student affairs. “We are monitoring the situation, but it could be several days before it’s clear what the devastation is. So we want to ensure students don’t hesitate to reach out for help, even if they don’t yet know the extent to which they are affected.”
Danielle Lico, associate dean of student affairs, said that GW is ready to assist those in need. “Our hearts go out to the communities and families affected by Hurricane Harvey,” she said.
Below is a list of resources available to students, families, faculty and staff affected directly or indirectly by the disaster:
Mental Health
Over the next few weeks, students and other member of the GW community could experience a number of reactions in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Having a reaction is both normal and expected. Emotional aftershocks or stress reactions may appear immediately or within the coming days and weeks.
Mental health professionals are always available to speak to GW students and consult with faculty, staff or parents about any mental health-related concerns. Mental Health Services at the Colonial Health Center are available by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (202) 994-5300.
The majority of MHS services are free, including the initial consultation, crisis support in person or by phone and the first several individual counseling sessions. If there are financial concerns, a sliding scale can be arranged for MHS service fees. Students should not let finances be a barrier to seeking support.
Additional self-help resources are available on the MHS website: http://healthcenter.gwu.edu.
Student Support and Family Engagement
Students, faculty, staff, families and other university constituents can reach out to the Division of Student Affairs if they are concerned about a student. The Office of Student Support and Family Engagement can provide resources to families affected, and members of the CARE Network across campus provide support to students brought to our attention.
If you or someone you know has been personally affected by Hurricane Harvey please file a CARE report at https://students.gwu.edu/care.
Students living off campus can contact the Office of Student Support and Family Engagement for support and to access additional university resources. Students living on campus can also speak with their RAs.
For more information, please contact Student Support and Family Engagement at (202) 994-6710 or email [email protected]. Staff in this department is prepared to support students with academic, financial, or other assistance they may need. Additional information is also available on the department website: https://families.gwu.edu/university-resources-hurricane-harvey.