North Texas crisis team aiding Hurricane Gustav evacuees

by Rebecca Aguilar

In a Richardson office, a group of chaplains with Victim Relief Ministries gathered Monday morning around a table listening to conference calls with local, state and federal authorities detailing their plan for the evacuees from the Louisiana and Texas Gulf Coasts. They've been here since Sunday afternoon. Gene Grounds, Executive Director of Victim Relief Ministries says he has close 100 chaplains in shelters in East Texas and Dallas County helping evacuees arriving from New Orleans and the other areas.

Grounds says, "We're going to help in assisting those arriving at area shelters by giving them the psychological and emotional help they may need. Many will arrive scared and stressed from having to leave their homes and belongings behind. And we are also here for the police and firefighters who may also need a shoulder to lean on."

Chaplains with Victim Relief Ministries are trained for crisis intervention. Grounds says they coordinate their work with the authorities in charge. VRM took an active role in New Orleans three years ago after Hurricane Katrina left thousands dead and property destroyed. Grounds and his teams of chaplains helped families deal with the natural disaster, find loved ones and in many cases help identify loved ones who were killed by Hurricane Katrina.

Grounds founded the non profit organization in 1999. The organization is well known for stepping into help families who have become victims of murder in North Texas. VRM is also known nationwide for its aiding law enforcement and families during 9-11 in New York City. Recently, VRM worked closely with Child Protective Services after the raid at a polygamy ranch in El Dorado, TX.

This article was submitted by a member of the Pegasus News community.