Behavioral Health disaster preparedness in New Jersey is constantly evolving. In collaboration with the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, in 1989, the New Jersey Division of Mental Health Services developed its first mental health emergency response plan.
Since the early 1990’s, New Jersey has responded to several declared disasters as well as many undeclared community incidents including: coastal storms, the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the repatriation of gulf war military personnel.
Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Ida, COVID-19, September 11, 2001 and Hurricane Katrina brought nationwide focus to the importance of behavioral health disaster planning and response. Following the September 11 tragedy, and the anthrax crisis, New Jersey’s public mental health system provided substantial crisis counseling, clinical services, information and referral, and specialized interventions.
