GOLIAD (Kiii News) -
Crisis counselors are on hand for the more than 40 police officers, firefighters and medics who responded to the tragic accident resulting in 14 deaths in Goliad Sunday night.
As you can imagine, it can be difficult for these first responders to cope with something like what they saw that night. That is why the state will provide them with the tools and support they need to get through it.
"A lot of people have problems sleeping after an event like that," said Dr. Elizabeth Kempski with the Texas Department of Public Safety. "Problems shutting down their brain, going over and over, 'I should have done this, should have done that.'"
Kempski is preparing to head to Goliad sometime this week.
State troopers said this was one of, if not the more gruesome, fatal wrecks to have happened in this area in the past 10 years. When they respond to something of this magnitude, the State Health Department will organize and send in what is called a Critical Incident Response Team, consisting of counselors, chaplains and other troopers who have gone through special training.
Everyone who responded Sunday night will be invited to attend something similar to a support group meeting, where firefighters will meet with other firefighters who have been through similar situations. One-on-one meetings with licensed psychologists are available to them as well.
