Welcome to the award-winning The Hill Country Podcast. The Texas Hill Country is one of the most beautiful places on earth. In this podcast, Hill Country resident Tom Fox visits with the people and organizations that make this the most unique area of Texas. This week, Tom welcomes  Lamar Davis to discuss the multifaceted aspects of disaster recovery, focusing on the roles of mental health, and Abby Filyaw joins us to discuss substance abuse recovery.

Lamar shares his background in government service and his current role as a disaster recovery coordinator for the Rio Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. They discuss the phases of disaster response and the importance of long-term recovery plans. Abby discusses her work with the Hill Country Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, emphasizing the increased risk of substance use disorders following traumatic events. The conversation covers the importance of mental health support, the role of clergy, and the broad impacts of disasters like Katrina and local floods. They also touch on the community’s need for collective support and the ongoing nature of grief and recovery.

Key highlights:

• Understanding Disaster Recovery


• Mental Health and Long-Term Recovery


• Substance Abuse and Community Support


• Personal Reflections and Community Impact


• Clergy and Community Resilience


• Lessons from Past Disasters

Resources:

Other Hill Country Focused Podcasts

Hill Country Authors Podcast

Hill Country Artists Podcast

Texas Hill Country Podcast Network

Cover Art

Nancy Huffman