Our Disaster Response History

“DRM is in our DNA. It is what TRI has done from the very beginning.” - Elaine Miller-Karas

The Trauma Resource Institute’s disaster response grows from our foundational roots. Since our earliest days, TRI has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with communities facing disaster. Out of this deep commitment grew the Disaster Relief Mobilization–Community Resiliency Model (DRM-CRM)—a program designed to bring the healing practices of CRM and TRM into communities who have experienced disasters and the recovery journey.

Through DRM-CRM, TRI now offers a certificate program for CRM Teachers and mental health providers. These programs ensure they have the tools to guide individuals and communities through disaster response with knowledge, compassion and confidence. 

For close to 20 years, TRI has walked alongside survivors, health workers, and community leaders around the world—after fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, and wars. DRM-CRM affirms that resilience, preparation, and care for one another are not just practices, but part of who we are at TRI.

Elaine Miller-Karas, MSW, LCSW, co-founder and Executive Director Emerita at the Trauma Resource Institute, has brought the Community and Trauma Resiliency Models (CRM, TRM) to communities worldwide in the aftermath of natural disasters, civil unrest, and mass tragedies.

She has consulted with survivors of…

• Hurricanes in Louisiana, North Carolina, and Florida

• Earthquakes in China, Haiti, and Nepal

• Civil conflict in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Northern Ireland

• Typhoons in the Philippines

• Mass shootings in the United States

These experiences have fueled her passionate advocacy for accessible, affordable, and community-driven healing strategies, ensuring that practical, body-based resiliency tools are available to all, especially those with limited access to traditional mental health care.

While the LA wildfires were active, TRI was contacted by community stakeholders within Los Angeles County and reached out to their partner network, including the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and LA City and County Park and Recreation Departments. 

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