BOONE, N.C. — Dr. Maggie Sugg, professor and honors director in the Appalachian State University Department of Geography and Planning, has received a $200,000 grant from the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Gulf Research Program to help translate research on climate-related disasters and mental health into disaster preparedness and funding strategies for crisis response services in Louisiana.
The 30-month project, titled "Translating Climate-Crisis Evidence into 988 Funding Policy and Disaster Preparedness in Louisiana," builds on previous Gulf Research Program-supported research examining how hurricanes and temperature extremes affect demand for mental health and crisis support services.
Working with Louisiana-based crisis services provider VIA LINK and community partners across the state, Sugg and her team will use research findings to support disaster planning and long-term decision-making around Louisiana's 988 crisis response system.
Using call data from Louisiana's 988 and 2-1-1 systems, researchers found that hurricanes and extreme heat are associated with distinct patterns of help-seeking behavior that can help agencies better anticipate community needs before, during, and after disasters.
"Our Evidence to Action project builds on Gulf Research Program work showing how hurricanes and heat shape crisis help-seeking in Louisiana, using call data from VIA LINK, the state's 988 and 2-1-1 operator," explained Sugg in an email about the project. "After storms, contacts rise in three distinct waves, and hotline-resolved 988 contacts cost about $91 each, far less than emergency alternatives."
Over the course of the project, the research team will work with VIA LINK, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Louisiana Chapter, and NAMI Southeast Louisiana to share findings with state legislators, Louisiana's Office of Behavioral Health, and national organizations involved in 988 implementation. Planned outreach efforts include policy memos, educational materials, stakeholder workshops, and national briefings.
According to Sugg, the project's goal is "to give policymakers the evidence they need to sustain 988 funding and strengthen disaster preparedness."
Among the project personnel is Sophia Ryan '23, Climate and Health Research Fellow in App State's Department of Geography and Planning and a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Geography at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Ryan serves as program manager for the project, supporting the team's efforts to translate research findings into practical guidance for decision-makers.
The award continues Sugg's growing body of research examining the intersection of climate, natural disasters, and public health. In recent years, she has secured external funding for projects focused on youth mental health following climate disasters, flood-health resilience in Appalachia, and health challenges facing rural communities recovering from Hurricane Helene.
This grant is administered by App State's Research Institute for Environment, Energy, and Economics.
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About the Department of Geography and Planning
Appalachian State University's Department of Geography and Planning promotes the understanding of the spatial dimensions of human behavior within the physical and cultural systems of the earth, and the role of planning in achieving improvement in those systems. The department offers degrees in geography and in community and regional planning. Learn more about the Department of Geography and Planning
About the Research Institute for Environment, Energy, and Economics
Since 2008, Appalachian State University’s Research Institute for Environment, Energy and Economics (RIEEE) has fostered interdisciplinary research on the environment, energy, and economics, especially the areas in which these subjects intersect. The institute serves as an umbrella organization for three research centers: the Appalachian Energy Center, Center for Economic Research and Policy Analysis, and Southern Appalachian Environmental Research and Education Center. Additionally, the institute manages and supports App State’s student-led solar vehicle team, Team Sunergy — an exemplary model of the integrative and experiential student learning, leadership, and innovation opportunities the institute seeks to foster at App State. Learn more about RIEEE
By Lauren Gibbs
November 10, 2026
BOONE, N.C.
Two women in professional attire smiling for a portrait outside.
Dr. Maggie Sugg (right) and Sophia Ryan '23 (left) are working to translate research on climate-related disasters and mental health into practical guidance for crisis response and disaster preparedness in Louisiana. Photo by Chase Reynolds