This paper reports the effects of Hurricane Hugo on mental health workers and indigenous community members. The response and perceptions of mental health staff from the South Carolina Department of Mental Health (Go Teams) from areas unaffected by the hurricane were compared and contrasted with those of a subsequent Hugo Outreach Support Team (HOST), the resident staff of the Charleston Area Mental Health Center (CAMHC), and residents of the extramural community. Preliminary analyses of the data indicated disbelief, bewilderment, and powerlessness felt by all three groups. The interventions of Go Team members and HOST in the community at large over time revealed a changing pattern as the community began the recovery process. Similarly, the role occupied by mental health center staff as both helper and victim is underscored. (Author)