Rescue and medical workers may be at risk for negative emotional experience following intervention efforts in disaster situations. To examine this possibility, 120 rescue and hospital personnel responded to a survey of their emotional reactions and coping behaviors 3 months after a devastating tornado. Twenty-eight subjects had been involved in on-the-scene rescue; 92 worked in the hospital emergency department. Workers provided information on demographic characteristics, role during the disaster, initial thoughts and reactions, specific symptoms of adjustment difficulty following the tornado, support networks, and coping strategies after the tornado. Workers reported many of the symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), most frequently reporting repetitive intrusive thoughts. Workers at the tornado scene reported a mean of 6.59 PTSD symptoms and those at the hospital endorsed a mean of 7.33 symptoms. Most workers perceived neutral to supportive reactions from families, co-workers, and neighbors. Items endorsed on the Coping Inventory revealed reliance on cognitive coping strategies where the event was placed in perspective and cognitive mastery sought. Seeking social support was used more frequently than altering activities or finding new interests. The results clearly suggest a need for support services for hospital and rescue workers involved in disaster relief. (Author/NB)