ABSTRACT: To develop and validate a brief, structured, behavioral health module for use by local public health practitioners to rapidlyassess behavioral health needs in disaster settings. Data were collected through in-person, telephone, and webbased interviewsof 101 individuals afected by Hurricanes Katrina (n = 44) and Sandy (n = 57) in New Orleans and New Jersey in Apriland May 2018, respectively. Questions included in the core module were selected based on convergent validity, internalconsistency reliability, test-retest reliability across administration modes, principal component analysis (PCA), questioncomprehension, eiciency, accessibility, and use in population-based surveys. Almost all scales showed excellent internal consistencyreliability (Cronbach's alpha, 0.79-0.92), convergent validity (r > 0.61), and test-retest reliability (inperson vs. telephone,intra-class coeicient, ICC, 0.75-1.00; in-person vs. web-based ICC, 0.73-0.97). PCA of the behavioral health scales yieldedtwo components to include in the module-mental health and substance use. The core module has 26 questions-includingself-reported general health (1 question); symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety (Primary Care PTSD Screen,Patient Health Questionnaire-4; 8 questions); drinking and other substance use (Alcohol Use Disorders IdentiicationTest-Concise, AUDIT-C; Drug Abuse Screening Test, DAST-10; stand-alone question regarding increased substance usesince disaster; 14 questions); prior mental health conditions, treatment, and treatment disruption (3 questions)-and can beadministered in 5-10 minutes through any mode. This lexible module allows practitioners to quickly evaluate behavioral healthneeds, efectively allocate resources, and appropriately target interventions to help promote recovery of disaster-afectedcommunities.