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PubMed1996

Assessment of a severe-weather warning system and disaster preparedness, Calhoun County, Alabama, 1994.

Tornado preparedness warning system effectiveness, and shelter-seeking behavior were examined in two Alabama areas after tornado warnings. In the area without sirens, only 28.9% of 194 respondents heard a tornado warning of these, 73.2% first received the warning from radios or television. In the area with sirens, 88.1% of 193 respondents heard a warning, and 61.8% first received the warning from a siren. Knowledge of warnings, access to shelter, and education were key predictors for seeking shelter. Our findings indicate that installing sirens, providing access to shelter, and teaching appropriate responses to warnings are important elements of an effective disaster prevention system.

Alabama↗
PubMed1996

Disasters, the environment, and public health: improving our response.

Natural and human-made disasters continue to adversely affect all areas of the world in both predictable and unpredictable ways. To highlight the importance of natural disasters, the United Nations declared the 1990s the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction. This paper considers the public health response to disasters. It highlights environmental health issues and approaches since disasters are extreme environmental events, and it reviews developments relating to capacity building, training, and collaboration. Although progress is noted, a comprehensive federal or academic approach is not evident in the United States and the proper linkage to environmental health is lacking. With the International Decade now half over, public health professionals and others involved with disaster management should reflect on progress made to date and goals for the future.

Disaster Planning↗
PubMed1999

The politics of "natural" disaster: who made Mitch so bad?

The devastation in Central America following the 1998 hurricane (Hurricane Mitch) resulted more from economic and political policies than from "natural" disaster. Over the last 30 or 40 years, huge numbers of poor people in these countries have been forced off good, stable agricultural land onto degraded hillsides and into shanty towns constructed on floodplains--areas known to pose serious hazards of flooding and mudslides. This, together with the failure of impoverished countries to anticipate disaster through mass evacuations or to respond effectively to the hurricane's widespread damage--ensured the loss of thousands of lives.

Central America↗
PubMed1997

Aged citizens in the warning phase of disasters: re-examining the evidence.

While there is a strong consistent empirical literature on older citizens in the recovery period of disasters, there is much less research on how the elderly respond to disaster warnings. Furthermore, there are conflicting findings among these studies, some characterizing the elderly as noncompliant and less likely to cooperate with authorities, while others find the elderly no less responsive than other age groups. The current article reviews the literature in this area and tries to sort out conflicting findings in terms of the timing of the research and methodological considerations. Data are analyzed from nine disasters-representing flood events, volcanic eruptions, and hazardous materials emergencies-which show citizens over sixty-five years old no less likely to comply with disaster warnings.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Impact of mobile clinical analyzers on disaster medicine: a lesson from crush syndrome in the 1995 Hanshin-Awaji earthquake.

The Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake caused many people to develop crush syndrome. Analysis of these patients revealed that the severity is not related to their hemodynamics but to hematocrit, base deficits, and potassium concentrations soon after their extrications. In the disaster site, these parameters can only be measured using whole-blood samples by mobile instruments. The present study was made to evaluate the possibility of uses of a mobile measuring device, ABL77, for the triage of crush syndrome patients in disaster sites. Heparin-added blood samples and serum samples were collected from patients admitted to Senshu Critical Care Medical Center. Blood gases, electrolytes, and hematocrit of the heparin-added blood samples were measured using ABL77 and compared with those measured using the stationary device ABL725. Potassium concentrations of the heparin-added blood samples measured by the ABL77 were compared with those of the serum samples measured by the stationary EA06T. Significant correlations were observed between the measurements. We conclude that the ABL77 was satisfactorily compatible with stationary devices in the hospital. Medical institutions should have simplified, mobile measuring devices as a precaution against disasters, so that they can get ready to take appropriate action promptly.

Ambulances↗
PubMed2003

General toxicologic hazards and risks for search-and-rescue dogs responding to urban disasters.

In large-scale disasters, it is not always possible to identify every potential toxic agent to which SAR dogs may be exposed. However, an understanding of the basic means by which dogs may be exposed to toxic agents can aid veterinarians in determining basic risks for particular SAR sites and allow veterinarians to institute general preventive measures (eg, frequent eye washes) to minimize exposure. Discussions with public health and other authorities on-site may aid in identifying site-specific risks for SAR dogs. Finally, ensuring that SAR dog handlers are aware of basic risks, precautions, and decontamination measures is essential, as handlers are the first line of defense in preventing illness or injury to SAR dogs as they work a disaster area.

Animal Welfare↗
PubMed1991

Effect of numbers vs pictures on perceived effectiveness of a public safety awareness advertisement.

In a 2 x 2 completely randomized factorial experiment, 24 women and 16 men rated the perceived effectiveness of an earthquake preparedness advertisement which contained either a picture or no picture of prior earthquake damage and contained either statistics or no statistics on likelihood of an earthquake. A main effect for superiority of the picture was found. The presence of statistics had no main or interactive effects on the perceived effectiveness of the advertisement.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Stress factors in the aftermath of Hurricanes Erin and Opal: data from small business owners.

Hurricanes Erin and Opal struck the same coastal region in the Northwest Florida Panhandle in late summer of 1995. The study examined the stressors that most affected small businesses in the region in the aftermath of the storms. Power outages, telephone disruptions, employees' availability, debris removal, and lack of customers were the major problem areas reported by business owners (N = 57 of 500 potential respondents). The results indicate that most of the stress factors were transitory and the findings are discussed in light of Murphy's 1985 conceptual model of disaster research.

Adaptation, Psychological↗