Coping with Extreme Hazard Events: Emerging themes in Natural and Technological Disaster Research

1988 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 281-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. David Pijawka ◽  
Beverly A. Cuthbertson ◽  
Richard S. Olson
Keyword(s):  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Latency Period ◽  
The United States ◽  
Technological Disaster ◽  
Disease Manifestation ◽  
Disaster Victims ◽  
Technological Disasters ◽  
Comprehensive Picture ◽  
Emotional Recovery

The field of thanatology has given extensive attention to death as an outcome of illness. A more comprehensive picture, however, would also encompass the hazards of natural and technological disasters. Deaths from both natural and technological disasters continue to increase in the United States, despite intensified government efforts to reverse this trend, and despite improved understanding of the cognitive processes of people who face either long-term or impending catastrophes. Key findings are reviewed in the areas of vulnerability to natural hazards, disaster behavior and risk perception, societal concern over technological hazard, and the social-psychological effects of disasters. It is noted that findings based upon natural disasters cannot necessarily be extrapolated to technological disasters, such as the Three Mile Island nuclear accident. Furthermore, data on long-term emotional recovery from natural disasters are inconsistent. Among areas requiring more extensive research is the role of the media, and the measurement of secondary consequences to disaster exposure. Improved methodologies for measuring distress over long periods of time must be developed. The disaster may never end for technological disaster victims because of the long latency period between exposure and disease manifestation.

ABSTRACT

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-44
Keyword(s):  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Task Force ◽  
American Psychological Association ◽  
The United States ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
The World ◽  
Preparation Phase ◽  
Important Field ◽  
The University

Pediatricians throughout the world are becoming aware of the severe phychological reactions among children in man-made and natural disasters, especially in war-torn areas of the world. This paper is the second of two by a Task Force of the American Psychological Association and is focused especially on interventions. There has been relatively little attention to the needs of children, especially their psychological needs. The Task Force points out the need to have a predisaster preparation phase, a short-term intervention, and a long-term intervention phase. Most of the literature reviewed in this paper is related to natural disasters in the United States. However, it is likely that the same principles will apply to dealing with children in war-torn areas of the world. The Task Force makes a strong plea, however, for stronger evaluation of disaster-related interventions. The American Academy of Pediatrics is developing, in collaboration with Dr Karen Olness' program at Case Western Reserve University and Dr Fred Burkle's program at the University of Hawaii, a program that prepares a multidisciplinary team for crisis intervention in times of disaster, both natural and man-made. Interventions with children in disasters are clearly an emerging and very important field for all who care for children.

scholarly journals A STUDY ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF DISASTER VICTIMS IN KRISHNA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-2
Author(s):  
Kocherla Gangadhar
Keyword(s):  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Andhra Pradesh ◽  
Economic Conditions ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Physical Damage ◽  
Disaster Victims ◽  
Social And Economic Development ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Economic And Social Impacts

Social and economic development throughout India is frequently interrupted by extreme events. The Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters, thus to social and economic losses. Although disaster events impact this region, in the latter, they can cause a sharp increase in poverty. As disasters pose an important hurdle to the development of this coastal area, it is important to assess their global, regional, economic, and social impacts. Most economic assessments of the impacts of disasters have concentrated on direct losses that is, the nancial cost of physical damage. Equally important are indirect and secondary impacts of disasters, including the destruction of communities and their negative impacts on families. It is expected that concerted action on risk management will help create an increased awareness of the economy wide signicance of natural disasters and the problems they pose for long term development. Accordingly, this growing awareness will lead to an increased resilience in the selected area.

Playing Politics with Natural Disaster

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy W. Kneeland
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Emergency Management ◽  
Emergency Preparedness ◽  
The United States ◽  
Local State ◽  
Disaster Victims ◽  
Disaster Policy ◽  
Disaster Preparation ◽  
The Impact

Hurricane Agnes struck the United States in June of 1972, just months before a pivotal election and at the dawn of the deindustrialization period across the Northeast. The response by local, state, and national officials had long-term consequences for all Americans. President Richard Nixon used the tragedy for political gain by delivering a generous relief package to the key states of New York and Pennsylvania in a bid to win over voters. After his landslide reelection in 1972, Nixon cut benefits for disaster victims and then passed legislation to push responsibility for disaster preparation and mitigation onto states and localities. The impact led to the rise of emergency management and inspired the development of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). With a particular focus on events in New York and Pennsylvania, this book narrates how local, state, and federal authorities responded to the immediate crisis of Hurricane Agnes and managed the long-term recovery. The impact of Agnes was horrific, as the storm left 122 people dead, forced tens of thousands into homelessness, and caused billions of dollars in damage from Florida to New York. In its aftermath, local officials and leaders directed disaster relief funds to rebuild their shattered cities and reshaped future disaster policies. The book explains how the political decisions by local, state, and federal officials shaped state and national disaster policy and continues to influence emergency preparedness and response to this day.

Coping With Technological Disasters: Helping Communities Help Themselves

2001 ◽  
Vol 2001 (1) ◽  
pp. 713-717
Author(s):  
Lisa Ka' aihue
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
The United States ◽  
Advisory Council ◽  
Technological Disaster ◽  
Technological Disasters ◽  
Response Planning ◽  
Major Disaster ◽  
Contingency Plans

ABSTRACT Major technological disasters, such as oil spills, create many situations that are addressed in typical government and industry contingency plans—for example, how to boom a beach, clean a bird, or lighter a tanker. What is not addressed in contingency plans is how to mitigate the social and psychological impacts of such a disaster on residents of affected communities. Technological disasters have been shown to produce what have come to be known as “corrosive communities” characterized by unusually high levels of tension, conflict, ongoing litigation, and chronic psychological stress. Having experienced a major oil spill firsthand, the members of the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council (PWS RCAC) initiated a project to fill this large gap in oil spill response planning. In addition to drawing on personal experience, PWS RCAC consulted experts in the fields of socioeconomic and technological disaster research to help in the development of a guidebook titled Coping with Technological Disasters. The guidebook was released in 1999 and contains information to help communities and individuals understand what a technological disaster is, how it differs from a natural disaster, and what to expect during and in the years following the disaster. Information, resources, and proven programs are presented in the guidebook for use by local governments, civic groups, mental health organizations, individuals, or just about anyone responding to a major disaster. Since its release, the guidebook has been requested by communities, state and federal agencies, organizations, and companies throughout Alaska, the United States, and internationally. Community leaders, mental health professionals, and emergency responders have praised the guidebook as an excellent reference and resource. By sharing what the communities of the Exxon Valdez oil spill region have learned, PWS RCAC believes that this guidebook will enhance already existing contingency plans, not only for spill response, but for other emergencies as well.

scholarly journals Mortality in Nursing Home Evacuations in the United States from 1995-2017

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (s1) ◽  
pp. s2-s2
Author(s):  
Sharon Mace ◽  
Daniel Caicedo ◽  
Aishwarya Sharma
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Nursing Home ◽  
Nursing Homes ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Nursing Home Residents ◽  
The United States ◽  
Loss Of Life ◽  
External Events ◽  
Analyze Data

Introduction:There are an estimated 15,600 nursing homes with a total of 1.4 million residents in the United States. The number of residents will continue to increase due to the aging population, and the associated morbidities will make it difficult to evacuate them safely.Aim:This study is the first of its kind to provide an analysis of the number of nursing home deaths caused by external and internal events following evacuations.Methods:Information from the databases Lexis Nexis and PubMed were compiled and limited to news articles from 1995-2017. The gathered information included the reason for evacuation, injuries, deaths, and locations within the United States.Results:From 1995 to 2017, there was a total of 51 evacuations and 141 deaths in nursing homes. 27 (53%) evacuations were due to external events which resulted in a combined 121 (86%) deaths, and 24 (47%) evacuations were due to internal events which resulted in a combined 20 (14%) deaths. Hurricanes were responsible for the majority of deaths during evacuations, followed by fires and floods. The number of evacuations and deaths increased the greatest between 2005 to 2008.Discussion:External events have the greatest impact on loss of life. Internal disasters are about equal in the number of incidents, however, external events have a much greater mortality rate. Exact numbers on injuries, morbidity, and mortality are difficult to ascertain, but it appears to be related to natural disasters. In view of the increasing likelihood of natural disasters related to global warming, a drastic improvement of standard evacuation procedures of long-term nursing homes is critical to decreasing mortality of nursing home residents. There also needs to be a nationally standardized method of reporting evacuations in order to better analyze data on nursing homes.

Modeling Long-Term Housing Recovery after Technological Disaster Using a Virtual Audit with Repeated Photography

2021 ◽  
pp. 0739456X2110029
Author(s):  
Marccus D. Hendricks ◽  
Michelle Annette Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Repeat Photography ◽  
Technological Disaster ◽  
Technological Disasters ◽  
West Texas ◽  
Housing Recovery ◽  
Post Disaster

Many communities face risks of technological disasters at fertilizer plants and other facilities. Understanding damage and rebuilding of housing supports planners in implementing policies that will enable recovery. Using repeat photography, this study audited housing rebuilding in West, Texas for three years following an explosion. Photos were combined with appraisal data to understand variation in rebuilding across parcels. Results indicate that rebuilding slows dramatically after year 1, leaving many parcels vacant three years post-disaster. Parcels with higher pre-disaster values were more likely to be completely rebuilt. Planners need targeted programming to support rebuilding of lower-value homes and address vacancies.

Speech-Language Pathology in the Peace Corps: Necessity and Sustainability

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-18
Author(s):  
Melissa A. Pierce
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Special Education ◽  
Peace Corps ◽  
People With Disabilities ◽  
Communication Disorders ◽  
The United States ◽  
Speech Language Pathology ◽  
Speech Language Pathologists ◽  
Language Pathology

In countries other than the United States, the study and practice of speech-language pathology is little known or nonexistent. Recognition of professionals in the field is minimal. Speech-language pathologists in countries where speech-language pathology is a widely recognized and respected profession often seek to share their expertise in places where little support is available for individuals with communication disorders. The Peace Corps offers a unique, long-term volunteer opportunity to people with a variety of backgrounds, including speech-language pathologists. Though Peace Corps programs do not specifically focus on speech-language pathology, many are easily adapted to the profession because they support populations of people with disabilities. This article describes how the needs of local children with communication disorders are readily addressed by a Special Education Peace Corps volunteer.

Multidisciplinary Evidence to Treat Bilingual Individuals with Aphasia

2008 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 66-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
José G. Centeno
Keyword(s):  
Stroke Rehabilitation ◽  
Culturally Diverse ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
The United States ◽  
Intervention Strategies ◽  
Steady Increase ◽  
Clinical Procedures ◽  
Bilingual Speakers ◽  
Aphasic Clients

Abstract The steady increase in linguistic and cultural diversity in the country, including the number of bilingual speakers, has been predicted to continue. Minorities are expected to be the majority by 2042. Strokes, the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of long-term disability in the U.S., are quite prevalent in racial and ethnic minorities, so population estimates underscore the imperative need to develop valid clinical procedures to serve the predicted increase in linguistically and culturally diverse bilingual adults with aphasia in post-stroke rehabilitation. Bilingualism is a complex phenomenon that interconnects culture, cognition, and language; thus, as aphasia is a social phenomenon, treatment of bilingual aphasic persons would benefit from conceptual frameworks that exploit the culture-cognition-language interaction in ways that maximize both linguistic and communicative improvement leading to social re-adaptation. This paper discusses a multidisciplinary evidence-based approach to develop ecologically-valid treatment strategies for bilingual aphasic individuals. Content aims to spark practitioners' interest to explore conceptually broad intervention strategies beyond strictly linguistic domains that would facilitate linguistic gains, communicative interactions, and social functioning. This paper largely emphasizes Spanish-English individuals in the United States. Practitioners, however, are advised to adapt the proposed principles to the unique backgrounds of other bilingual aphasic clients.

Traumatic Brain Injury: A Trauma Surgeon's Perspective

2012 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 82-89
Author(s):  
Oscar D. Guillamondegui
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Multidisciplinary Approach ◽  
Trauma Team ◽  
The United States ◽  
Long Term Outcomes ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Injured Brain ◽  
The Moment

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious epidemic in the United States. It affects patients of all ages, race, and socioeconomic status (SES). The current care of these patients typically manifests after sequelae have been identified after discharge from the hospital, long after the inciting event. The purpose of this article is to introduce the concept of identification and management of the TBI patient from the moment of injury through long-term care as a multidisciplinary approach. By promoting an awareness of the issues that develop around the acutely injured brain and linking them to long-term outcomes, the trauma team can initiate care early to alter the effect on the patient, family, and community. Hopefully, by describing the care afforded at a trauma center and by a multidisciplinary team, we can bring a better understanding to the armamentarium of methods utilized to treat the difficult population of TBI patients.

When Mother Earth Rises Up

2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 271-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simona Sacchi ◽  
Paolo Riva ◽  
Marco Brambilla
Keyword(s):  
Free Will ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Natural Disaster ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Disaster Victims ◽  
Willingness To Help ◽  
Mother Earth

Anthropomorphization is the tendency to ascribe humanlike features and mental states, such as free will and consciousness, to nonhuman beings or inanimate agents. Two studies investigated the consequences of the anthropomorphization of nature on people’s willingness to help victims of natural disasters. Study 1 (N = 96) showed that the humanization of nature correlated negatively with willingness to help natural disaster victims. Study 2 (N = 52) tested for causality, showing that the anthropomorphization of nature reduced participants’ intentions to help the victims. Overall, our findings suggest that humanizing nature undermines the tendency to support victims of natural disasters.

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