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Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response following Hurricane Ike—Texas, 25-30 September 2008

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

David F. Zane ,
Tesfaye M. Bayleyegn ,
Tracy L. Haywood ,
Dana Wiltz-Beckham ,
Harlan “Mark” Guidry ,
Carlos Sanchez  and
Amy F. Wolkin
David F. Zane*
Affiliation:
Community Preparedness Section, Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, Texas, USA
Tesfaye M. Bayleyegn
Affiliation:
Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Tracy L. Haywood
Affiliation:
Community Preparedness Section, Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, Texas, USA
Dana Wiltz-Beckham
Affiliation:
Galveston County Health District, La Marque, Texas, USA
Harlan “Mark” Guidry
Affiliation:
Galveston County Health District, La Marque, Texas, USA
Carlos Sanchez
Affiliation:
Emerging Infections Program, US Naval Medical Research Center Detachment (NMRCD) Lima, Peru
Amy F. Wolkin
Affiliation:
Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
*
Community Preparedness Section (MC 1926), Texas Department of State Health Services, PO Box 149347, Austin, Texas 78714-9347, USA E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Introduction:

On 13 September 2008, Hurricane Ike made landfall near Galveston, Texas, resulting in an estimated 74 deaths statewide and extensive damage in many counties. The Texas Department of State Health Services, US Public Health Service, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted assessments beginning 12 days following hurricane landfall to identify the public health needs of three affected communities. The results of the assessment are presented, and an example of a type of public health epidemiological response to a disaster due to a natural hazard is provided.

Methods:

A one-page questionnaire that focused on household public health characteristics was developed. Using a two-stage cluster sampling methodology, 30 census blocks were selected randomly in three communities (Galveston, Liberty, and Manvel, Texas). Seven households were selected randomly from each block to interview.

Results:

The assessments were conducted on 25, 26, and 30 September 2008. At the time of the interview, 45% percent of the households in Galveston had no electricity, and 26% had no regular garbage collection. Forty-six percent reported feeling that their residence was unsafe to inhabit due to mold, roof, and/or structural damage, and lack of electricity. Sixteen percent of households reported at least one member of the household had an injury since the hurricane. In Liberty, only 7% of the household members interviewed had no access to food, 4% had no working toilet, 2% had no running water, and 2% had no electricity. In Manvel, only 5% of the households did not have access to food, 3% had no running water, 2% had no regular garbage collection, and 3% had no electricity.

Conclusions:

Post-Ike household-level surveys conducted identified the immediate needs and associated risks of the affected communities. Despite the response efforts, a high proportion of households in Galveston still were reportedly lacking electricity and regular garbage pickup 17 days post-storm. The proportion of households with self-reported injury in Galveston suggested the need to enhance public education on how to prevent injuries during hurricane cleanup. Galveston public health officials used the assessment to educate local emergency and elected officials of the health hazards related to lack of basic utilities and medical care in the community. This resulted in the provision of an extensive public health outreach education program throughout the island. The Liberty and Manvel assessment findings suggest that most households in both communities were receiving the basic utilities and that the residents felt “safe”. The assessments reassured local health officials that there were no substantial acute public health needs and provided objective information that services were being restored.

Keywords

community assessmentdisasterdisaster responsehurricaneHurricane Ikepublic health assessmentrapid needs assessment
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 25 , Issue 6 , December 2010 , pp. 503 - 510
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2010

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