Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-l7hp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T03:08:42.089Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Preparedness for and Impact of Tropical Cyclone Yasi in North Queensland, Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2013

Kim Usher ,
Petra Buettner ,
Caryn West ,
Jane Millis ,
Cindy Woods ,
Matt Mason ,
Helen Boon  and
Jennifer Chamberlain-Salaun
Kim Usher*
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Midwifery & Nutrition, James Cook University, Cairns Queensland, Australia
Petra Buettner
Affiliation:
School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine & Rehabilitation Sciences, James Cook University, Cairns Queensland, Australia
Caryn West
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Midwifery & Nutrition, James Cook University, Cairns Queensland, Australia
Jane Millis
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Midwifery & Nutrition, James Cook University, Cairns Queensland, Australia
Cindy Woods
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Midwifery & Nutrition, James Cook University, Cairns Queensland, Australia
Matt Mason
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Midwifery & Nutrition, James Cook University, Thursday Island, Australia
Helen Boon
Affiliation:
School of Education, James Cook University, Townsville Queensland, Australia
Jennifer Chamberlain-Salaun
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Midwifery & Nutrition, James Cook University, Cairns Queensland, Australia
*
Correspondence: Kim Usher, RN, DipHSc, BA, MNSt, PhD School of Nursing, Midwifery & Nutrition James Cook University 14-88 McGregor Rd, PO Box 6811 Cairns QLD 4870, Australia E-mail [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Introduction

Tropical cyclone (TC) Yasi, thought to be the largest and most severe cyclone to cross the Queensland coast since 1918, made landfall on the southern tropical coast near Mission Beach and continued to track westward across Northern Queensland on February 3, 2011. The warning and response model (WRM) suggests that situational factors, personal characteristics, and social contextual variables influence the degree of threat perceived and protective actions taken.

Aim

The aim of this study was to examine preparation for this impending natural disaster by residents of the affected regions, and to identify the residents’ resource losses and symptoms of psychological distress following TC Yasi.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted 6-12 months after the cyclone using an adapted tool designed to measure preparedness, loss and psychosocial distress. Four hundred and thirty-three responses were received. Statistical analysis was conducted using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Categorical characteristics were described using sample size and percentages.

Results

Almost all respondents perceived the cyclone warning as serious or very serious, and more than a third started preparing for the cyclone at least three days before it reached landfall. Overall, 115 (26.7%) respondents reported moderate and 59 (13.7%) reported major property damage; 72 (17.1%) reported a moderate and 49 (11.6%) reported a major change in their feeling of whether they have control over their life; 55 (13.1%) reported a major change in their motivation of getting things done; and 33 (7.9%) reported a major change in their perception of feeling valuable to others. Overall, 142 (34.1%) documented at least one of five symptoms of acute distress.

Conclusion

The findings document the experiences of Australians who have lived through tropical cyclone Yasi. The results support the WRM theory which proposes that people with previous experience take threatened disasters seriously.

UsherK, BuettnerP, WestC, MillisJ, WoodsC, MasonM, BoonH, Chamberlain-SalaunJ. Preparedness for and Impact of Tropical Cyclone Yasi in North Queensland, Australia. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2013;28(3):1-7.

Keywords

Australiacyclonemental healthnatural disasterspreparedness
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 28 , Issue 3 , June 2013 , pp. 272 - 278
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology Web site. http://www.bom.gov.au. Accessed March 9, 2012.Google Scholar
2.Hobfoll, SE. Conservation of resources: a new attempt at conceptualizing stress. Am Psychol. 1989;44(5):13-524.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3.Hobfoll, SE, Dunahoo, CA, Monnier, J. Conservation of resources and traumatic stress. In: Freedy JR, Hobfoll SE, eds. Traumatic Stress: From Theory to Practice. New York: NY Plenum; 1995:29-47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.Lindell, MK, Perry, RW. Behavioral Foundations of Community Emergency Planning. Washington, DC: Hemisphere; 1992.Google Scholar
5.Perry, RW, Mushkatel, AH. Disaster Management: Warning Response and Community Relocation. Westport, CT: Quorum Books; 1984.Google Scholar
6.Sattler, DN, Preston, AJ, Kaiser, CF, Olivera, VE, Valdez, J, Schleter, S. Hurricane Georges: a cross national study examining preparedness, resource loss, and psychological distress in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and the United States. J Trauma Stress. 2002;15(5):339-350.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Sattler, DN, Kaiser, CF, Hittner, JB. Disaster preparedness: relationships among prior experience, personal characteristics, and distress. J Appl Soc Psychol. 2000;30(7):1396-1420.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.King, D, Goudie, D, Dominey-Howes, D. Cyclone knowledge and household preparation - some insights from Cyclone Larry. Aust J Emerg Manage. 2006;2(3):52-59.Google Scholar
9.Usher, K. Editorial. Are, we ready? Preparing nurses to respond to disasters and emerging infectious diseases. J Clin Nurs. 2010;19:1483-1484.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10. CSIRO & Australian Bureau of Meteorology Web site. Climate change in Australia: technical report 2007. http://www.climatechangeinaustralia.gov.au/technical_report.php. Accessed March 9, 2012.Google Scholar
11. Australian Broadcasting Cooperation (ABC) Web site. Black Saturday victims win $32 m settlement. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-16/black-saturday-victims-win-32m-settlement/4014680. Accessed July 9, 2012.Google Scholar
12.Raphael, B. Psychosocial aspects of disaster: some Australian studies, and the Ash Wednesday bushfires. Med J Australia. 1984;1:268-270.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13.Maida, CA, Gordon, NS, Steinberg, A, Gordon, G. Psychosocial impact of disasters: victims of the Baldwin Hills fire. J Traum Stress. 1989;2:37-48.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14.Green, BL, Lindy, JD, Grace, MC, et al. Buffalo Creek survivors in the second decade: stability of stress symptoms. Am J Orthopsychiat. 1990;60:43-54.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15.La Greca, AM, Silverman, WK, Vernberg, EM, Prinstein, MJ. Symptoms of posttraumatic stress in children after Hurricane Andrew: a prospective study. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1996;64(4):712-723.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16.Bourque, LB, Siegel, JM, Kano, M, Wood, MM. Weathering the storm: The impact of hurricanes on physical and mental health. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 2006;604:129-150.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17.Rubonis, AV, Bickman, L. Psychological impairment in the wake of disaster: the disaster-psychopathology relationship. Psychol Bull. 1991;109:384-399.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18.Green, BL. Assessing levels of psychological impairment following disaster. Consideration of actual and methodological dimensions. J Nerv Mental Dis. 1982;170:544-552.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19.Bolin, R, Bolton, P. Race, religion, and ethnicity in disaster recovery. Program on Environment & Behavior. 1986;42.Google Scholar
20.Lima, BR, Pai, S, Santacruz, H, Lozano, J. Psychiatric disorder among poor victims following a major disaster: Armero, Colombia. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 1991;179:420-427.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
21.Norris, FH, Uhl, GA. Chronic stress as a mediator of acute stress: the case of Hurricane Hugo. Journal of Applied Social Psychology. 1993;23:1263-1284.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
22.Leon, GR. Overview of the psychosocial impact of disasters. Prehosp Disast Med. 2004;19(1):4-9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
23.Vijaykumar, L, Thara, R, John, S, Chellappa, S. Psychosocial interventions after tsunami in Tamil Nadu, India. International Review of Psychiatry. 2006;18(3):225-231.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
24.Mitchell, MJ, Witman, M, Taffaro, C. Reestablishing mental health services in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, following Hurricane Katrina. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. 2008;39(1):66-76.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
25.Weisler, RH, Barbee, JGT, Townsend, MH. Mental health and recovery in the Gulf Coast after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2006;296:585-588.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed