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Survey of Iowa Emergency Medical Services on the Effects of the 1993 Floods

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Stanley E. Chartoff  and
Joann M. Gren
Stanley E. Chartoff*
Affiliation:
Cook County Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Joann M. Gren
Affiliation:
Sherman Hospital, Emergency Department, Elgin, Illinois, USA
*
MPH Ehrling Bergquist Hospital55 MDG/SGOMER 2501 Capehart Road Ofrutt Air Force Base, NE 68113 USA
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Abstract

Introduction:

From June through August 1993, extensive flooding in the Mississippi and Missouri River basins resulted in 50 deaths and 12 billion dollars [U.S.] in damages in nine Midwestern states. In Iowa (1990 population 2,777,000), the government declared all 99 counties Federal Disaster Areas. This study examines how this event impacted local emergency medical services (EMS).

Methods:

All 797 registered prehospital ambulance, rescue, and first-response companies in Iowa received survey questionnaires. Two follow-up mailings were provided for non-responders.

Results:

A total of 468 EMS companies (59%) returned completed questionnaires. The geographic distribution ofresponders and non-responders was similar. Of the companies responding, 132 (28%) reported an impact on their operations from the flood disaster. The most frequently reported operational changes included the use of non-traditional vehicles, providing aid to regions outside usual service areas, and involvement in non-medical rescue operations.

Conclusion:

A major flood provides unique challenges for emergency medical services. Cross-sectional surveys can identify areas of improvement for prehospital systems located in flood-prone areas. Results from this study provide a basis for constructing a more refined instrument to study future flood disasters.

Keywords

disasterdisaster response emergency medical servicesfloodflood disasterIowa emergency medical servicesmedical disaster responseMidwest flood1993 Midwest flood disaster
Type
Special Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 12 , Issue 3 , September 1997 , pp. 37 - 41
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 1997

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