Natural disaster

About: Natural disaster is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 5456 publications have been published within this topic receiving 104808 citations. The topic is also known as: natural calamity & natural hazard.

The Hurricane Katrina aftermath and its impact on diabetes care: observations from "ground zero": lessons in disaster preparedness of people with diabetes.

Abstract: Hurricane Katrina was one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the coastal U.S. and one of the most destructive natural disasters to hit the country. As brutal and destructive as the winds and storm surge were, it was the aftermath of this storm that wreaked the greatest havoc. Katrina will continue to have an impact on our daily lives, particularly for those of us who lived and continue to live in the area affected. Clearly the greatest destruction of property from this storm occurred in the New Orleans area, surrounding parishes, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. However, in the aftermath of Katrina, Baton Rouge, the closest major city to the massive destruction and a major route for evacuation, served as the staging area for disaster relief for a number of agencies. In the days immediately after the hurricane, hundreds of thousands of evacuees flooded Baton Rouge, and in this sense, Baton Rouge became “ground zero” for the medical disaster relief effort and nongovernmental organizations. We summarize below our observations on this disaster and suggest that guidelines are needed for health care organizations, health care professionals, and people with chronic diseases like diabetes to have a “plan of action” for major disasters, natural and man made (including terrorist attacks and industrial accidents). Table 1 outlines a potential list of items needed by a person with diabetes for disaster preparedness. The disruption of a normal routine was particularly difficult for those who had to deal with chronic diseases. Caring for a chronic disease, particularly one such as diabetes, demands significant attention on a daily basis. An individual with diabetes must be certain that supplies of insulin and/or other medications are up to date and available. Individuals must find time to monitor their glucose and, once the value is obtained, make …

Latino Disaster Vulnerability The Dissemination of Hurricane Mitigation Information Among Florida’s Homeowners

Abstract: When a natural or manmade disaster strikes, there is usually little time for citizens to prepare and protect themselves. In September 2003, the U.S. Department of Homeland Defense implemented a National Response Plan dealing with many forms of disaster. However, when a disaster hits, not all citizens are equally prepared or protected. A sample of 165 Latino and 1,069 Non-Latino Florida single-family homeowners is drawn from the 1999 Florida Statewide Mitigation Survey (SMS) to investigate the problems associated with the dissemination of hurricane mitigation information among Florida’s Latino homeowners. Results from logistic regression analyses reveal that Latino homeowners prefer to utilize friends and family as sources of disaster preparation information. The significance of research findings and policy implications are discussed.

Reduction And Predictability Of Natural Disasters

Abstract: Within the past five years, the international community has recognized that it may be possible, through programs of systematic study, to devise means to reduce and mitigate the occurrence of a variety of devastating natural hazards Among these disasters are earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, and landslides The importance of these studies is underscored by the fact that within fifty years, more than a third of the world’s population will live in seismically and volcanically active zones The International Council of Scientific Unions, together with UNESCO and the World Bank, have therefore endorsed the 1990s as the International Decade of Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR), and are planning a variety of programs to address problems related to the predictability and mitigation of these disasters, particularly in third-world countries Parallel programs have begun in a number of US agencies

Natural disaster and mental health in Asia.

Abstract: The purpose of the present article was to review the literature on disaster mental health in relation to natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, typhoons and cyclones throughout Asia. Articles reviewed show that disaster psychiatry in Asia is beginning to emerge from and leave behind the stigma attached to mental health. The emergence of the acceptance of disaster mental health throughout Asia can be attributed in part to the acceptance of the notion of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This has allowed greater involvement of mental health professionals in providing ongoing support to survivors of natural disasters as well as providing greater opportunities for further research. Also, articles reviewed in the present paper commonly suggested the need for using standardized diagnostic tools for PTSD to appropriately interpret the discrepancy of results among studies. The importance of post-disaster support services and cultural differences is highlighted.

An integrative approach to disaster management and planning

Abstract: Although it is possible to prevent and contain both man made and natural disasters, it has to be said that the increase in the world's population is likely to increase further the frequency of a major disaster occurring. Disaster management and planning needs to be placed in a holistic setting, and new initiatives found in order to ensure that a disaster is viewed as a shared responsibility. One area that needs further attention is the concept of community policing and what community policing incorporates. Often, a disaster is on such a scale that local community leaders need to be consulted during the disaster limitation and containment stage. It is essential, therefore, that experts from overseas countries brought into the disaster arena, are able to communicate fully and openly with community leaders in order to gain the support of the community.