Parental Education and Child Physical Health Following the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Purpose: To assess whether trajectories of children’s physical health problems differ by parental college degree attainment in Louisiana areas highly impacted by the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill (BP-DHOS). Design: Three waves of panel data (2014, 2016, and 2018) from the Gulf Coast Population Impact / Resilient Children, Youth, and Communities studies. Setting: BP-DHOS-impacted … Continue reading “Parental Education and Child Physical Health Following the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill” Learn More
Family Resilience Following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Theory and Evidence Family resilience raises the question of how family units adapt to external shocks. One notable form of such shocks are disasters. Research shows that disasters are occurring with greater frequency and severity throughout the world. Natural and human-made hazards pose an ongoing threat to positive family functioning everywhere, making it difficult to ignore the importance … Continue reading “Family Resilience Following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Theory and Evidence” Learn More
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Exposure, Industry Sector, and Child Health The historic 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (DHOS) led to public distress regarding potential impacts on children in nearby Gulf Coast communities. Using a community-based South Louisiana panel study of households with children, we examined the effect of fishing industry employment on changes in a subjective measure of general child health and whether economic … Continue reading “Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Exposure, Industry Sector, and Child Health” Learn More
Examining the Dose–Response Relationship: Applying the Disaster Exposure Matrix to Understand the Mental Health Impacts of Hurricane Sandy Disaster exposure is a strong predictor of survivor mental health following large-scale disasters. However, there is continued debate regarding how disaster exposure should be measured and quantified, as well as whether specific types of disaster exposure are more likely to influence certain mental health outcomes like psychological distress or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this … Continue reading “Examining the Dose–Response Relationship: Applying the Disaster Exposure Matrix to Understand the Mental Health Impacts of Hurricane Sandy” Learn More
Disparate effects of BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill exposure on psychological resilience A growing body of research has demonstrated links between exposure to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DHOS) and negative consequences for well-being in the impacted region. We contribute to this literature by investigating the relationship between exposure to the DHOS (i.e., physical and economic) and subsequent perceptions of the ability to cope with adverse … Continue reading “Disparate effects of BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill exposure on psychological resilience” Learn More
Families Coping With Financial Loss Following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Objective: This study examines family strategies for coping and adaptation to social disruption from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DHOS) in south Louisiana. Background: The DHOS is a technological disaster of unprecedented scale and ongoing impact, including the socioeconomic disruption of families. Method: Using data from focus groups, grounded‐theory methods informed a thematic analysis … Continue reading “Families Coping With Financial Loss Following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill” Learn More
Online community discourse during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill: an analysis of Twitter interactions Following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on April 20, 2010, information was widely broadcast through social media platforms such as Twitter. This study aimed to gain insights into the content and flow of the tweets that had shaped the conversation related to the oil spill within the first 4 months of the rig explosion and … Continue reading “Online community discourse during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill: an analysis of Twitter interactions” Learn More
Gulf Coast parents speak: children’s health in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill This paper examines the physical and mental health of children following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DHOS). A multi-stage sampling design was used to select households for inclusion in the study. Data were obtained from parental interviews (n = 720) in the harder-hit areas of Louisiana in the US Gulf Coast. Three out of five parents reported … Continue reading “Gulf Coast parents speak: children’s health in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill” Learn More
Deepwater Horizon oil spill exposure and child health: a longitudinal analysis The BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DHOS) created widespread concern about threats to health among residents of the Louisiana Gulf Coast. This study uses data from the Resilient Children, Youth, and Communities study—a longitudinal cohort survey of households with children in DHOS-affected areas of South Louisiana—to consider the effect of DHOS exposure on health trajectories … Continue reading “Deepwater Horizon oil spill exposure and child health: a longitudinal analysis” Learn More
Family Resilience Following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Theory and Evidence Family resilience raises the question of how family units adapt to external shocks. One notable form of such shocks are disasters. Research shows that disasters are occurring with greater frequency and severity throughout the world. Natural and human-made hazards pose an ongoing threat to positive family functioning everywhere, making it difficult to ignore the importance … Continue reading “Family Resilience Following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Theory and Evidence” Learn More
A Philanthropic Approach to Supporting Emergent Disaster Response and Recovery In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey struck the US Gulf Coast and caused more than US $125 billion in damages in Texas. The loss of lives and the economic damages resulted in an outpouring of support for the recovery efforts in the form of federal assistance and private donations. The latter has supported more creative approaches … Continue reading “A Philanthropic Approach to Supporting Emergent Disaster Response and Recovery” Learn More
Long-term Recovery From Hurricane Sandy: Evidence From a Survey in New York City This study aimed to examine a range of factors influencing the long-term recovery of New York City residents affected by Hurricane Sandy. In a series of logistic regressions, we analyzed data from a survey of New York City residents to assess self-reported recovery status from Hurricane Sandy. General health, displacement from home, and household income … Continue reading “Long-term Recovery From Hurricane Sandy: Evidence From a Survey in New York City” Learn More
Regions Respond to Catastrophes In large-scale disasters that include but are not limited to detonation of an improvised nuclear device, a major earthquake, or another large hurricane striking a major US city, we will simultaneously lose health care system capacity with damage to facilities while needing to care for a surge of injured and ill people seeking care. This … Continue reading “Regions Respond to Catastrophes” Learn More
The Hurricane Sandy Person Report: Disaster Exposure, Health Impacts, Economic Burden, and Social Well-Being The impact a disaster has on the health of a population can be described as having a “dose-response” relationship: the larger the “dose” of the disaster, the greater the health impact or “response” among those individuals and communities exposed. This PERSON Briefing Report describes the impact of Hurricane Sandy (the dose) on the health and … Continue reading “The Hurricane Sandy Person Report: Disaster Exposure, Health Impacts, Economic Burden, and Social Well-Being” Learn More
The Hurricane Sandy Place Report: Evacuation Decisions, Housing Issues and Sense of Community Hurricane Sandy was one of the largest storms on record, sweeping through the eastern seaboard of the United States with a massive diameter twice the size of Hurricane Katrina. Although wind speeds did not match those of Katrina, the combination of high tide at landfall and the lunar phase resulted in exceptionally high storm surges. … Continue reading “The Hurricane Sandy Place Report: Evacuation Decisions, Housing Issues and Sense of Community” Learn More
The Medical Home and Care Coordination in Disaster Recovery: Hypothesis for Interventions and Research In postdisaster settings, health care providers encounter secondary surges of unmet primary care and mental health needs that evolve throughout disaster recovery phases. Whatever a community’s predisaster adequacy of health care, postdisaster gaps are similar to those of any underserved region. We hypothesize that existing practice and evidence supporting medical homes and care coordination in … Continue reading “The Medical Home and Care Coordination in Disaster Recovery: Hypothesis for Interventions and Research” Learn More
School Interventions After the Joplin Tornado Background/Objective To qualitatively describe interventions by schools to meet children’s needs after the May 2011 Joplin, Missouri tornado. METHODS: Qualitative exploratory study conducted six months after the tornado. Key informant interviews with school staff (teachers, psychologists, guidance counselor, nurse, principal), public health official, and physicians. Report After the tornado, school staff immediately worked to contact … Continue reading “School Interventions After the Joplin Tornado” Learn More
Children’s Health after the Oil Spill: A Four-State Study Findings from the Gulf Coast Population Impact (GCPI) Project In 2012, with funding from the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, the National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) at Columbia University, in partnership with the Children’s Health Fund, launched a four-state study in order (1) to identify communities of children in the coastal areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida who were adversely impacted by the … Continue reading “Children’s Health after the Oil Spill: A Four-State Study Findings from the Gulf Coast Population Impact (GCPI) Project” Learn More
At the Crossroads of Long-Term Recovery: Joplin, Missouri Six Months after the May 22, 2011 Tornado In December 2011, researchers from Columbia University’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) interviewed key officials and community leaders in Joplin, Missouri in order to document the major themes of the recovery effort approximately six months after the May 22 tornado. Researchers interviewed individuals in Joplin, Missouri to document recovery efforts six months after the … Continue reading “At the Crossroads of Long-Term Recovery: Joplin, Missouri Six Months after the May 22, 2011 Tornado” Learn More
Disaster Recovery: Guidance for Donors This guidance paper goes above and beyond what donors can learn–or already have learned–from a handful of excellent guides developed by the philanthropic community since Hurricane Katrina. Much of this literature on “disaster philanthropy” has been directed at the most effective ways for donors and their agents to deliver assistance during unfolding crises and the … Continue reading “Disaster Recovery: Guidance for Donors” Learn More
Planning for Long‐Term Recovery Before Disaster Strikes: Case Studies of 4 US Cities: A Final Project Report Among the four phases along the hazard continuum — preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation — the sub‐field of long‐term recovery has long been an outlier, an “orphan” when it comes to concerted policy attention and pre‐disaster planning. It’s not that community residents or municipal and state government officials are unaware of the potential long‐term residual … Continue reading “Planning for Long‐Term Recovery Before Disaster Strikes: Case Studies of 4 US Cities: A Final Project Report” Learn More
The American Preparedness Project: Executive Summary: Where the US Public Stands in 2011 on Terrorism, Security, and Disaster Preparedness Ten years after the tragic events of September 11, 2001, America is, in some aspects, a different country. Significant portions of the federal budget over the past decade have been spent on enhancing preparedness and security on the home front, and prosecuting terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan. As part of its American Preparedness Project, which … Continue reading “The American Preparedness Project: Executive Summary: Where the US Public Stands in 2011 on Terrorism, Security, and Disaster Preparedness” Learn More
Recovery Research, Katrina's Fifth Anniversary, and Lessons Relearned What may be called “disaster science” is a broad field that begins with understanding hazards, risks, and population vulnerabilities and moves on to establishing best-practice models of response, mitigation, and recovery. Gaps abound in our collective knowledge in all of these areas, and it is fair to suggest that we have only begun to scratch … Continue reading “Recovery Research, Katrina’s Fifth Anniversary, and Lessons Relearned” Learn More
Impact on Children and Families of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Preliminary Findings of the Coastal Population Impact Study Although the ruptured Deepwater Horizon oil well was capped on July 15, 2010, an estimated 3 to 5 million barrels of oil spilled in to the Gulf of Mexico over a three-month period. Several surveys prior to the capping of the well documented the concerns and immediate effects of the oil spill on coastal residents. … Continue reading “Impact on Children and Families of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Preliminary Findings of the Coastal Population Impact Study” Learn More
Children as Bellwethers of Recovery: Dysfunctional Systems and the Effects of Parents, Households, and Neighborhoods on Serious Emotional Disturbance in Children After Hurricane Katrina Background: Over 160 000 children were displaced from their homes after Hurricane Katrina. Tens of thousands of these children experienced the ongoing chaos and uncertainty of displacement and transiency, as well as significant social disruptions in their lives. The objectives of this study were to estimate the long-term mental health effects of such exposure among … Continue reading “Children as Bellwethers of Recovery: Dysfunctional Systems and the Effects of Parents, Households, and Neighborhoods on Serious Emotional Disturbance in Children After Hurricane Katrina” Learn More
Measuring Individual Disaster Recovery: A Socioecological Framework Background: Disaster recovery is a complex phenomenon. Too often, recovery is measured in singular fashion, such as quantifying rebuilt infrastructure or lifelines, without taking in to account the affected population’s individual and community recovery. A comprehensive framework is needed that encompasses a much broader and far-reaching construct with multiple underlying dimensions and numerous causal pathways; … Continue reading “Measuring Individual Disaster Recovery: A Socioecological Framework” Learn More
Legacy of Katrina: The Impact of a Flawed Recovery on Vulnerable Children of the Gulf Coast It is estimated that in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall on August 29th, 2005 and was followed a month later by Hurricane Rita, approximately 1.5 million people, including some 163,000 children were displaced in Louisiana and Mississippi alone. Since children and families who had the means fled the city, those who were … Continue reading “Legacy of Katrina: The Impact of a Flawed Recovery on Vulnerable Children of the Gulf Coast” Learn More
Second Wind: The Impact of Hurricane Gustav on Children and Families Who Survived Katrina The category 2 Hurricane Gustav made landfall on the Louisiana Coast on Sept. 1, 2008, nearly three years to the day after Hurricane Katrina, resulting in an evacuation of approximately 2 million people and considerable property damage. Although it did not match the intensity or consequence of Hurricane Katrina, the experience of anticipating and responding … Continue reading “Second Wind: The Impact of Hurricane Gustav on Children and Families Who Survived Katrina” Learn More
Meeting Mental Health Needs Following a Natural Disaster: Lessons From Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina had a devastating impact on hundreds of thousands of Louisiana and Mississippi families. Housing was destroyed, jobs were lost, and family members were separated, sometimes in different states and without communication. Postdisaster stress reactions were common, with vulnerable individuals most affected. Mental health services were not adequate to meet immediate needs, and postdisaster … Continue reading “Meeting Mental Health Needs Following a Natural Disaster: Lessons From Hurricane Katrina” Learn More
Mental Health Services in Louisiana School-Based Health Centers Post-Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Louisiana school-based health centers (SBHCs) were called on to respond to a sharp increase in mental health needs, especially for displaced students coping with grief, loss, trauma, and uncertainty. To assess the impact of the hurricanes on the students and the needs of SBHC mental health providers (MHPs), we surveyed … Continue reading “Mental Health Services in Louisiana School-Based Health Centers Post-Hurricanes Katrina and Rita” Learn More
Population Vulnerabilities, Preconditions, and the Consequences of Disasters In a perfect illustration of our nation’s proclivity for postevent crisis response and our resistance to longer term planning and system investment, the nation put a rush order on developing a massive bureaucracy designed to fast track new systems for preventing and responding to terrorism and large scale natural disasters. FEMA and many other agencies … Continue reading “Population Vulnerabilities, Preconditions, and the Consequences of Disasters” Learn More
Building Integrated Mental Health and Medical Programs for Vulnerable Populations Post-Disaster: Connecting Children and Families to a Medical Home Introduction: Hurricane Katrina, a Category 3 hurricane, made landfall in August 2005. Approximately 1,500 deaths have been directly attributed to the hurricane, primarily in Louisiana and Mississippi. In New Orleans, Louisiana, most of the healthcare infrastructure was destroyed by flooding, and >200,000 residents became homeless. Many of these internally displaced persons received transitional housing in … Continue reading “Building Integrated Mental Health and Medical Programs for Vulnerable Populations Post-Disaster: Connecting Children and Families to a Medical Home” Learn More
Disaster Care for Persons With Psychiatric Disabilities: Recommendations for Policy Change There is growing concern that the management of persons with psychiatric disabilities after disaster has been inadequate. Unfortunately, the literature is extremely limited, and empirical evidence on the best practices for addressing the needs of persons with psychiatric disabilities after disasters is sparse. A literature search of articles published in 3 widely used databases revealed … Continue reading “Disaster Care for Persons With Psychiatric Disabilities: Recommendations for Policy Change” Learn More
Mississippi Child and Family Health Study — Toplines During the period of August 6 through August 26, 2006, the Columbia-led Mississippi Child & Family Health Study conducted an assessment among Mississippi residents displaced or heavily impacted by Hurricane Katrina. The purpose of the study was to gather information that could inform local, state, and federal policymakers about the health and social service needs … Continue reading “Mississippi Child and Family Health Study — Toplines” Learn More
The Legacy of Katrina's Children: Estimating the Numbers of Hurricane-Related At-Risk Children in the Gulf Coast States of Louisiana and Mississippi The 2005 hurricane season, which included hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, exacted a monumental toll on the people and infrastructure of the Gulf Coast region in the southern United States. Disaster-related losses were estimated to have exceeded $110 billion. Much has been written about the short-term effects on the local housing stock, economy, and populations. … Continue reading “The Legacy of Katrina’s Children: Estimating the Numbers of Hurricane-Related At-Risk Children in the Gulf Coast States of Louisiana and Mississippi” Learn More
The Recovery Divide: Poverty and the Widening Gap Among Mississippi Children and Families Affected by Hurricane Katrina: Executive Summary Six months after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, a Columbia-led research team conducted a random household survey of people who had been displaced by the disaster in Louisiana. Mental health disability and psychological strain were rampant, people’s lives were chaotic, and their futures were uncertain. The children who had been displaced were often socially … Continue reading “The Recovery Divide: Poverty and the Widening Gap Among Mississippi Children and Families Affected by Hurricane Katrina: Executive Summary” Learn More
The Recovery Divide: Poverty and the Widening Gap Among Mississippi Children and Families Affected by Hurricane Katrina Six months after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, a Columbia-led research team conducted a random household survey of people who had been displaced by the disaster in Louisiana. Mental health disability and psychological strain were rampant, people’s lives were chaotic, and their futures were uncertain. The children who had been displaced were often socially … Continue reading “The Recovery Divide: Poverty and the Widening Gap Among Mississippi Children and Families Affected by Hurricane Katrina” Learn More
The American Preparedness Project: Where the US Public Stands in 2007 on Terrorism, Security, and Disaster Preparedness Since 2002, the National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and The Children’s Health Fund (CHF), have conducted annual surveys of public attitudes and personal preparedness in the aftermath of the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. Produced in collaboration with the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion … Continue reading “The American Preparedness Project: Where the US Public Stands in 2007 on Terrorism, Security, and Disaster Preparedness” Learn More
Mental health in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina: Science to Practice This article talks about the programs that were developed post-Katrina in accordance with the mental health facilities and care programs. The Children’s Health Fund was funded 20 years ago to provide medical services to underserved children and families through mobile units. We have found mobile units to be effective ways of delivering services to people … Continue reading “Mental health in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina: Science to Practice” Learn More
On the Edge: Children and Families Displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Face a Looming Medical and Mental Health Crisis The individuals and families who were displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and who have ended up in FEMA-subsidized community housing in Louisiana are facing a second crisis, one in which untreated and undertreated chronic medical problems and incipient mental health issues will overwhelm patients and providers. Among the displaced, children may be particularly vulnerable. … Continue reading “On the Edge: Children and Families Displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Face a Looming Medical and Mental Health Crisis” Learn More
On the Edge: Children and Families Displaced by Hurricanes Katrina andRita Face a Looming Medical and Mental Health Crisis: Executive Summary The individuals and families who were displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and who have ended up in FEMA-subsidized community housing in Louisiana are facing a second crisis, one in which untreated and undertreated chronic medical problems and incipient mental health issues will overwhelm patients and providers. Among the displaced, children may be particularly vulnerable. … Continue reading “On the Edge: Children and Families Displaced by Hurricanes Katrina andRita Face a Looming Medical and Mental Health Crisis: Executive Summary” Learn More
Public Confidence in Government, Health Care System Continues to Drop as 5th Anniversary of 9/11 Approaches Survey respondents fear government is unprepared for terrorist attacks or natural disaster; health care system judged unable to respond to major crises or flu pandemic. Learn More
Snapshot 2005: Where the American Public Stands on Terrorism and Preparedness Four Years after September 11 The National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) 2005 survey of the American public’s attitudes and views on terrorism, preparedness, and associated issues is the latest in a series of national surveys administered annually beginning in the months after September 11, 2001. The survey was completed in July 2005, just after the London Underground bombings and … Continue reading “Snapshot 2005: Where the American Public Stands on Terrorism and Preparedness Four Years after September 11” Learn More
How Americans Feel About Terrorism and Security: Three Years After September 11 The following is a product of The National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, commissioned in collaboration with The Children’s Health Fund (CHF), and conducted by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion. NCDP is a major national and international resource in disaster and terrorism readiness. NCDP includes one … Continue reading “How Americans Feel About Terrorism and Security: Three Years After September 11” Learn More
How Americans Feel About Terrorism And Security: Two Years After 9/11 Understanding attitudes, concerns and reactions of individuals and families is critical to emergency planning efforts on all levels. In order to have effective implementation of a disaster plan, people need to be confident in (a) the reliability of information from official sources, (b) the capacity of government to perform effectively in a crisis and (c) … Continue reading “How Americans Feel About Terrorism And Security: Two Years After 9/11” Learn More
The 9/11 terror attacks: Emotional consequences persist for children and their families The terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., are unique in American history. The magnitude of the attack in New York, in terms of loss of life and property, was enormous. The destroyed twin towers of the World Trade Center had … Continue reading “The 9/11 terror attacks: Emotional consequences persist for children and their families” Learn More
