Week 2 Discussion PHE4095 EPA and Environmental Disasters and Implications of a Global Environmental Disaster

Week 2 PHE4095 Special Topics in Public Health Lecture

Mental Health Recovery from Disaster

Disasters of any magnitude are emotional for everyone involved. People who are especially vulnerable include children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and those for whom English is not a first language (American Red Cross, 2012). Trying to understand what happened and taking the necessary steps to recover can be challenging. It is important to remember that disasters affect people differently. However, one should be aware of any unusual behavior and seek additional assistance if necessary. Feelings of helplessness, anxiety, and sadness are common feelings after a disaster (CDC, 2009).

The American Red Cross has volunteers in disaster mental health who have special skills in dealing with the stress resulting from a disaster. There are also other organizations that provide resources for victims of disasters.

The CDC provides excellent information to help the general public recover from a traumatic event. You can access a resource provided through the Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response (OPHPR), which makes the following recommendations to begin the healing process (CDC, 2009):

· Follow a normal routine as much as possible.

· Stay busy by exercising, volunteering, or assisting other people in your community.

· Rather than isolating yourself, surround yourself with friends, family, and coworkers.

· Accept assistance from others and talk about your feelings with them.

· Eat healthy meals and get plenty of rest.

Posttraumatic Stress

The National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) also has numerous resources for dealing with PTSD, which are listed on their Web site. PTSD is not limited to the effects of war but is also applicable to acts of terrorism, violence and abuse, as well as disasters. Resources that are available include identification of PTSD symptoms, how to overcome barriers to care, choosing a therapist and the types of treatments available (US Department of Veterans Affairs: National Center for PTSD, 2012).

As mentioned earlier, recovering from a disaster is a slow and emotional process. At any point if you or someone you know is not moving past the grieving process or is behaving abnormally, professional assistance is necessary. In addition, stress following a disaster is not limited to the victims of the disaster. Healthcare professionals and emergency responders are also at risk.

Beyond the Aftermath of a Disaster

Natural or man-made disasters come unexpectedly and have devastating consequences. The media follows the disaster events day in and day out and provides up-to-date coverage on the number of people affected, the structural damage, the environmental impact, and lives lost. The media plays an important role in the disaster response providing necessary information to victims on shelters, evacuation procedures, health needs, and other disaster assistance. It also explains how the community can join together to financially donate to help support victims of the disaster. So once the immediate effects of the disaster have passed and the disaster itself has been removed from the media spotlight, what happens to the victims and the communities several years later?

Let us look at how populations have progressed and situations have panned out after some of America’s most prominent disasters.

2005—Hurricane Katrina

In a special report by Scott Cohn and Michelle Lodge (2010) of CNBC, many promises made by high-profile business executives and government leaders were never delivered. Donald Trump announced plans for a luxury hotel and apartment complex in the downtown area. However, five years down the line, the construction site remained vacant (para. 4). K-B Homes also said they would build as many as 20,000 new homes but never did (para. 6). 

2010—Upper Big Branch Mine Explosion, West Virginia

A former mine officer pled guilty in March 2012, for conspiring to impede mine safety enforcement at the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia in 2010. Twenty-nine workers were killed in the explosion. Since then, settlements have been reached with the families of the 29 miners that were killed and the 7 that were injured. Even though the mining official was convicted and each family received roughly 2 million dollars, an attorney for two family members said, “While no amount of money will ever replace the loss, the conclusion of the civil litigation will help our clients move on with their lives” (Berkes, 2012).

2010—Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (BP Oil Spill)

In the months following the massive oil spill that spilled millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico and killed eleven rig workers, many coastal residents feared that the disaster would have a huge impact on tourism resulting in a financial crisis for the region. According to Richard Thompson (2012) of the Times-Picayune, by April 2012, BP Oil paid out more than $1.9 billion in claims filed by nearly 70,000 Louisiana residents and businesses (para 4). The economic recovery from the oil spill has been quicker than expected and things are looking up for the residents of Louisiana.

Emergency Preparedness

Another area of concern is emergency response. As public health professionals, not only may we be called upon to assist in a time of need, but we may need to be prepared ourselves. An important thing to remember is that if we are not prepared at home and know that our families are safe, then it is difficult for us to focus and do our jobs. Visit the Red Cross to look at how to make a personal disaster preparedness kit: