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Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey
Hurricane Sandy, also known as Superstorm Sandy, was labelled as the most destructive, deadliest, and strongest hurricane in New Jersey after it left millions of people with no electricity and increased the country’s death toll significantly. The winds blew roofs off buildings, caused food shortages, and flooded homes, leaving numerous people homeless. The hurricane inflicted approximately $70 billion damages, thus, was recognized as the second-costliest catastrophe in history. The preliminary and succeeding strategies that were employed during the disaster managed the impact in the best way possible. However, more efforts should have been put in the preparation stage.
Before the landfall, the Obama administration issued emergency declarations, supported institutions that mobilized disaster management and relief personnel, and provided massive bills to promote the coast’s reconstruction. Emergency preparedness is designed to ensure that medical readiness in an emergency and cushion its impact on communities. Indeed, the response undertaken in the case of Hurricane Sandy yielded tremendous results – institutions like FEMA distributed essentials, homeless individuals were provided with emergency shelters, and donations were made to assist the victims.
Notwithstanding, these measures can be improved by stockpiling emergency supplies, setting up temporary shelters, using media to outreach to communities, and developing a collaborative environment for government and public health organizations. The absence of the hurricane’s categorization and warning was a major breakdown during the public health response. Since storms are difficult to predict, the public health sector could improve future disaster response by fostering new communication initiatives (Kruger et al., 2019). Officials can achieve this by distributing materials on emergency services and any other associated information like evacuation threats, available exists, and shelter locations. This way, the citizens are aware of the available storm predictions, accessible protection resources, and how to stay safe.
Chemical Spillage in Elk River
In addition to hurricanes and natural disasters, chemical spillage significantly affects the health and well-being of a particular community. The spill that occurred in Elk River affected nearly 300,000 residents in West Virginia (CDC, 2014). Various people were obstructed from going to work while others suffered through eye, skin, and respiratory tract irritation. Public health institutions were quick to respond to the disaster, hence the small-scale damage. Nevertheless, the CASPER assessment clearly illustrates that several issues should have been addressed before the health response.
As it has been established, the CASPER assessment aimed to assess the chemical spill’s impact, procure information on water use before, during, and after the disaster, and identify future approaches. The public health sector utilized television as the primary source of communication to inform the residents of the chemical spill. Technology and social media platforms have been developed to guide public health institutions to improve their responses in emergencies. These advances are efficient since they reach a broader population baser faster. As a result, the West Virginia Bureau of Public Health successfully put the catastrophe under control.
However, some of the health barriers that were recognized during the response were lack of community education regarding disaster preparedness and limited access to mental health services. According to the CASPER assessment, public health officials can improve their response practices by educating the public on how to stay prepared for an emergency, providing alternative methods for water supply, and dispensing mental health services for the affected individuals. These techniques will not only lessen the impact of a prospective chemical spill but also ensure that the health and well-being of the population are promoted. Furthermore, it is advisable to liaise with individuals and organizations from other domains to assist in implement emergency response measures.