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Community Assessment for Mental and Physical Health Effects After Hurricane Irma — Florida Keys, May 2019

Authors :
Carina Blackmore
Yaritbel Torres-Mendoza
Amy H. Schnall
Alison Kerr
Summer D Hartley
Source :
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
Centers for Disease Control MMWR Office, 2021.

Abstract

Disasters can adversely affect population health, resulting in increased need for health services. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys (Monroe County) as a Category 4 hurricane on September 10, 2017. The hurricane caused substantial damage to 65% of homes and resulted in 40 persons injured and 17 deaths from hurricane-related causes.* During 2018, the county suicide rate increased to 34.9 per 100,000 population from the 5-year (2013-2017) average of 25.2 per 100,000 population (1). In May 2019, 20 months after the hurricane, the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) conducted a modified Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) to assess the community's mental, physical, and economic health and develop public health interventions to decrease the suicide rate. A consenting adult member from 231 households was interviewed, and a weighted cluster analysis was conducted to estimate the number and percentage of households throughout the Florida Keys with a particular response, as well as the number and percentage of persons at risk for suicide. During the 20 months since Hurricane Irma, 17% of households reported a need for a mental health care provider; 37.9% of these did not receive those services. A modified CASPER was used to calculate population estimates of suicide risk in an area of high landfall for hurricanes; estimated population suicide risk was 7.3%. Respondents reported worsening of respiratory conditions (17.7%), anxiety (17.0%), and depression (11.3%). Emergency preparedness plans should consider strengthening mental health service delivery after a hurricane, particularly during the long-term recovery phase.

Details

ISSN :
1545861X and 01492195
Volume :
70
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....a1d75a9d00453fdddb88a80e2b780d7b