Burger Joanna, Gochfeld Michael
Division of Life Sciences, Rutgers University, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ, USA; Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA; Institute of Marine and Coastal Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA; Institute of Marine and Coastal Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA; Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
Sci Total Environ. 2014 May 15;481:611-8. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.02.048. Epub 2014 Mar 15.
Superstorm Sandy made landfall in New Jersey 29-30 October 2012 (130 km/h winds), and many residents were evacuated, were without power for days to several weeks, and suffered property damages or lost their homes. The objective of this study was to understand health concerns within 100 days of this devastating storm that might improve recovery, future preparedness, and resilience. We conducted a survey of New Jersey residents in central (N=407) and shore communities (n=347) about health concerns before, during, and after Superstorm Sandy. People were interviewed at public places, town hall and FEMA meetings, health and university centers, and other gathering places. 47% of shore and 13% of central Jersey respondents evacuated. Both populations were concerned about agents of destruction, survival needs, and possessions before and during the storm, but they were mainly concerned about survival needs thereafter. During the storm, medical issues were the greatest concern for shore respondents (23%) vs secure and safe food and water (29%) for central respondents. Medical concerns increased after the storm. In the future, 42% of shore respondents would prepare more, while 51% of central residents would buy more supplies; 20% (shore) and 11% (central) would heed future evacuation warnings. Before Sandy many residents did not heed warnings and evacuation orders, but worried about property damage, while during and after their major concerns were personal and community health. Prevention of future health and property impacts could be enhanced by stronger evacuation enforcement, better preparedness information, greater attention to the possibility of prolonged power outages, and more attention to medical needs during and after a storm.
超级风暴桑迪于2012年10月29日至30日在新泽西登陆（风速达每小时130公里），许多居民被疏散，数天至数周断电，财产受损或家园尽失。本研究的目的是了解这场毁灭性风暴100天内居民的健康担忧，这可能有助于改善恢复情况、增强未来应对能力和恢复力。我们对新泽西中部（N = 407）和沿海社区（n = 347）的居民进行了一项关于超级风暴桑迪来临前、期间和之后健康担忧的调查。在公共场所、市政厅和联邦应急管理局会议、健康与大学中心以及其他聚集场所对人们进行了访谈。47%的沿海居民和13%的新泽西中部受访者进行了疏散。在风暴来临前和期间，这两类人群都关心破坏因素、生存需求和财产，但之后主要关心生存需求。在风暴期间，医疗问题是沿海受访者最关心的（23%），而新泽西中部受访者最关心的是安全的食物和水（29%）。风暴过后，对医疗问题的担忧增加了。未来，42%的沿海受访者会做更多准备，而51%的中部居民会购买更多物资；20%（沿海）和11%（中部）的居民会听从未来的疏散警告。在桑迪来临前，许多居民不听从警告和疏散命令，但担心财产受损，而在风暴期间和之后，他们主要关心的是个人和社区健康。加强疏散执行力度、提供更好的准备信息、更多关注长期停电的可能性以及在风暴期间和之后更多关注医疗需求，可增强对未来健康和财产影响的预防能力。
