Mortality From a Tornado Outbreak, Alabama, April 27, 2011

Chiu, Cindy H.; Schnall, Amy H.; Mertzlufft, Caitlin E.; Noe, Rebecca S.; Wolkin, Amy; Spears, Jeanne; Casey-Lockyer, Mary; Vagi, Sara

doi:10.2105/ajph.2013.301291

Cited by 33 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…The April 2011 tornado outbreak resulted in 338 fatalities in Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia. In addition to these fatalities, the storms also caused 2000 injuries and $4.2 billion in property damage in Alabama alone (Chiu et al, 2013). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of optimism on recovery and mental health after a tornado outbreak

Carbone

Echols

2017

Psychology & Health

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Objective Dispositional optimism, a stable expectation that good things will happen, has been shown to improve health outcomes in a wide range of contexts, but very little research has explored the impact of optimism on post-disaster health and well-being. Design Data for this study come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Public health systems and mental health community recovery (PHSMHCR) Survey. Participants included 3216 individuals living in counties affected by the April 2011 tornado outbreak in Mississippi and Alabama. Main outcome measures This study assesses the effect of dispositional optimism on post-disaster recovery and mental health. Results Dispositional optimism was found to have a positive effect on personal recovery and mental health after the disaster. Furthermore, it moderated the relationship between level of home damage and personal recovery as well as the relationship between home damage and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with stronger effects for those with increased levels of home damage. Conclusions The utility of screening for optimism is discussed, along with the potential for interventions to increase optimism as a means of mitigating adverse mental health effects and improving the recovery of individuals affected by disasters and other traumatic events.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of optimism on recovery and mental health after a tornado outbreak

Carbone

Echols

2017

Psychology & Health

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“…Among natural disasters, hurricanes and floods have devastated US coasts for decades. Although the primary focus of the EIS program is on epidemiologic training and field work, the work done by NCEH/ATSDR EISOs has led to: Specifying environmental actions, personal protective actions, and disaster-preparedness plans in public health messaging [ 7 , 8 ]. Developing health information for Internet sites and other technological alternatives for useful and effective health communication [ 9 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… EISOs used CDC’s Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) toolkit to quickly and objectively quantify the health and assistance needs of disaster-affected populations [ 12 ]. Using CASPER, EISOs identified basic needs such as food, shelter, electricity, water, clothing, and protection from vectors of disease, as major needs following natural disaster events [ 7 , 8 , 13 ]. …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examples of applied public health through the work of the Epidemic Intelligence Service officers at CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health: 2006–2015

et al. 2017

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The Epidemic Intelligence Service officers (EISOs) at the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) respond to public health outbreaks, assist public health surveillance, and recommend public health actions. We summarize the breadth of work done by EISOs assigned to NCEH/ATSDR during 2006–2015. We used the Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases to identify articles authored by the EISOs, number and types of epidemiologic assistance field investigations (Epi-Aids), and interviewed NCEH/ATSDR programs with EISO assignees. The largest number of NCEH/ATSDR EISO publications (n = 61) and Epi-Aids (n = 110) related to toxic chemicals (23 and 37, respectively), followed by natural disasters and those caused by humans (19 and 25, respectively), extreme temperature-related illness (9), and chronic diseases (8). The investigations raised awareness, identified risk factors and public health needs, and introduced better prevention and protection measures for human health. Through field investigations and other technical assistance, NCEH/ATSDR provided leadership and staff scientists to assist in the field, as well as knowledge transfer to local, state, territorial, and international health departments.

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“…In addition, the focus groups oversample women. While this does not reflect the gender breakdown found in census data for the Tuscaloosa area, because women are often disadvantaged and at a higher risk during disasters, their responses can be especially salient for understanding the challenges faced during a disaster (Chiu et al 2013;Enarson and Morrow 1998;Enarson et al 2007;Neumayer and Plümper 2007). Everyone was encouraged to disclose their real opinions and participate fully in the dialogue.…”

Section: Study Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Severe Weather Forecasts and Public Perceptions: An Analysis of the 2011 Super Outbreak in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Sanders

Adams

Joseph

2020

Weather, Climate, and Society

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This paper uses the “Super Outbreak” of 2011 as a case study to examine the potential gaps between the dissemination of severe weather warnings and the public’s behavioral response to this information. This study focuses on a single tornado track that passed through Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The tornado caused massive damage and destruction and led to a total of 62 fatalities. The threat of severe storms was known days in advance, and forecasts were disseminated to the public. Questions were raised about the forecasts, warning lead times, and the perception of the warnings among residents. This paper examines the potential gaps that exist between the dissemination of tornadic warning information and citizen response. The analysis of data collected through a mixed-method approach suggests that, regardless of weather forecast accuracy, a significant chasm exists between the dissemination of warnings and the personalizing of risks, which results in limited use of protective measures in the face of severe weather threats.

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Mortality From a Tornado Outbreak, Alabama, April 27, 2011

Cited by 33 publications

References 8 publications

Effects of optimism on recovery and mental health after a tornado outbreak

Effects of optimism on recovery and mental health after a tornado outbreak

Examples of applied public health through the work of the Epidemic Intelligence Service officers at CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health: 2006–2015

Severe Weather Forecasts and Public Perceptions: An Analysis of the 2011 Super Outbreak in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

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