Postdisaster Health Communication and Information Sources: The Iowa Flood Scenario

Abstract

<jats:title>ABSTRACT</jats:title><jats:p><jats:bold>Background:</jats:bold> During June 2008, heavy precipitation and 500-year flood events resulted in the displacement of thousands of families throughout eastern Iowa. The objectives of this study were to assess the effectiveness and preferred sources of health messages communicated to the public following the disaster.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Methods:</jats:bold> Three hundred twenty-seven households were surveyed in 4 counties hit hardest by the flooding. A 48-item questionnaire containing items on demographics, housing, health information sources, and 8 specific health issues was administered.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Results:</jats:bold> Almost all of the participants (99.0%) received information on at least 1 of the health topics covered by the survey. Most participants received information regarding vaccination (84.1%), mold (79.5%), safe use of well water (62.7%), respirator use (58.7%), or stress (53.8%). Television was the primary (54.7%) and preferred (60.2%) source of health information for most people, followed by the Internet (11.0% and 30.3% as source and preference, respectively).</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Conclusions:</jats:bold> Public health messages were received by a wide audience in the flood-affected communities. Along with more traditional health communication channels such as television, radio, or newspapers, continued emphasis on the development of health information Web sites and other technological alternatives may result in useful and effective health communication in similar situations.</jats:p><jats:p>(<jats:italic>Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness</jats:italic>. 2010;4:129-134)</jats:p>

The Emergence of Environmental Health Literacy—From Its Roots to Its Future Potential

“…The impact of these disasters was communicated by newspaper photos of oil-soaked marine birds or workers in HazMat suits, televised images of billowing clouds of oil gushing from the wellhead, or YouTube videos of tar balls on the beach. Public attention to such extreme polluting events is heightened by the ever-increasing amounts of information on the Internet about the negative health impacts of the multiple exposures we all experience throughout our lives (Murphy et al 2010). …”

“…As efforts are made to promote the value of EHL, it will be important to comprehend and address public understanding and misunderstanding of environmental risks and how this knowledge has been informed and defined by cultural media (i.e., books, films, television) (Frayling 2005; Kennedy et al 2011; Moore 2015; Murphy et al 2010). …”

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

“…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 ]. Emphasizing the need for pre-disaster risk communication, surveillance, and dissemination of carbon monoxide (CO)-related information as necessary tools for disaster preparedness, response, and prevention.…”

“…Developing health information for Internet sites and other technological alternatives for useful and effective health communication [ 9 ].…”

A modified Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) four months after Hurricane Sandy

“…Known as a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER), an RNA is undertaken most commonly by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US (CDC, 1992(CDC, , 1996(CDC, , 2004(CDC, , 2006a(CDC, , 2006bNoji et al, 1997) and by governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) internationally. Although traditionally used in the immediate disaster period, CASPER has been utilised successfully in versatile settings, including for the emergency preparedness of communities near a nuclear power plant, to enhance communication in a post-flood zone, and to evaluate mental health challenges one year after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill crisis of 2010 (Murphy et al, 2010;Buttkea et al, 2011;Horney et al, 2011;Ricchetti-Masterson and Horney, 2013;Nyaku et al, 2014).…”