Summer of sorrow: measuring exposure to and impacts of trauma after Queensland's natural disasters of 2010–2011

Abstract

Weather-related disasters exact a large toll on the population through property damage and resultant emotional effects. Vulnerable subpopulations are more severely affected. There is a need for realistic, cost-effective and rapid-deployment mass interventions in the event of weather disasters.

Assessing Socio‐Economic Vulnerability to Climate Change Impacts and Environmental Hazards in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia

“…While it may be argued that conducting inductive research following natural disasters is fraught with ethical issues, the works of Clemens et al . () and McDermott et al . (2010; 2012) illustrate that such issues can be overcome.…”

“…The number of articles represented in this table is greater than 35 because Clemens et al . () contained reference to floods and cyclones, so has been categorised twice.…”

“…Following a cyclone disaster, younger children were more likely to develop severe or very severe post‐traumatic distress disorder than older children (McDermott et al ., ), and Clemens et al . () report that adults of working age disproportionately experienced negative emotional, income, and property impacts following the Queensland flood and cyclone disasters. Clemens et al .…”

“…Somewhat surprisingly, socio‐economic disadvantage as a determinant of vulnerability only emerged from a small number of studies and the findings were somewhat inconclusive. Although residents in more disadvantaged areas of Queensland disproportionately experienced negative impacts following the 2010–2011 natural disasters (Clemens et al ., ), the association between areas of socio‐economic disadvantage and heat‐related deaths in Sydney was not statistically significant (Vaneckova et al ., ). However, while there was no association between locally acquired dengue fever and socio‐economic advantage/disadvantage, higher rates of overseas‐acquired dengue fever were associated with areas of higher socio‐economic advantage (Hu et al ., ).…”

“…Other environmental risks also appear to impact differently upon people of different ages. Following a cyclone disaster, younger children were more likely to develop severe or very severe post-traumatic distress disorder than older children (McDermott et al, 2012), and Clemens et al (2013) report that adults of working age disproportionately experienced negative emotional, income, and property impacts following the Queensland flood and cyclone disasters. Clemens et al hypothesise their finding reflects the greater likelihood that working age adults participate in the labour force, own incomeproducing property, have financial dependents, and, therefore, are more exposed to potential impacts than older people.…”