Following a natural disaster such as a major hurricane or flood, the ability of community mental health facilities to respond during the recovery stage of the disaster with adequate resources and capacity to meet community needs is critical to the recovery process. Community mental health agencies have a critical role to play in preparing for and responding to large-scale disasters, such as hurricanes Katrina and Rita of the 2005 storm season. The timely provision of mental health services to disaster victims has long been recognised as an important component of effective emergency management. In addition to a discussion of the findings from previous research studies conducted throughout the USA addressing the issue of mental health community response following a disaster, this paper will present the survey findings of a retrospective research study designed to assess the status of emergency disaster preparedness and client service capacity at community mental health facilities prior to and following the Katrina/Rita disaster in the southern USA. This discussion will also provide a qualitative assessment of the responses provided by community mental health administrators one year after Katrina/Rita, when they were asked to identify the resources needed by their facilities to effectively address future disasters.
- Inderscience Publishers
- Disaster response: Community mental health service capacity in ...
The Importance of Deployable Morgues for Disaster Sites
Natural disasters of all types and intensity carry risk of fatalities. Even minor inclement weather scenarios can have tragic effects and loss of life. Deployable morgues fill a critical need within effective medical care operations at disaster sites. Disaster response planning should always include these systems in order to manage deceased victims respectfully, efficiently, and without putting the health of sick or wounded victims at further risk. Deployable morgues are important at disaster sites to provide...
Donald Blankenship Charged in Mine Disaster
Former chief executive of Massey Energy Company, Donald Blankenship, was charged for multiple violations of safety rules and deceit of federal inspectors that ultimately led to the death of 29 coal miners during a single incident in 2010; the deadliest mine incident since 1970. Indicted on four criminal counts by a federal grand jury in the Upper Big Branch disaster, Blankenship faces a maximum of 31 years’ imprisonment. He is being held personally responsible for the hundreds of safety violations that...
Light Plants and Scene Lighting for Natural Disasters
According to the Red Cross, the recent onslaught of persistent flooding in Louisiana has surpassed the devastating floods that came with Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Without warning, the state received a whopping 6.9 trillion gallons of rainfall in one week (based on a report from CNN). Over 40,000 homes were affected by the flood, resulting $30 million in damages. Scientists speculate that more natural disasters will hit the United States from all angles in the near future, as global warming continues to cause...
Disaster and climate risks aren’t separate
Governments must integrate work across frameworks if global policy won’t, say Zenaida Delica-Willison and JC Gaillard. Disasters are a serious challenge everywhere. All communities need resilient and sustainable development, and that cannot be achieved without thinking through Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies. But many years of discussion and work on DRR have been side-lined by policy makers since climate change emerged as a global priority. A great, and possibly unique, opportunity to align these...
How to avoid another Tianjin disaster?
The massive explosions at a chemical warehouse in Tianjin, China, on 12 August, which have reportedly killed 139 people, with 34 persons still missing, over 700 injured, 6,000 displaced and the homes of another 17,000 damaged, are a deeply tragic reminder of the permanent need to reinforce safety at industrial sites containing hazardous materials. This accident involved chemicals that can be deadly, but which are also of great industrial importance and are therefore stored and carried in large quantities...