Mitigating the Twin Threats of Climate-Driven Atlantic Hurricanes and COVID-19 Transmission.

The co-occurrence of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season and the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic creates complex dilemmas for protecting populations from these intersecting threats. Climate change is likely contributing to stronger, wetter, slower-moving, and more dangerous hurricanes. Climate-driven hazards underscore the imperative for timely warning, evacuation, and sheltering of storm-threatened populations - proven life-saving protective measures that gather evacuees together inside durable, enclosed spaces when a hurricane approaches. Meanwhile, the rapid acquisition of scientific knowledge regarding how COVID-19 spreads has guided mass anti-contagion strategies, including lockdowns, sheltering at home, physical distancing, donning personal protective equipment, conscientious handwashing, and hygiene practices. These life-saving strategies, credited with preventing millions of COVID-19 cases, separate and move people apart. Enforcement coupled with fear of contracting COVID-19 have motivated high levels of adherence to these stringent regulations. How will populations react when warned to shelter from an oncoming Atlantic hurricane while COVID-19 is actively circulating in the community? Emergency managers, health care providers, and public health preparedness professionals must create viable solutions to confront these potential scenarios: elevated rates of hurricane-related injury and mortality among persons who refuse to evacuate due to fear of COVID-19, and the resurgence of COVID-19 cases among hurricane evacuees who shelter together.

Does Preparedness Matter? The Influence of Household Preparedness on Disaster Outcomes During Superstorm Sandy.

OBJECTIVES: This study empirically examines preparedness with a kit, medication, and a disaster plan on disaster outcomes including perceived recovery, property damage, and use of medical or mental health services. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional, retrospective study design, 1114 households in New York City were interviewed 21-34 months following Super Storm Sandy. Bivariate associations were examined and logistic regression models fit to predict the odds of disaster outcomes given the level of preparedness. RESULTS: Respondents with an evacuation plan were more likely to report not being recovered (odds ratio [OR] = 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.5-3.8), property damage (OR = 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1-1.9), and use of medical services (OR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1-4.5). Respondents reporting a supply of prescription medication were more likely to report using mental health (OR = 3.5; 95% CI: 1.2-9.8) and medical services (OR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1-4.8). CONCLUSIONS: Having a kit, plan, and medication did not reduce risk of adverse outcomes in Superstorm Sandy in this sample. Disaster managers should consider the lack of evidence for preparedness when making public education and resource allocation decisions. Additional research is needed to identify preparedness measures that lead to better outcomes for more efficient and effective response and recovery.

Quantitative assessment of enterprise environmental risk mitigation in the context of Na-tech disasters.

As an important causative factor of environmental accidents, natural disasters have recently received much attention for environmental risk assessment. Typhoons are one of the most frequent natural disasters in the northern Pacific Ocean and South China Sea and cause enormous damage to agriculture, daily livelihood, and industry. In this study, an environmental risk assessment for industrial enterprises is conducted when considering typhoon disasters. First, a Na-tech (natural hazard triggering technological disasters) environmental risk assessment index system with the aid of an analytic hierarchy process and fuzzy evaluation model (ERA-FAM) is developed to explore the major determinants related to risk level. The impact of typhoon disasters on environmental risk from chemical enterprises is discussed using a comparative analysis of risk levels with and without typhoon disaster scenarios. A chemical plant located in Zhejiang, China, is selected as a case study using this methodology. Three hypothetical scenarios are assumed, based on actual situations, to explore the impact of various factors on environmental risk. The results demonstrate that production factors and surrounding environmental conditions are the most sensitive factors for typhoon disasters, while emergency preparation is most important for reducing environmental risk. The influence of typhoons on environmental risk values is much higher for enterprises with imperfect management and vulnerable water risk receptors. Incorporating disaster management into environmental risk management will aid in developing strategies and policies for environmental risk mitigation and risk reduction practices.