Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-dnltx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-23T12:42:53.258Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

School Interventions After the Joplin Tornado

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2014

Robert K. Kanter  and
David Abramson
Robert K. Kanter*
Affiliation:
Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York USA National Center for Disaster Preparedness, Columbia University, New York, New York USA
David Abramson
Affiliation:
National Center for Disaster Preparedness, Columbia University, New York, New York USA
*
Correspondence: Robert K. Kanter, MD Pediatric Critical Care Medicine SUNY Upstate Medical University 750 E. Adams St. Syracuse, NY 13210 USA E-mail kanterr@upstate.edu
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background/Objective

To qualitatively describe interventions by schools to meet children's needs after the May 2011 Joplin, Missouri tornado.

Methods

Qualitative exploratory study conducted six months after the tornado. Key informant interviews with school staff (teachers, psychologists, guidance counselor, nurse, principal), public health official, and physicians.

Report

After the tornado, school staff immediately worked to contact every enrolled child to provide assistance and coordinate recovery services. Despite severe damage to half of the city's schools, the decision was made to reopen schools at the earliest possible time to provide a safe, reassuring environment and additional services. An expanded summer school session emphasized child safety and emotional wellbeing. The 2011-2012 school year began on time, less than three months after the disaster, using temporary facilities. Displaced children were bused to their usual schools regardless of their new temporary residence locations. In just-in-time training sessions, teachers developed strategies to support students and staff experiencing anxiety or depression. Certified counselors conducted school-based, small-group counseling for students. Selective referrals were made to community mental health providers for children with greatest needs.

Conclusions

Evidence from Joplin adds to a small body of empirical experience demonstrating the important contribution of schools to postdisaster community recovery. Despite timely and proactive services, many families and children struggled after the tornado. Improvements in the effectiveness of postdisaster interventions at schools will follow from future scientific evidence on optimal approaches.

KanterRK, AbramsonD. School Interventions After the Joplin Tornado. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2014;29(2):1-4.

Keywords

behavioral healthdisaster recoveryjust-in-time trainingresilienceschool healthvulnerability
Type
Case Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 29 , Issue 2 , April 2014 , pp. 214 - 217
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Coping with a traumatic event. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Atlanta, GA, 2005. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/masscasualties/copingpro.asp. Accessed February 17, 2012.Google Scholar
2. Hagan, JF and the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Psychosocial aspects of Child and Family Health, and the Task Force on Terrorism. Psychosocial implications of disaster or terrorism on children: a guide for the pediatrician. Pediatrics. 2005;116(3):787-795.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3. DiMaggio, C, Galea, S, Richardson, LD. Emergency department visits for behavioral and mental health care after a terrorist attack. Ann Emerg Med. 2007;50(3):327-334.Google Scholar
4. Abramson, D, Park, YS, Stehling-Ariza, T, Redlener, I. Children as bellwethers of recovery: dysfunctional systems and the effects of parents, households, and neighborhoods on serious emotional disturbance in children after Hurricane Katrina. Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2010;4(Supp 1):S17-S27.Google Scholar
5. Abramson, D, Redlener, I, Stehling-Ariza, T, et al. Impact on children and families of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. National Center for Disaster Preparedness, Research Brief 2010:8. Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, NY USA, 2010.Google Scholar
6. Yun, K, Lurie, N, Hyde, PS. Moving mental health into the disaster-preparedness spotlight. N Engl J Med. 2010;363(13):1193-1195.Google Scholar
7. McLaughlin, KA, Fairbank, JA, Gruber, MJ, et al. Trends in serious emotional disturbance among youths exposed to Hurricane Katrina. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2012;49(10):990-1000.Google Scholar
8. National Commission on Children and Disasters. 2010 Report to the President and Congress. AHRQ Publication No. 10-M037. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. October 2010.Google Scholar
9. Lazarus, PJ, Jimerson, SR, Brock, SE. Helping children after a natural disaster: information for parents and teachers. National Association of School Psychologists, Bethesda, MD. 2993. www.nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety/naturaldisaster_ho.aspx. Accessed February 17, 2012.Google Scholar
10. Graham, J, Shirm, S, Liggin, R, et al. Mass-casualty events at schools: a national preparedness survey. Pediatrics. 2006;117(1):8-15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11. Chemtob, CM, Nakashima, JP, Hamada, RS. Psychosocial intervention for post-disaster trauma symptoms in elementary school children: a controlled community field study. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2002;156(3):211-216.Google Scholar
12. Goenjian, AK, Walling, D, Steinberg, AM, et al. A prospective study of posttraumatic stress and depressive reactions among treated and untreated adolescents 5 years after a catastrophic disaster. Am J Psychiatry. 2005;162(12):2302-2308.Google Scholar
13. Jaycox, LH, Cohen, JA, Mannarino, AP, et al. Children's mental health care following Hurricane Katrina: a field trial of trauma-focused psychotherapies. J Trauma Stress. 2010;23(2):223-231.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14. Wolmer, L, Hamiel, D, Laor, N. Preventing children's posttraumatic stress after disaster with teacher-based intervention: a controlled study. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2011;50(4):340-348.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15. Salloum, A, Overstreet, S. Grief and trauma intervention for children after disaster: exploring coping skills versus trauma narration. Behav Res Ther. 2012;50(3):169-179.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16. State and county QuickFacts: Joplin (city), Missouri. US Census Bureau. Washington DC, 2010. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/2937592.html. Accessed February 17, 2012.Google Scholar
17. Sterling, S. Joplin leader reviews tornado. Daily Star-Journal. Warrensburg, MO, October 2, 2011. http://dailystarjournal.com. Accessed February 17, 2012.Google Scholar
18. Anonymous. List of known dead after Joplin tornado. Springfield News-Leader, Springfield, Missouri USA June 2, 2011. www.news-leader.com. Accessed January 24, 2012.Google Scholar
19. Kates, RW, Colten, CE, Laska, , Leatherman, SP. Reconstruction of New Orleans after hurricane Katrina: a research perspective. PNAS. 2006;103(40):14653-14660.Google Scholar
20. Alesch, DJ, Arendt, LA, Holly, JN. Managing for Long-Term Community Recovery in the Aftermath of Disaster. Public Entity Risk Institute, Fairfax, Virginia USA, 2009.Google Scholar
21. Stefanoni, AB, Woodin, D. FEMA villages called county's “fourth largest city”. Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO. November 19, 2011. http://www.joplinglobe.com. Accessed February 17, 2012.Google Scholar
22. Merchant, RM, Elmer, S, Lurie, N. Integrating social media into emergency preparedness efforts. N Engl J Med. 2011;365(4):289-291.Google Scholar
23. Jaycox, LH, Tanielian, TL, Sharma, P, et al. Schools’ mental health responses after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Psychiatric Services. 2007;58(10):1339-1343.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
24. Madrid, PA, Garfield, R, Jaberi, P, et al. Mental health services in Louisiana school based health centers post-hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Professional Psychology. 2008;39:45-51.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
25. Pfefferbaum, B, Call, JA, Sconzo, GM. Mental health services for children in the first two years after the 1995 Oklahoma City terrorist bombing. Psychiatric Services. 1999;50(7):956-958.Google Scholar