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New York State Public Health System Response to Hurricane Sandy: An Analysis of Survey Feedback

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 May 2016

Asante Shipp Hilts ,
Stephanie Mack ,
Yunshu Li ,
Millicent Eidson ,
Trang Nguyen  and
Guthrie S. Birkhead
Asante Shipp Hilts*
Affiliation:
Office of Public Health, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York
Stephanie Mack
Affiliation:
Office of Public Health, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York
Yunshu Li
Affiliation:
Office of Public Health, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York
Millicent Eidson
Affiliation:
Office of Public Health, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer, New York.
Trang Nguyen
Affiliation:
Office of Public Health, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York
Guthrie S. Birkhead
Affiliation:
Office of Public Health, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer, New York.
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Asante Shipp Hilts, MPH, DrPH, 1006 Corning Tower, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237 (e-mail: Asante.shipphilts@health.ny.gov).
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Abstract

Objective

The objective was to provide a broad spectrum of New York State and local public health staff the opportunity to contribute anonymous feedback on their own and their agencies’ preparedness and response to Hurricane Sandy, perceived challenges, and recommendations for preparedness improvement.

Methods

In 2015, 2 years after Hurricane Sandy, public health staff who worked on Hurricane Sandy response were identified and were provided a link to the anonymous survey. Quantitative analyses were used for survey ratings and qualitative content analyses were used for open-ended questions.

Results

Surveys were completed by 129 local health department (LHD) staff in 3 counties heavily impacted by Sandy (Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester) and 69 staff in the New York State Department of Health who supported the LHDs. Staff agreed that their Hurricane Sandy responsibilities were clearly defined and that they had access to adequate information to perform their jobs. Challenges were reported in the operational, communication, service interruptions, and staff categories, with LHD staff also reporting challenges with shelters.

Conclusions

New York local and state public health staff indicated that they were prepared for Hurricane Sandy. However, their feedback identified specific challenges and recommendations that can be addressed to implement improved preparedness and response strategies. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:454–462)

Keywords

hurricanesurveyemergency preparednesspublic healthdisaster planningpublic health workforcelocal health departmentsstate health agenciesstaff perceptions
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 10 , Special Issue 3: Superstorm Sandy , June 2016 , pp. 454 - 462
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2016 

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