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Hurricane Sandy Evacuation Among World Trade Center Health Registry Enrollees in New York City

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 April 2016

Shakara Brown ,
Lisa M. Gargano ,
Hilary Parton ,
Kimberly Caramanica ,
Mark R. Farfel ,
Steven D. Stellman  and
Robert M. Brackbill
Shakara Brown*
Affiliation:
Bureau of Epidemiology Services, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Long Island City, New York
Lisa M. Gargano
Affiliation:
World Trade Center Health Registry, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Long Island City, New York
Hilary Parton
Affiliation:
Bureau of Communicable Disease, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Long Island City, New York
Kimberly Caramanica
Affiliation:
World Trade Center Health Registry, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Long Island City, New York
Mark R. Farfel
Affiliation:
World Trade Center Health Registry, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Long Island City, New York
Steven D. Stellman
Affiliation:
World Trade Center Health Registry, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Long Island City, New York Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York.
Robert M. Brackbill
Affiliation:
World Trade Center Health Registry, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Long Island City, New York
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Shakara Brown, MPH, Project Officer/Data Analyst, Bureau of HIV – Field Services Unit, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 42-09 28th St, Long Island City, NY, 11101. (e-mail: sbrown25@health.nyc.gov).
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Abstract

Objective

Timely evacuation is vital for reducing adverse outcomes during disasters. This study examined factors associated with evacuation and evacuation timing during Hurricane Sandy among World Trade Center Health Registry (Registry) enrollees.

Methods

The study sample included 1162 adults who resided in New York City’s evacuation zone A during Hurricane Sandy who completed the Registry’s Hurricane Sandy substudy in 2013. Factors assessed included zone awareness, prior evacuation experience, community cohesion, emergency preparedness, and poor physical health. Prevalence estimates and multiple logistic regression models of evacuation at any time and evacuation before Hurricane Sandy were created.

Results

Among respondents who evacuated for Hurricane Sandy (51%), 24% had evacuated before the storm. In adjusted analyses, those more likely to evacuate knew they resided in an evacuation zone, had evacuated during Hurricane Irene, or reported pre-Sandy community cohesion. Evacuation was less likely among those who reported being prepared for an emergency. For evacuation timing, evacuation before Hurricane Sandy was less likely among those with pets and those who reported 14 or more poor physical health days.

Conclusions

Higher evacuation rates were observed for respondents seemingly more informed and who lived in neighborhoods with greater social capital. Improved disaster messaging that amplifies these factors may increase adherence with evacuation warnings. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:411–419)

Keywords

disastersemergency preparednesscommunity support9/11zone awareness
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 10 , Special Issue 3: Superstorm Sandy , June 2016 , pp. 411 - 419
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2016 

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