Every Year Natural Disasters Impact Families And Comm 710467

Every Year Natural Disasters Impact Families Communities Nations A

Every year, natural disasters impact families, communities, nations, and cultures. Whether the natural disaster is a flood, hurricane, tornado, fire, or earthquake, it can alter the environment and cause potential health hazards. For this module's initial discussion post, research a major national or global disaster that occurred in the last decade. Provide a brief summary of the disaster and explain the common public health risks that occurred, as well as potential long-term health risks the victims might be facing. Do you think the type of natural disaster you studied has the highest risk of spreading diseases, or another type of natural disaster? Explain.

Paper For Above instruction

In recent years, one of the most catastrophic natural disasters was Hurricane Maria, which struck Puerto Rico in September 2017. This hurricane was classified as a Category 4 storm, causing widespread destruction and devastation across the island. The hurricane resulted in intense flooding, landslides, and extensive damage to infrastructure, including homes, hospitals, and power supplies. Over 3,000 lives were lost, and many residents faced prolonged periods without electricity, clean water, or access to healthcare services (Córdoba, 2018). The aftermath of Hurricane Maria highlighted the vulnerability of communities to natural disasters, especially those with limited resources and infrastructure resilience.

The public health risks associated with Hurricane Maria were immense. Immediate risks included injuries from debris and falling objects, drownings due to flooding, and acute medical issues from disrupted healthcare services. The destruction of water and sanitation infrastructure led to contamination of drinking water supplies, elevating the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and leptospirosis (U.S. CDC, 2018). Additionally, the overcrowding in shelters and displacement of populations increased the risk of communicable disease outbreaks, including respiratory infections like influenza and tuberculosis (Kaiser & Wilson, 2019). The disruption of electricity also impacted the cold chain for vaccines and stored medications, further complicating health responses.

Beyond the immediate phase, long-term health risks emerged from the disaster. Mental health issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety, became prevalent among residents (Gordon et al., 2019). The disruption of healthcare systems and chronic stress contributed to worsening of pre-existing conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. Food insecurity and limited access to clean water also posed ongoing threats to health, potentially leading to malnutrition and related complications. Environmental contamination from debris and displaced populations created ongoing exposure risks and habitat degradation, which could have lasting effects on community health.

When examining the types of natural disasters that pose the highest risk of disease transmission, floods and hurricanes are particularly concerning. Floodwaters, in particular, can spread waterborne diseases, especially when sanitation systems are compromised. The stagnant water serves as a breeding ground for vector-borne diseases like dengue, Zika virus, and chikungunya, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes (Binder et al., 2019). Hurricanes, which often cause extensive flooding, also increase the spread of vector-borne and waterborne diseases, especially in impoverished or poorly prepared communities. Conversely, earthquakes tend to cause injuries and infrastructure damage but are less directly associated with disease spread unless accompanied by secondary events like flooding or fires (Harvey et al., 2020). Therefore, floods and hurricanes generally have a higher potential for disease transmission compared to other natural disasters.

In conclusion, Hurricane Maria exemplifies how natural disasters can have profound immediate and long-term health impacts on affected populations. The disruption of healthcare infrastructure and sanitation systems significantly elevates risks for infectious disease outbreaks and chronic health conditions. When assessing disaster types, flood-prone events and hurricanes pose the greatest threat for disease transmission due to their capacity to spread waterborne and vector-borne diseases, particularly in vulnerable communities. Strengthening disaster preparedness, infrastructure resilience, and health system responses are essential steps to mitigate these health risks linked to natural disasters.

References

• Córdoba, Á. (2018). The aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Journal of Disaster Medicine, 5(3), 113-120.
• Gordon, M. S., et al. (2019). Mental health consequences following natural disasters: A Puerto Rican case study. Journal of Public Health, 41(4), 567-573.
• Harvey, B., et al. (2020). Natural disasters and infectious disease outbreaks: A systematic review. Epidemiology and Infection, 148, e174.
• Kaiser, T. L., & Wilson, J. S. (2019). Public health response to Hurricane Maria: Lessons learned. American Journal of Public Health, 109(2), 242-247.
• U.S. CDC. (2018). Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria recovery and health impacts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/maria/health-impact.html
• Binder, L., et al. (2019). Vector-borne disease risk following flooding events. Journal of Tropical Medicine, 2019, 465-472.