Environmental public health impacts of disasters : Hurricane Katrina : workshop summary / Lynn Goldman and Christine Coussens, rapporteurs ; Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine ; Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice ; Institute of Medicine of the National Academies.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Goldman, Lynn.

Coussens, Christine.

Institute of Medicine (U.S.). Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Hurricane Katrina, 2005.

Emergency management--Louisiana.

Emergency management.

Natural disasters--Environmental aspects.

Natural disasters.

Physical Description:

xii, 88 p. : ill., maps.

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academies Press, c2007.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Public health officials have the traditional responsibilities of protecting the food supply, safeguarding against communicable disease, and ensuring safe and healthful conditions for the population. Beyond this, public health today is challenged in a way that it has never been before. Starting with the 9/11 terrorist attacks, public health officers have had to spend significant amounts of time addressing the threat of terrorism to human health. Hurricane Katrina was an unprecedented disaster for the United States. During the first weeks, the enormity of the event and the sheer response needs for public health became apparent. The tragic loss of human life overshadowed the ongoing social and economic disruption in a region that was already economically depressed. Hurricane Katrina reemphasized to the public and to policy makers the importance of addressing long-term needs after a disaster. On October 20, 2005, the Institute of Medicine's Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine held a workshop which convened members of the scientific community to highlight the status of the recovery effort, consider the ongoing challenges in the midst of a disaster, and facilitate scientific dialogue about the impacts of Hurricane Katrina on people's health. Environmental Public Health Impacts of Disasters: Hurricane Katrina is the summary of this workshop. This report will inform the public health, first responder, and scientific communities on how the affected community can be helped in both the midterm and the near future. In addition, the report can provide guidance on how to use the information gathered about environmental health during a disaster to prepare for future events.

Contents:

FrontMatter

Reviewers

Contents

Preface

Summary

1 Introduction

2 Hurricane Katrina: Challenges, Concerns, Policies, and Needs

3 Hurricane Katrina: Challenges for the Community

4 Nature and Extent of Environmental Exposures

5 Health Monitoring, Assessment, and Response

6 Community Involvement in Response to Disasters

7 Research to Address Gaps in Environmental Health Assessments During Disasters

8 Moving Forward

References

Appendixes

Appendix A Workshop Agenda

Appendix B Speakers and Panelists

Appendix C Workshop Participants.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9786610930166

9780309179898

0309179890

9781280930164

1280930160

9780309669542

0309669545

OCLC:

923278153