THE DISASTER AFTER THE DISASTER The Societal Impacts of a Health-Care Disaster After a Flood Disaster can Equal or Eclipse the Flood’s Impacts Dr. Walter Hays, Global Alliance For Disaster Reduction
THE SECOND DISASTER
WHAT CAN HAPPEN AFTER THE FIRST DISASTER WATER BORNE AND WATER RELATED DISEASES POLLUTION ENVIRONMENTAL DEAD ZONES
WATER BORNE AND WATER RELATED DISEASES When the water begins to recede after a regional flood, government officials should warn of the health- care risks from dangerous bacteria and the diseases they cause, mosquitoes (in some cases), and pollution.
E-COLI AND TETNUS The flood waters that seep into water wells across a flooded region will cause health problems related to the reduction in the quality of drinking water for tens of thousands.
E-COLI AND TETNUS Hazardous materials that leach into the flood waters will exacerbate the danger.
MOULD Mold, which begins growing within 24 hours, can cause severe allergic reactions and potentially fatal respiratory seizures,
POLLUTION Flood waters loaded with fertilizer and runoff with farm debris dramatically increases soil and water pollution along an entire river system (e.g., the Mississippi River) and adds to or starts new “dead zones.”
ENVIRONMENTAL DEAD ZONE A dead zone is a region that gradually becomes starved for oxygen, and, over time, reaches the point where it can not sustain fish, or any other aquatic life.
The “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico, the largest in the Western Hemisphere, was caused by pollutants that entered the Mississippi River system after annual flooding.
DEAD ZONE IN GULF OF MEXICO
THE FIRST DISASTER: FLOODIING The Socioeconomic Impacts of Flooding are Always Devastating
EXAMPLE: FLOODNG IN THE MIDWESTERN AND MISSISSIPPI RIVER DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, USA MARCH –JUNE, 2008
MIDWESTERN STATES, USA
SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS A Presidential disaster declaration 17 deaths Thousands evacuated Damaged homes and infrastructure Environmental impacts Clean up cost in the multi-millions Multi-state flooding expected after regional runoff
FLOODS IN MIDWESTERN USA Heavy prolonged rainfall of at least 30 cm (12 in) from a large storm system caused flooding in Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana
MIDWEST AND MISSISSIPPI RIVER FLOODS: MARCH-JUNE, 2008
FLOODING: LANCASTER, TEXAS
FLOODING: NEWPORT, ARKANSAS
FLOODING:DES ARC, ARKANSAS
DES ARC, ARKANSAS: RE- PAIRING BREACH IN THE LEVEE
DES ARC, ARKANSAS: LOSS OF HOMES
FLOODING: PACIFIC, MISSOURI
FLOODING: DELTA, MISSOURI
PACIFIC, MISSOURI: SANDBAGS IN BUSINESS DISTRICT
FLOODING: JOPLIN, MISSOURI
FLOODING: CARTHAGE, MISSOURI
INUNDATED HIGHWAY 60 NEAR SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI
FLOODING: SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI
FLOODING: POPULAR BLUFF, MISSOURI
POPULAR BLUFF: EVACUEES IN SHELTER
FLOODING: PACIFIC, MISSOURI
VALLEY PARK, MISSOURI: NEW LEVEE TESTED
VALLEY PARK, MISSOURI: MAKING SANDBAGS
FENTON, MISSOURI: SANDBAG RIGADE,
MIAMITOWN, OHIO:TRACKING THE CREST
VALLEY PARK: MERAMEC RIVER AND HIGHWAY 141
VALLEY PARK, MISSOURI: MERAMEC RIVER AT 10 M (33.1 FT)
FLOODING: BOLIVAR, OHIO
BOLIVAR, OHIO: WILKSHIRE COUNTRY CLUB
MISSISSIPPI RIVER FLOODS BEGIN: JUNE 18TH
MIDWEST FLOODS: CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, JUNE 13TH
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA
OAKVILLE, ILLINOIS
WABASH VALLEY, INDIANA
GAYS MILL, WISCONSIN
MIDWEST FLOODS: CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, JUNE 17TH
MISSISSIPPI RIVER FLOODS: QUINCY, ILLINOIS; JUNE 18
URGENT NEED FOR EVACUATION HINDERED Evacuation was hindered by inundated roads, cresting rivers, and flight cancellations.
FLOODS INUNNDATE ROADS
DFW AIRPORT, TX: FLOODING CAUSED MANY CANCELLATIONS
EMERGENCY RESCUE OPERATIONS