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: JOPLIN, MISSOURI

FLOODING: CARTHAGE, MISSOURI

INUNDATED HIGHWAY 60 NEAR SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI

FLOODING: SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI

FLOODING: 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