Jamie Epstein – NYU GPH Journal of Public Health Disasters

July 21, 2025August 11, 2025

Devastating Texas Floods Highlight Emergency Response Failures

A devastating flash flood hit Central Texas over the July 4 weekend, killing at least 135 people, including nearly 40 children. The majority of the destruction is in Kerr County, located within the Texas Hill Country — an area home to multiple summer camps. Many of the dead include young campers and staff members from Camp Mystic. In response to the flooding, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have activated disaster response and recovery resources, but many feel that the state did not do enough to prepare for a disaster of this magnitude.

July 1, 2025July 1, 2025

June East Coast Heat Wave Forewarns of Extreme Summer Temperatures

During the last days of June, much of the East Coast experienced an extreme heatwave, bringing some of the highest temperatures felt in a decade. Over 150 million people were under heat warnings, including those in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, where temperatures reached over 100 degrees. The oppressive high temperatures can cause a dangerous heat dome, which occurs when a large area of high pressure builds over a region for several days. This heatwave is expected to be one of many facing much of the U.S. this summer, according to the Climate Prediction Center.

June 11, 2025June 11, 2025

Canadian Wildfires Cause Dangerous Air Quality in the U.S.

As early summer wildfires break out in Western Canada, the United States is facing poor air quality, leading the National Weather Service to issue alerts in several regions. On June 4, a concentrated cloud of smoke hit Iowa and Illinois, extending into Wisconsin. Air quality alerts were issued in New York City, New Jersey, and Connecticut, warning residents that air quality levels have reached hazardous levels.

May 15, 2025May 15, 2025

Maya McClatchy, Kate Dewey, and Howard Glassman’s Emergency Disaster Plan: Wildfires in Malibu

Introduction: The city of Malibu has a long and calamitous history of wildfires. Malibu’s location on the southern coast of California is what has made it a beloved destination, but it also leaves the city at constant risk of wildfires. The ecological makeup of the region is defined by dry plant matter that dries, frequent droughts, and the Santa Ana winds. In combination with increasing urbanization, these factors put the population at constant and increasing risk from wildfires. This plan is intended to support a more coordinated response between local, county, and state level agencies in the event of future wildfires, and to define strategies to more efficiently deploy emergency resources and protect the lives and property in Malibu.

May 15, 2025May 15, 2025

Kimberly Tang, Mark Alicea, Leonela Tutasig’s Emergency Disaster Plan: Wildfires in Los Angeles

Introduction: Wildfires are a persistent and growing threat in California. With climate change, prolonged drought, and expanding urban development in fire-prone areas, wildfires are increasing in frequency and intensity. Los Angeles is vulnerable to wildfires due to its proximity to fire-prone landscapes, dense vegetation, and dry, wind-driven conditions. It is crucial for communities to have structured prevention, response, and evacuation plans in place. Given the increasing wildfire risks, it is essential to have a structured response plan that strengthens mitigation strategies, streamlines evacuation efficiency, and enhances overall community resilience through coordinated efforts with local, state, and federal agencies.

May 15, 2025May 15, 2025

Safa Shuaib, Iman Yusuf, and Savannah Bush’s Emergency Disaster Plan: Polio in Sudan

Introduction: Poliomyelitis (Polio) has been eliminated in many parts of the world; however, it still affects certain areas, such as Sudan. Sudan is currently going through a Polio outbreak, which is a critical public health challenge, especially for rural regions and places
affected by conflict. People have limited access to vaccines and medical care, which
makes it harder to control the spread of diseases in these areas. This Disaster Plan outlines
strategies for an organized response to reduce the spread of Polio quickly.

May 15, 2025May 15, 2025

Sydney Bertinetti, Edward Rosenbaum, and Tony Shen’s Emergency Disaster Plan: Tornado in the Bay Area

Introduction: Although tornadoes are rare in the San Francisco Bay Area, recent studies suggest that shifting climate patterns may increase the risk of anomalous weather events, including severe windstorms and localized tornado-like phenomena. This plan is designed as a proactive measure to safeguard public safety and ensure rapid response should such an event occur.

May 1, 2025May 1, 2025

Safa Shuaib, Diya Mehta, and Kimberly Tang’s Qualtrics Report on Pandemic Threats, Preparedness, and Response

This report aims to assess the perceived preparedness and risk of a small convenience sample of individuals. The conducted survey examined the relationship between the participants’ level of education and their experience with the disease, their attitudes towards vaccination, and their perception of individual and governmental responses to the pandemic. The findings from this study could provide helpful insight for building future public health campaigns and policies.

May 1, 2025May 1, 2025

Mark Alicea, Kylie Dickson, and Maya Moukarzel’s Qualtrics Report on COVID-19 and Community Adherence

This Qualtrics report aims to evaluate public attitudes towards and understanding of the COVID-10 pandemic. Using a cross-sectional survey method, this team analyzed emerging concerns of communicable diseases and vaccinations, confidence in the nation’s ability to combat another pandemic. The report found that there is a high correlation between vaccinated individuals and a lack of confidence in the government’s ability to prepare for future pandemics.

April 30, 2025April 30, 2025

Edward Zhang’s Precis on Three Perspectives of Preparedness

Zhang reports on emergency preparedness at the governmental, community, and business levels, comparing and contrasting their priorities and strategies to disaster preparedness. Despite the differences, Zhang discusses how all three perspectives highlight the importance of learning from past disasters to improve future response efforts.