Patel’s case study reviews the health risks associated with the chemical spill that occured in January 2014 in Charleston, West Virginia, where 10,000 gallons of chemicals were spilled into the Elk River. The spill affected 300,000 residents in the region.
Patel first evaluates the epidemiological aspects of the event, then assesses the state and federal response to the event. He highlights how open communication with the public was especially valuable to ensuring public safety following the disaster.