Tag: Hazard Classification and Risk Assessment

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Kat Acierno, Natali Petrosyan, Martha Felipe’s Disaster Plan: ABC Emergency Plan for the Betty Ford Foundation

A healthcare provider injecting medication into a patient's arm

Introduction: Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is a nonprofit organization providing comprehensive behavioral health care. The organization has treatment centers and provides nationwide telehealth services. One of their addiction treatment centers is located in Naples, Florida. Florida is one of the several states that experience leading hepatitis rates nationwide, which may be linked to the high rates of opioid use in the state. Due to the relatively high rate of hepatitis cases within the state of Florida and the impacts that the state has generally faced due to an ongoing opioid crisis, we have chosen to focus our disaster plan on the aforementioned drug rehabilitation center in Naples, Florida.

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Kimari A. McCoy, Desere Thompson, and DJ Windsor’s Disaster Plan: Active Shooter Preparation at the Dallas Pediatric Cardiac Care Center

Introduction: Violence against healthcare facilities is on the rise because they are emotionally charged environments, with open access to the public, and a perceived lack of security. Because of their open layouts, family-centered design (such as play areas and group therapy rooms), and the presence of young, vulnerable people, pediatric care facilities may be seen as “soft targets.” Staff members must protect patients, cooperate with emergency responders, secure locations quickly, and communicate properly with children and families in such a situation.

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Lori Preldakaj, Emily Carbajal, and Emma Zeiger’s Disaster Plan: Wildfire Emergency Plan for Los Angeles Major Trauma Centers

Wildfires burning at night.

Introduction: Los Angeles County is one of the most wildfire-prone regions in Southern California due to its steep terrain, dry vegetation, and widespread-urban interface near the Santa Monica Mountains. These conditions make the area especially vulnerable to fast-moving, wind-driven fires. In 2021, the Palisades Fire scorched over 1,200 acres and prompted widespread evacuations, demonstrating how quickly these incidents can escalate. In 2025, multiple wildfires reignited regional concern after fires threatened hillside neighborhoods and strained emergency services.

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Pierre Amiel, Chloe Wong, and Yuxin Yang’s Disaster Plan: Volcanic Hazards by Kona Community Hospital

Volcanic eruption at night

Introduction: This disaster preparedness and response plan addresses the unique risks posed by volcanic hazards to the Kona Community Hospital Behavioral Health Unit (BHU), located in Kealakekua, Hawai‘i. The facility is situated on the western slopes of Hawai‘i Island, approximately 20 miles west of Mauna Loa’s summit and 40 miles northwest of Kīlauea’s caldera. While the hospital is not located in the highest hazard zone, it is situated within Lava Hazard Zone 3, an area historically vulnerable to fast-moving lava flows from Mauna Loa’s Southwest Rift Zone.

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

Hazy New York.

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.

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Syeda Lamiya Ahmed’s Case Study on the East Palestine, Ohio Train Derailment

Aerial view of the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

In February 2023, 38 cars of a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. The train was carrying hazardous materials, and the accident resulted in a toxic chemical explosion. Afterwards, officials supervised a controlled chemical burn that released additional toxins in the air.

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New MERS-CoV Cases Raise Public Health Concerns Amid Ongoing Vaccine Efforts

MERS-CoV work in Jordan

Between September 6, 2024, and February 28, 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported four laboratory-confirmed Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) cases in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Two of the infections were deadly, which underscores the virus’s elevated mortality rate of 36%.

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The Current Rise of Measles in the U.S.

Child receiving vaccine.

A recent outbreak of measles has struck West Texas, with 124 cases primarily in children and teens. Texas health officials say that within the infected, people are either unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status. One child, a school-age girl, has died since the outbreak, the first U.S. measles death since 2015. The cases were limited to a small Mennonite community within a highly rural area where children are primarily homeschooled or attend small private schools. The state is attempting to work with local health officials to boost vaccination and screening efforts while also educating school officials on identifying measles symptoms. 

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Recent Study Reconsiders Flood Risk Communication

Flood.

Flood risk communication is a critical aspect of urban planning, but recent research from North Carolina State University found a startling discovery dubbed the “safe development paradox.” This phenomenon highlights a fundamental flaw in how we interpret floodplain maps, which categorize areas as either “high-risk” or “low-risk” based solely on their likelihood of flooding. While it may seem straightforward, this binary classification can lead to dangerous misconceptions, particularly for regions that fall just outside the designated high-risk zones.

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