Infrastructure – NYU GPH Journal of Public Health Disasters

January 5, 2026January 5, 2026

Catherine Martinez, Dalanda Jallow, Anika Nayak, and Mia Tran’s Disaster Plan: Oil Spills in Venezuela

Introduction: Venezuela is a country in northern South America that borders both the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, as well as the neighboring countries of Colombia, Brazil, and Guyana. The country has a long history of oil production dating back to the early twentieth century, and its petroleum wealth has played a central role in its modern economic development. Venezuela’s oil reserves are distributed across several regions, including the Orinoco Delta and offshore areas, the eastern Llanos, the states of Guárico, Anzoátegui, and Monagas, the Lake Maracaibo Lowlands in Zulia state, and the western Llanos in the states of Barinas and Apure. The country holds approximately 298–300 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and an estimated 513 billion barrels of recoverable oil, primarily heavy, sour crude concentrated in the Orinoco Belt. Recent data indicate that Venezuela produces on the order of 892,000 barrels of crude oil per day, with production levels fluctuating around this range in recent years.

January 5, 2026January 5, 2026

Jose Flores Hernandez, Lawrence Mfutso, Oluwadunsin Jenrola, and Berkeley Sanchez’s Disaster Plan: Hurricanes in Coastal Areas of Mexico

Hurricane overview — Satellite view. Hurricane Florence over the Atlantics close to the US coast . Elements of this image furnished by NASA.

Introduction: Mexico’s coastal regions face recurring threats from hurricanes and storms, which have intensified in both frequency and severity in recent years due to ongoing climate change. The country’s long coastline along both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans makes it particularly vulnerable to these natural hazards. According to analyses informed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the North Atlantic has experienced an increase in the proportion and intensity of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes over recent decades, a trend linked in part to rising sea surface temperatures.

January 5, 2026January 5, 2026

Marsha Williams, Catherine Martinez, Yashvee Shah, Zuha Baig, Berkeley Sanchez, and Jose Flores Hernandez’s Disaster Plan: Hurricanes in the Caribbean Region

Introduction: Haiti is located on the western third of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south. Its mountainous terrain, densely populated urban centers, and widespread coastal settlements make it exceptionally vulnerable to hurricanes and other hydrometeorological hazards. Sharing the region’s exposure to intense tropical cyclones, heavy rainfall, storm surges, and flooding, Haiti has experienced events that have historically caused devastating human and economic losses

December 30, 2025December 30, 2025

Yi-Ru Chen, Sarim Faheem, and Yoko Nogami’s Disaster Plan: Wildfires near Canadian School Grounds

Introduction: Wildfires are an escalating hazard across Canada, driven by rising temperatures, longer dry seasons, and shifting precipitation patterns linked to climate change. Once considered relatively rare in Newfoundland and Labrador, wildfire risk has grown in recent years, with the summer of 2022 marking one of the most severe seasons in over half a century. Entire communities in Central Newfoundland were forced to evacuate as fires spread rapidly under hot, dry conditions. Although the total number of fires has decreased nationally, the size and intensity of those that do occur have increased dramatically, underscoring the growing danger. These events not only destroy forests and infrastructure but also create significant public health challenges, particularly for children exposed to hazardous smoke and poor air quality.

December 30, 2025December 30, 2025

Berkeley Sanchez, Kunger Zhang, and Maram Hameed’s Disaster Plan: Tornado Preparedness

Nebraska is deeply affected by tornadoes yearly due to its geographic location in the central U.S. tornado corridor. Yearly, it suffers from 50-60 tornadoes with about 100 occurrences in 2024. The vulnerable communities include small towns, mobile home parks, light industrial zones and agricultural areas. Residents in mobile homes are most at risk due to the structural design of their residence.

December 27, 2025December 30, 2025

Raveena Bola, Brooke Ortel, and Oscar Simbulan’s Disaster Plan: Carnival Cruise Lines Norovirus Outbreak

The primary objective of this plan is to establish a clear framework for Carnival Cruise Line, Inc., to prevent, respond to and contain a norovirus outbreak on a ship arriving in the Port of Miami. It defines steps required to ensure that a potential outbreak is contained, surveilled, and effectively responded to. It also details the roles and collaboration with port officials, local health organizations, and ship staff. This plan emphasizes timely action, transparent communication, and a unified response towards handling a norovirus outbreak and protecting the health of passengers and the general public.

November 16, 2025November 16, 2025

Umaima Abbasi’s Case Study on the Champlain Towers South Collapse

Aid Mission to Surfside condominium building collapse, June 2021

On June 24, 2021, a part of the Champlain Towers South condo apartments in
Surfside, Florida collapsed. This disaster resulted in nearly 100 fatalities and destroyed a dozen homes. A total of 98 people died.

November 16, 2025November 16, 2025

Ami Fall’s Case Study on the 2020 Beirut Explosion

On August 4, 2020, a massive explosion occurred at the Port of Beirut in Lebanon, when
approximately 2,750 metric tons of improperly stored ammonium nitrate detonated following a fire in a nearby warehouse. The blast resulted in over 200 confirmed deaths, caused more than 6,500 injuries, and displaced approximately 300,000 residents.

November 14, 2025November 16, 2025

Cara Rubin’s Brief on Trends in Disasters and Disaster Fatalities

Rubin writes on how significant increases in the prevalence of natural disasters across the global could be a result of climate change. The author notes how the severity of said disasters had also increased alongside their frequency. In light of these events, Rubin calls for others to build a strong sense of community.

October 8, 2025November 16, 2025

Skylar Martin’s Brief on Trends in Disasters and Disaster Fatalities

Martin discusses the latest trends in disasters and disaster fatalities. The author asserts that trends in global disaster increases are attributed to human activities. Global climate change, global patterns in migration, and advances in technology are among the causes of both natural and man-made disasters. To mitigate fatalities from disasters, efficient preparedness and response efforts are key.