NYU GPH Journal of Public Health Disasters
A student-led journal driven by the latest research in public health disaster preparedness and management.
On January 12, 2010, Haiti was struck by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. More than 220,000 people died, 300,000 were injured, and 1.5 were left displaced or homeless. The quake was one of the deadliest natural disasters in the 21st century.
Continue reading “Lexie Zinselmeier’s Case Study on the Haiti Earthquake “
On September 1, 2021, remnants of Hurricane Ida brought record-breaking landfall to New York City. The intense rain led to severe flooding, resulting in 14 deaths and over 30,000 damaged structures. Most of the casualties were Asian immigrants living in unregulated basement apartments.
Continue reading “Olivia Morris’ Case Study on Hurricane Ida in New York City”
2024 has proven to be a historic hurricane season, with Hurricane Milton being the fifth strongest hurricane in the Atlantic and producing a record-breaking 126 tornado warnings for the state of Florida. Subsequently, Hurricane Helene made news around the world as the deadliest and costliest hurricane to hit the U.S. since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Helene caused historic damage to parts of the southeastern U.S., especially western North Carolina, as news of the catastrophic flooding continues to spread around the globe. Experts and observers are wondering how Helene was able to cause such a high level of flooding so far from where it made landfall in Florida.
Continue reading “Hurricane Helene and Milton’s Destructive Paths”
In 1993, the Southwestern region of the Four Corners, where the borders of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah meet, had nearly 30 cases of acute hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) and 16 deaths from Sin Nombre Virus (SNV), caused by deer mice. As the region overlaps with the Navajo Nation, the Navajo people faced public shame for the rise in the disease, and were blamed for its consequences.
Continue reading “Samantha Whitegeese’s Case Study on 1993 Four Corners Hantavirus Outbreak”
Tropical cyclones indirectly cause long-term effects on mortality for years beyond the initial event, according to a new study published in the journal Nature. The study, published on October 2, is particularly relevant in the wake of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, which hit the Southeastern U.S. in September and October, respectively.
Continue reading “Tropical Cyclones Indirectly Trigger Deaths for Years, Study Says”
On November 12, 1970, Cyclone Bholas struck East Pakistan, which is now Bangladesh. The disaster resulted in an estimated 500,000 deaths and caused tremendous impacts on Pakistan’s social systems, international governance, and territorial borders.
Continue reading “Catherine Reyes’ Case Study on Cyclone Bhola in East Pakistan”
On October 8, 2024, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Xavier Beccerra, declared a public health emergency in Florida as Hurricane Milton reached the coast. Hurricane Milton is said to be the strongest hurricane since Hurricane Rita in 2005 and the strongest hurricane to reach Tampa in the last 100 years, with winds reaching 180mph. The destruction caused 24 deaths and left millions without power. Thankfully, the declaration of a public health emergency reduced the potential destruction Milton could have left in its path.
So, what is the declaration of a public health emergency, and how does it benefit the public?
Continue reading “Hurricane Milton: A Public Health Emergency”
Experts estimate that by 2100, extreme heat will make parts of Asia and Africa uninhabitable. Climate change will continue exacerbating the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, including droughts, flooding, scorching heat, and more, impacting vulnerable communities globally.
Continue reading “Jose Flores Hernandez’s Case Study on Extreme Heat”
In early September, disastrous floods in Europe killed 24 and affected millions, causing economic damage worth $2 to 3 billion. The unparalleled storm, known as Storm Boris, brought five times the monthly average rainfall onto Central European countries, leading to four missing people and the isolation of several villages. The impacts of climate change exacerbated the intensity of the storm, providing a bleak glimpse of its effects on the planet’s fastest-warming continent.
Continue reading “Climate Change Drives Unparalleled Superfloods in Europe”
Data recently released by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that more than 4,000 people died from cholera in 2023, representing a 71% increase in reported deaths compared to the prior year. Reported cholera cases rose by 13% during that period, according to the WHO’s global cholera statistics.
Continue reading “New WHO Data Shows Surging Global Cholera Deaths”