NYU GPH Journal of Public Health Disasters
A student-led journal driven by the latest research in public health disaster preparedness and management.
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”
On August 3, 2019, 21-year-old Patrick Crusius entered a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, carrying an AR-47-style semi-automatic rifle. He killed 23 and injured 22 civilians in what is considered the deadliest attack on Hispanic people in modern U.S. history. Crusius has since pleaded guilty and is serving 90 consecutive life sentences.
Continue reading “Josephine Edery’s Case Study on the El Paso Walmart Shooting”
On December 14, 2012, 20-year-old Adam Lanza entered Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. He killed 20 children and seven adults, including his mother, before taking his own life. The event sparked several debates on gun control, mental health, and initiatives to improve school safety.
Continue reading “Kelsee Katsanes’ Case Study on the Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting”
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”
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”
As the COVID-19 pandemic progressed, the internet emerged as a primary source of information, allowing people to become aware of the virus and how to prepare effectively. One study found information accessed during the COVID-19 pandemic changed the preparedness of Chinese netizens—active internet users—regarding the virus. According to the study, variable access to information influences how people perceive disastrous events, shaping their views on susceptibility and severity.
Continue reading “How Access to Online Information Reshaped COVID-19 Preparedness”
In 1984, a methyl isocyanate leak from a local pesticide plant killed thousands of people in Bhopal, India, known as the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. The event had significantly adverse impacts on vulnerable populations, leading to 15-20,000 premature deaths and reports of ocular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, psychological, and neurobehavioral effects.
Continue reading “Ishita Nair’s Case Study on the Bhopal Gas Tragedy”