Topic 8 - Hazard & Disaster Experiences & Impacts

Question 1

What events occurred on these years?

1. ) 1903
2. ) 1917
3. ) 1918
4. ) 1987
5. ) 2003

Answer 1

1. ) 1903 - Frank’s Slide (70)
2. ) 1917 - Halifax Explosion (1600)
3. ) 1918 - Influenza Pandemic (50,000)
4. ) 1987 - Edmonton Tornado (27)
5. ) 2003 - B.C. Fires (3)

Question 2

What are 5 hazards talked about and the causes of death/injuries associated with them?

Answer 2

1. ) Hurricanes - drowning from storm surge, injuries from flying debris & during clean-up
2. ) Tornadoes - flying debris
3. ) Floods - drowning
4. ) Earthquakes - structural collapse
5. ) Volcanic Eruptions - respiratory illness, lava flows

Question 3

What contributes to Post-Disaster Communicable Diseases?

Answer 3

1. ) Displacement
2. ) Water & Sanitation
3. ) Crowding
4. ) Health - underlying health status
5. ) Health Care - availability of health care services

Question 4

What are some Flood Related Communicable Diseases? What is the main cause for these diseases?

Answer 4

1. ) Hepatitis E
2. ) Gastrointestinal disease
3. ) Leptospirosis
4. ) Upper respiratory infection
5. ) Earaches
6. ) Skin rashes

• Contamination of drinking water and displacement are the main reason for these diseases

Question 5

What are 5 contributing factors to Mental Health Impacts?

Answer 5

1. ) Characteristics of the individual and the disaster event - stress
2. ) Social networks - divided families may increase impacts
3. ) Pre-existing mental health issues
4. ) Injured, witness death or injury, and property loss
5. ) Emergency workers - long hours, witnessing impacts

Question 6

What is Evacuation and what 2 types are there?

Answer 6

Evacuation - the withdrawal of persons from a specific area because of an actual or anticipated threat or hazard

1. ) Voluntary Evacuation - public safety may be at risk and conditions could worsen quickly
2. ) Mandatory Evacuation - required to evacuate from an area that is or may be affected by a disaster

Question 7

What are the negative impacts of evacuations?

Answer 7

1. ) Disruption in normal routines
2. ) Loss of control
3. ) Uncertainty about the future
4. ) Loss of support
5. ) Stress and anxiety
6. ) Loss of privacy
7. ) Difficulty trying to sleep

Question 8

What are the positive impacts of evacuations?

Answer 8

• Bring communities closer together

Question 9

What was found in the surveys about Wood Buffalo Fires?

Answer 9

• Most people had little time to spend getting ready to leave
• Many people decided to evacuate based on what they could see (environmental cues)
• Respondents stayed in towns throughout the province and country after evacuating

Question 10

What is PTSD?

Answer 10

PTSD - Post traumatic stress disorder

- Anxiety: feelings of despair, fear, and lack of control

Question 11

What PTSD symptoms are expressed by children?

Answer 11

1. ) Clingy
2. ) Jumping
3. ) Act a younger age than they are
4. ) Nightmares
5. ) Avoid things that remind them of trauma

Question 12

What PTSD symptoms are expressed by teenagers?

Answer 12

1. ) Acting out of behavioiur
2. ) Put themselves in harm’s way
3. ) Anger

Question 13

What were some of the impacts on people after Hurricane Katrina?

Answer 13

1. ) Alcohol usage
2. ) Conflict (between people)
3. ) Depression
4. ) PTSD Symptoms
5. ) Low support in time after disaster (Councelling)

Question 14

What were the impacts of relocating after Hurricane Katrina?

Answer 14

1. ) Loss of property and possessions
2. ) Uncertainty to obtaining necessities
3. ) Loss of social support networks
4. ) Uncertainty about the future