Disaster

Choose a disaster that has occurred in the last 10 years (in the United States or internationally). Research the event online. Blog your report about the event specifically addressing the healthcare perspective. What were the barriers for providing and/or accessing healthcare? Who responded? How long did it go on? How did socioeconomics and environment impact the event and environment? Imagine being a healthcare provider during that event. Are we better prepared for the next disaster?

In 2011, a magnitude-9 earthquake caused a huge tsunami and tremendous damage to northeastern Japan. In addition, the tsunami caused a cooling failure at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant which resulted in a nuclear meltdown and leak causing release of radioactive materials into the Pacific Ocean.

Although Japan was prepared for earthquakes, they were not prepared for the tsunami – which caused most of the damage and deaths. More than 18,000 people were killed in the disaster, mostly to drowning (Oskin, 2013).

The damage impacted the country’s utilities, transportation, and healthcare facilities. Electricity, water, and gas were cut off during the disaster and were not restored for coastal areas for up to one-four months after the disaster (inland areas were restored within 3 days) (Nohara, 2011). The rural coastal areas did not have public transport, and many of the roads were damaged or blocked making access to the disaster areas difficult. In addition, initial lack of gasoline made health and medical support activities difficult (Nohara, 2011). Three hospitals in the coastal areas had been completely destroyed and half of the other clinics/health facilities were damaged, adding to the difficulty of providing medical services. Fortunately, other hospitals designated for disaster base medical care were able to provide emergency care (triage, emergency response, and transport of patients to inland areas/hospitals). A total of 28 Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) were able to provide care from the day of the disaster (March 11, 2011) until July 2011.

 

 

References:

Nohara, M. (2011). Impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami on health, medical care and public health systems in Iwate Prefecture, Japan, 2011. Western Pacific Surveillance and Response Journal, 2011, 2(4). doi: 10.5365/wpsar.2011.2.4.002.

Oskin, B. (2013). Japan earthquake & tusnami of 2011: facts and information. Retrieved from: http://www.livescience.com/39110-japan-2011-earthquake-tsunami-facts.html