Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-17T14:45:37.640Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Before the Storm: Stressors Associated with the Hurricane Irma Evacuation Process for Families

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 March 2019

Annette M. La Greca ,
Kaitlyn E. Brodar ,
BreAnne A. Danzi ,
Naomi Tarlow ,
Karina Silva  and
Jonathan S. Comer
Annette M. La Greca*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL (Dr La Greca, Ms Brodar, Ms Danzi, Ms Tarlow);
Kaitlyn E. Brodar
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL (Dr La Greca, Ms Brodar, Ms Danzi, Ms Tarlow);
BreAnne A. Danzi
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL (Dr La Greca, Ms Brodar, Ms Danzi, Ms Tarlow);
Naomi Tarlow
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL (Dr La Greca, Ms Brodar, Ms Danzi, Ms Tarlow);
Karina Silva
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, FL (Ms Silva, Dr Comer)
Jonathan S. Comer
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, FL (Ms Silva, Dr Comer)
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Dr Annette M. La Greca, Department of Psychology, PO Box 248185, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124 (e-mail: alagreca@miami.edu).
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective

Parents and children are vulnerable populations following hurricanes, and evacuation is an important safety strategy. Yet, little is known about “before the storm” stressors, particularly the surrounding evacuation, affecting families. Thus, following Hurricane Irma, we evaluated both stressful and positive aspects of the evacuation process for families, and we compared perceived safety and stress before, during, and after the hurricane across evacuating and non-evacuating families.

Methods

South Florida parents of children under age 18 years (N=554; 97% mothers) completed an online survey in the months following Hurricane Irma, assessing perceptions of stress, safety, and evacuation experiences. Quantitative data and open-ended responses were gathered.

Results

Most families (82%) residing in mandatory evacuation zones evacuated, although many not in mandatory zones (46%) also evacuated. Parents who evacuated felt significantly safer during the storm, but more stressed before and during the storm, than non-evacuees. Evacuation-related travel and multiple family issues were rated as most stressful, although some positive aspects of evacuation were offered.

Conclusion

Findings have implications for emergency planners (eg, pre-/post-storm traffic flow needs, emotional needs of parents arriving at shelters) and for families (eg, importance of developing family disaster plans, controlling media exposure) to reduce evacuation stress for future storms. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:63-73)

Keywords

evacuationhurricanesparentsstressors
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 13 , Special Issue 1: Serial Hurricanes , February 2019 , pp. 63 - 73
Copyright
Copyright © 2019 Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Crimmins, A, Balbus, J, Gamble, JL, et al. The impacts of climate change on human health in the United States: a scientific assessment. Washington, DC. 2016. https://s3.amazonaws.com/climatehealth2016/low/ClimateHealth2016_FullReport_small.pdf. Accessed May 29, 2018.Google Scholar
2. Coughlan de Perez, E, van Aalst, M, Chetan, D, et al. “Managing the risk of extreme events in a changing climate,” Working Paper Series No. 7. Commissioned as an Input Paper for the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction. 2015. https://www.climatecentre.org/downloads/files/Case studies/AW_RCCC_WP7-Coughlan de Perez et Al v2.pdf. Accessed May 29, 2018.Google Scholar
3. Bonanno, GA, Brewin, CR, Kaniasty, K, La, AM. Weighing the costs of disaster: consequences, risks, and resilience in individuals, families, and communities. Psychol Sci. 2010;11(1):1-49.Google Scholar
4. Furr, JM, Comer, JS, Edmunds, JM, Kendall, PC. Disasters and youth: a meta-analytic examination of posttraumatic stress. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2010. doi:10.1037/a0021482.Google Scholar
5. Norris, FH, Friedman, MJ, Watson, PJ, et al. 60,000 disaster victims speak: Part I. An empirical review of the empirical literature, 1981–2001. Psychiatry Interpers Biol Process. 2002. doi10.1521/psyc.65.3.207.20173.Google Scholar
6. Reininger, BM, Raja, SA, Carrasco, AS, et al. Intention to comply with mandatory hurricane evacuation orders among persons living along a coastal area. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2013;7(1):46-54. doi10.1001/dmp.2012.57.Google Scholar
7. Feltgen D. Harvey, Irma, Maria and Nate retired by the World Meteorological Organization. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Published 2018. http://www.noaa.gov/media-release/harvey-irma-maria-and-nate-retired-by-world-meteorological-organization. Accessed May 29, 2018.Google Scholar
8. Potenza, A. Irma is now one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic. The Verge. Published 2017. https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/5/16254858/hurricane-irma-category-5-forecasts. Accessed May 29, 2018.Google Scholar
9. Samenow, J, McNoldy, B. Extreme Category 5 Irma crashes into Caribbean, sets sights on Florida and Southeast U.S. The Washington Post. Published September 7, 2017. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2017/09/06/extreme-category-5-irma-crashes-into-caribbean-sets-sights-on-florida-and-southeast-u-s/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.abc19b91d0be. Accessed May 29, 2018.Google Scholar
10. Argos, G. Florida orders 6.5 million to evacuate as Hurricane Irma barrels down. 2017. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/florida-orders-65-million-to-evacuate-as-hurricane-irma-barrels-down/vp-AArz5St. Accessed May 29, 2018.Google Scholar
11. Alanez, T, Fleshler, D. Hurricane Irma leaves South Florida battered and barrels north. The Sun Sentinel. Published September 11, 2017. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/weather/hurricane/fl-reg-hurricane-irma-roundup-20170910-story.html. Accessed May 29, 2018.Google Scholar
12. Lovelace, B. Jr. Irma leaves 6.2 million Florida homes in the dark-over 60% of the entire state. CNBC. Published 2017. https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/11/hurricane-irma-continues-to-pound-florida-extent-of-damage-not-yet-clear.html. Accessed May 29, 2018.Google Scholar
13. Archibald, E, McNeil, S. Learning from traffic data collected before, during and after a hurricane. IATSS Res. 2012;36(1):1-10. doi10.1016/j.iatssr.2012.06.002.Google Scholar
14. Wilmot, CG, Levitan, ML, Wolshon, B, et al. Review of policies and practices for hurricane evacuation. I: Transportation planning, preparedness, and response. Nat Hazards Rev. 2005;6:129-142. doi10.1061/ASCE1527-698820056:3129.Google Scholar
15. Edwards, B, Bateman, JM. Gender and evacuation: a closer look at why women are more likely to evacuate for hurricanes. Nat Hazards Rev. 2002;3:107-117. doi10.1061/ASCE1527-698820023:3107.Google Scholar
16. Elder, K, Xirasagar, S, Miller, N, et al. African Americans’ decisions not to evacuate New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina: a qualitative study. Am J Public Health. 2007;97(1):S124-S129. doi10.2105/AJPH.2006.100867.Google Scholar
17. Riad, JK, Norris, FH, Ruback, RB. Predicting evacuation in two major disasters: risk perception, social influence, and access to resources. J Appl Soc Psychol. 1999;29(5):918-934. doi10.1111/j.1559-1816.1999.tb00132.x.Google Scholar
18. Smith, SK, McCarty, C. Fleeing the storm(s): an examination of evacuation behavior during Florida’s 2004 hurricane season. Demography. 2009;4(1):127-145. doi10.1353/dem.0.0048.Google Scholar
19. Eisenman, DP, Cordasco, KM, Asch, S, et al. Disaster planning and risk communication with vulnerable communities: lessons from Hurricane Katrina. Am J Public Health. 2007;97(1):S109-115. doi10.2105/AJPH.2005.084335.Google Scholar
20. Kulkarni, PA, Gu, H, Tsai, S, et al. Evacuations as a result of Hurricane Sandy: analysis of the 2014 New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Survey. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2017;11(6):720-728. doi10.1017/dmp.2017.21.Google Scholar
21. Clark, KM, Bousquet, S. Irma’s here. But if you’re still leaving by car, this is what traffic is like. The Miami Herald. Published September 9, 2017. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/weather/hurricane/article172240962.html. Accessed May 29, 2018.Google Scholar
22. Lazo, JK, Bostrom, A, Morss, RE, et al. Factors affecting hurricane evacuation intentions. Risk Anal. 2015;35(10):1837-1857. doi10.1111/risa.12407.Google Scholar
23. La Greca, AM. Hurricane-Related Traumatic Experiences (Version II). 2017. Available from alagreca@miami.edu.Google Scholar
24. La Greca, AM, Silverman, WK, Lai, B, Jaccard, J. Hurricane-related exposure experiences and stressors, other life events, and social support: concurrent and prospective impact on children’s persistent posttraumatic stress symptoms. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2010. doi10.1037/a0020775.Google Scholar
25. La Greca, AM, Silverman, WS, Vernberg, EM, Prinstein, MJ. Posttraumatic stress symptoms in children after Hurricane Andrew: a prospective study. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1996;64:712-723.Google Scholar
26. Weems, CF, Taylor, LK, Cannon, MF, et al. Posttraumatic stress, context, and the lingering effects of the Hurricane Katrina disaster among ethnic minority youth. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2010;38:49-56.Google Scholar
27. Cohen, S, Kamarck, T, Mermelstein, R. A global measure of perceived stress. J Health Soc Behav. 1983;24:386-396.Google Scholar
28. Hsieh, HF, Shannon, SE. Three approaches to qualitative content analysis. Qual Health Res. 2005;15(9):1277-1288. doi10.1177/1049732305276687.Google Scholar
29. Blake, ES, Zelinsky, DA. National Hurricane Center Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Harvey. 2018. https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/AL092017_Harvey.pdf. Accessed August 24, 2018.Google Scholar
30. American Red Cross. Disaster preparedness plan. Published 2018. https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/make-a-plan.html. Accessed August 29, 2018.Google Scholar
31. U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Ready. Make a plan. https://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan. Accessed August 28, 2018. Accessed August 24, 2018.Google Scholar
32. La Greca, AM, Sevin, S, Sevin, E. After the storm: a guide to helping children cope with the aftermath of hurricanes. 2018. http://www.7-dippity.com/docs/After_The_Storm_(2008_Internet_Edition).pdf. Accessed August 24, 2018.Google Scholar
33. U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Ready. Build a kit. https://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit. Accessed August 24, 2018.Google Scholar
34. Zachry, BC, Booth, WJ, Rhome, JR, Sharon, TM. A national view of storm surge risk and inundation. Weather Clim Soc. 2015;7(2):109-117. doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1175/WCAS–D–14–00049.1.Google Scholar
35. Robles, F, Semple, K, Pérez-Peña, R.Hurricane Irma, one of the most powerful in history, roars across Caribbean. The New York Times. Published September 6, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/06/us/hurricane-irma-caribbean.html. Accessed October 24, 2018.Google Scholar
36. Pfefferbaum, B, Newman, E, Nelson, SD, et al. Disaster media coverage and psychological outcomes: descriptive findings in the extant research. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2014;16(464). doi10.1007/s11920-014-0464-x.Google Scholar
37. United States Census Bureau. 2011–2016 American community survey 5-year data profiles. 2018. http://www.census.gov/acs/www/data/data-tables-and-tools/data-profiles/2016. Accessed October 24, 2018.Google Scholar