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Emergency Preparedness Safety Climate and Other Factors Associated With Mental Health Outcomes Among World Trade Center Disaster Evacuees

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 November 2016

Martin F. Sherman ,
Robyn R. Gershon ,
Halley E. M. Riley ,
Qi Zhi ,
Lori A. Magda  and
Mark Peyrot
Martin F. Sherman
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Loyola University Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
Robyn R. Gershon*
Affiliation:
Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California
Halley E. M. Riley
Affiliation:
Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
Qi Zhi
Affiliation:
Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California
Lori A. Magda
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, New Jersey.
Mark Peyrot
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Loyola University Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Robyn R. Gershon, 3333 California Street, Suite 280, San Francisco, CA 94118 (E-mail: robyn.gershon@ucsf.edu).
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Abstract

Objective

We examined psychological outcomes in a sample of participants who evacuated from the World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2011. This study aimed to identify risk factors for psychological injury that might be amenable to change, thereby reducing adverse impacts associated with emergency high-rise evacuation.

Methods

We used data from a cross-sectional survey conducted 2 years after the attacks to classify 789 evacuees into 3 self-reported psychological outcome categories: long-term psychological disorder diagnosed by a physician, short-term psychological disorder and/or memory problems, and no known psychological disorder.

Results

After nonmodifiable risk factors were controlled for, diagnosed psychological disorder was more likely for evacuees who reported lower “emergency preparedness safety climate” scores, more evacuation challenges (during exit from the towers), and evacuation-related physical injuries. Other variables associated with increased risk of psychological disorder outcome included gender (female), lower levels of education, preexisting physical disability, preexisting psychological disorder, greater distance to final exit, and more information sources during egress.

Conclusions

Improving the “emergency preparedness safety climate” of high-rise business occupancies and reducing the number of egress challenges are potential strategies for reducing the risk of adverse psychological outcomes of high-rise evacuations. Focused safety training for individuals with physical disabilities is also warranted. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:326–336)

Keywords

disastershigh-rise evacuationmental health
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 11 , Issue 3 , June 2017 , pp. 326 - 336
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2016 

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