Citation

Shultz JM, Galea S. J. Am. Med. Assoc. JAMA 2017; 318(15): 1437-1438.

Affiliation

School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, American Medical Association)

DOI

10.1001/jama.2017.14618

PMID

28892814

Abstract

The complexity of the disaster risk landscape and the exposure of large human populations to prolonged and potentially traumatizing events were on full display during Hurricane Harvey. During the 5 days of Hurricane Harvey, more than 33 trillion gallons of rain fell on Texas and Louisiana and set a continental US record for rainfall at 51.88 in (131.78 cm). Among 13 million persons directly affected by the storm, more than 22 000 were rescued from floodwaters, an estimated 32 000 displaced survivors were temporarily housed in shelters, and at least 450 000 will apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster assistance. More than 100 000 homes were damaged and only 17% of the affected residents had flood insurance. Damage and recovery estimates are projected to exceed those incurred during Hurricane Katrina ($114.5 billion paid on an estimated $160 billion in damages). The usually circumspect National Weather Service tweeted, “This event is unprecedented & all impacts are unknown & beyond anything experienced.”

During Hurricane Harvey, Texas and Louisiana residents experienced the full complement of hurricane hazards: cyclonic winds, tornadoes, storm surge along a concave coastline, deluging rains, and inland flooding. What made Harvey an exceptional hurricane was that water, rather than wind, was the major destructive force. Harvey will be forever remembered for the unrelenting inundation that resulted from rain bands that spiraled inland from the gulf, overflowing Houston’s reservoirs and overtopping dams before moving on to submerge Port Arthur, Texas, and drench western Louisiana...

The psychological consequences of Hurricane Harvey are associated with traumatic exposures to storm hazards during the event, losses and hardships in the aftermath, and disruption of vital care and essential medications for those with chronic and persistent mental illness and cognitive impairment. Comprehensive reviews of the mental health consequences of natural and human-generated (anthropogenic) disasters have shown that, for hurricanes, up to half of those who survive being directly in the storm’s path risk developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)...

Language: en