TY - JOUR
T1 - Before the Storm
T2 - Stressors Associated with the Hurricane Irma Evacuation Process for Families
AU - La Greca, Annette M.
AU - Brodar, Kaitlyn E.
AU - Danzi, Breanne A.
AU - Tarlow, Naomi
AU - Silva, Karina
AU - Comer, Jonathan S.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank the University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences for providing initial funding for this project. This project also was supported by funds from a University of Miami Distinguished Professorship (AML) and from Florida International University Research Funds (JSC). Accessed May 29, 2018.
Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright 2019 Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc..
PY - 2019/2/1
Y1 - 2019/2/1
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - evacuation
KW - hurricanes
KW - parents
KW - stressors
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U2 - 10.1017/dmp.2019.9
DO - 10.1017/dmp.2019.9
M3 - Article
C2 - 30841954
AN - SCOPUS:85062598852
VL - 13
SP - 63
EP - 73
JO - Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness
JF - Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness
SN - 1935-7893
IS - 1
ER -