disaster response assessment and input

From the brink of disaster

From the Brink of Disaster | 7

From the Brink of DisasterRecovering from the Wake of Floods

Joshua H. MatthewsBenedictine University

Author NoteJoshua H Matthews, Department of Public Health, Benedictine University.Correspondences concerning this paper can be sent to Joshua Matthews at 1356 Bunker Hill Blvd, Columbus Ohio 43220. Contact: [email protected]


Joshua MatthewsBenedictine University[Behavioral and Social Aspects of Public Health -December 25th, 2015]

AbstractThe focus of this work is threefold. First it aims to illustrate and raise awareness to the many dangers of flooding which many consider mundane and harmless. Second it serves as well as to compare the differences faced by differing socioeconomically regions and related hardships. Finally the goal of this paper is to access recovery operations responses and mental health strengths and weaknesses. Keywords Flood, mental health, recovery operations

[Acknowledgment] The author wishes to express gratitude to his fianc, Kelly for her love and endless support she has shown for the pursuit of education.

[Contact information] Correspondences concerning this paper can be sent to Joshua Matthews at 1356 Bunker Hill Blvd, Columbus Ohio 43220. Address email to [email protected]


When people think of natural disasters, or even disasters at all they generally conjure up mental images from a Michael Bay film of grand explosions, massive tornados, firestorms the size of cities, or terrorist or alien attacks of a massive scale. Very few whom havent been witness to the most deadly of disasters would suspect the culprit of the most damage and loss of life to be flooding. Of all recorded disasters man has witnessed the most catastrophic has been the China Floods of 1931. Between 1928 and 1930 central China was continually struck with weather and climate abnormalities. A cocktail of draught, extreme snowstorms, thawing, and heavy rainfall the danger of natural disaster was dangerously high. As rains continued through the year and the river levels raised to match cyclones began to hit, nine in July alone. Following that a series of major rivers, the Yangtze and Huai most notably, began to spill over their banks. A massive flood zone averaged 5.6 feet (1.7 m), and in some regions reached 53 feet (16 m) above normal. Late on August 25th 1931, the Grand Canal erupted, its dykes washing away. In this initial bursting over 200,000 people drowned in their sleep. Following floods up until November affected 28.5 million people, and the death toll was reported between 3.7 and 4 million people across five regions of central China. The waters brought starvation, cholera, typhus, and the government reported forced slavery, infanticide, as well as cannibalism. This is the destructive fury that floods can bring.

Mississippi river flood of 1993 compared to the Bihar flood of 2008 had many similarities, but at the same time were drastically different. Both suffered a relatively low loss of life for the massive area of effect, largely impacting improvised regions, accrued massive collateral and property damage, resulted in evacuations from villages, towns, and cities, as well as millions of acres of lost farmland. The different was mostly apparent in the recovery as a result of socioeconomic status and the stark difference between American perceived poverty in the southern United States as opposed to Bihars extreme poverty perceived at the global level.

Support roles and functions during the recovery phases of each was drastically different resulting from backing. Mississippi lost 55 million acres of farmland to floods, 55 towns were damaged or destroyed, 50 fatalities, and 62,000 families were evacuated. Rallying behind the disaster was many organizations that had budgets and spending with few equals globally. Along the Mississippi and Tennessee Rivers twenty five reservoirs were built. Tennessee Valley Authority began an afforestation project which resulted in trees to delay run off. Regionally levees were reinforced and strengthened against erosion and wear. Spillways were installed where needed, and timing protocols were placed to open and close as needed to release flood risk levels. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assessed and published materials of settlements and flood plain regions. And lastly advanced National Weather Authority responsibilities were increased and prepared for future flood forecasting. Bihar lost 840,000 acres of farmland to floods, 3 million people were forced from their homes with 250 casualties, and more than 300,000 homes were destroyed. Hunger and disease were a much greater problem as opposed to Mississippi. From the severe flooding swamps surged destroying yet another 247,000 acres of crops. Nepal was also effected, and added an additional 54,000 households. Largely with the aid of the US contributing 230 million dollars rescue operations included the Indian Army, Air Force, and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) providing supplies to the regions. Turmoil in strained relations within governments retrained additional funds, though as a global disaster the Dalai Lama and The World Bank came together to provide support. Even with all of the additional aid many went without aid due to officials not responding and being unreachable from being on vacation. As a result many of the survivors were left for months and even years in shelters and camps. This comparison shows between levels of poverty and support systems, and clearly speaks to both world problems and lack of world view.

The support systems set the stage for all aspects of the recovery phase, and the challenges to mental health operations were no different. In the United States there are many local and governmental agencies in place prepared to respond to disaster. In Behar the single biggest mental health response was prayer. The improvised millions displaced relied almost entirely on global aid projects and programs as their government was as unprepared and unfunded, as unresponsive. While in each flood there were certainly mental health concerns and risk, the likelihood that an American would receive help was infinitely greater due to technology, social groups, support groups and programs, massive work forces of social and psychiatric workers, and funding and encompasses the greatest strengths of a global super power. The limitations that Behar faces are combinations of corruption, unaccountability within the government, extreme poverty, and social structures that minimalize the needs of the people.

The greatest tragedy between the disasters always lies with the survivors and how they cope with rebuilding and loss. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is unquestionably a danger both face, but with the sad reality of how being the critical factor. As with every aspect of the Mississippi flood of 1993 psychiatric follow up programs were in place. While we can look back and see there could have been better due to advances, it still outpaces being completely left behind as was the case in Behar. This is coupled with an even great problem that faces social stigmata of mental health, gender differences and value to society, and lacking medical attention. In Behar survivors cooked rice with diseased water which speaks volumes to levels of medical and environmental aid. With the inability to receive even basic medical attention or even sanitary drinking water makes the possibility mental health care, much less follow up care, next to unheard of.

References 1931 China floods. (n.d.). Retrieved May 31, 2015, from http://ebooklibrary.org/articles/1931_China_floodsBihar flood 'catastrophe'; CM seeks Govt's help. (n.d.). Retrieved May 31, 2015, from http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/india/bihar-floods-nitish-bite-295868.htmlKosi Flood 2008: Justice Walia Commission submits probe report. (n.d.). Retrieved May 31, 2015, from http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/03/kosi-flood-2008-justice-walia-commission-submits-probe-report/Mississippi. (n.d.). Retrieved May 31, 2015, from http://www.sln.org.uk/geography/schools/blythebridge/GCSEMississippi.htmTimmons, H., & Kumar, H. (2008, August 29). Millions Are Displaced by Floods in India. Retrieved May 31, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/world/asia/30india.html?ref=world&_r=0

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