Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #99864

Miguel A. Cruz, MPH and David A. Ashford, DVM, MPH, DSc. Environmental Public Health Readiness Branch, Division of Emergency and Environmental Health Services, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, MS F-38, Atlanta, GA 30341, 770-488-3637, Mcruz@cdc.gov

Earthquakes are among nature's most feared and catastrophic acute events. Seismic movements along fault lines near densely populated urban areas can occur at any time. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Federal agency with responsibility for recording and reporting earthquake activity nationwide, approximately 75 million people live in earthquake-prone areas in 39 U.S. states. Many millions more live in U.S. territories located in Oceania and the Caribbean. The USGS estimates that there is a probability that a seismic event of 7.0 or above on the Richter scale will affect the U.S. sometime in the future. Such an event would have severe public health consequences, including a sudden demand for services related to food and water safety, displaced populations, general sanitation, removal and burial of the deceased, hazardous substance releases, and occupational hazards associated with the response. These demands will occur as affected jurisdictions experience severe disruption of public health facilities and services. Other factors that may contribute to a delay in the public health response include damage to emergency communications systems and inability of key personnel to join the response effort. No exact method exists for predicting major earthquakes and fully understanding their public health consequences. The development of all-hazards emergency response plans and increased community awareness may mitigate the public health effects of a seismic event. In this presentation, we discuss some potential public health consequences of earthquakes to raise awareness about the need for developing all-hazards emergency response plans for public health.

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