Leveraging post-disaster community partnerships to pursue environmental health objectives: The case of Joplin, Missouri

Catastrophic events such as the 2011 tornado in Joplin, Missouri that killed 162 people, demolished a 250-bed hospital, and destroyed or severely damaged 8000 homes and businesses present communities with a fundamental recovery dilemma: speed versus deliberation. Residents, community groups and political leaders seek an appropriate balance between urgent demands to restore the status quo and proposals to address such health-related issues as air and water quality, climate change adaptation, flood control, sustainable development and land use, mosquito control and school safety, that have subtle connections to housing and jobs. This study documents and analyzes how a broad and diverse cross-section of the residents of Joplin came to assign a high priority to environmental and community health objectives—walkable neighborhoods, a network of bicycle trails, and a comprehensive storm-water management and reforestation strategy --along with the replacement of the “bricks and mortar” that was demolished by the tornado. Building upon prior efforts to synthesize and refine various theories of long term community recovery, this study analyzes the Joplin process and explores whether or not it potentially is replicable in locations with distinctly different demographics, resources and political cultures. It relies primarily upon in-person interviews with public health officials and hospital system managers; political, business and school system leaders; and local not-for-profit sector actors including faith-based organizations. Local media coverage of the recovery decision-making process supplements those interviews.