Post-traumatic stress disorder after super-storm sandy among persons previously exposed to the world trade center disaster on september 11, 2001

On October 28-30, 2012, Superstorm Sandy disrupted the lives of thousands of persons and caused extensive property damage in the New York City Metropolitan area. Many of those affected had previously suffered adverse effects from the World Trade Center disaster. We have initiated a post Sandy study of enrollees in the World Trade Center Health Registry cohort who were directly impacted by the storm. In order to assess the re-emergence, amplification, or emergence of post-traumatic stress (PTSD) disorder among persons exposed both to 9-11 and to trauma of storm related events, we are conducting the survey 5-9 months post-Sandy. A cohort of 4,435 Registry enrollees who lived in Sandy storm surge and flooded areas in Manhattan (n=2230), Brooklyn (n=583 ), Staten Island (n=340), elsewhere in New York State (mostly Long Island, n=466),New Jersey (n=297), and Connecticut (n=12) will be compared to a non-flooded group (n=4,435) proportionately sampled by state. Both groups completed the 2011-12 WTCHR follow-up survey. Exposures such as traumatic experiences associated with evacuating during the storm, physical and psychological traumas during sheltering, property losses, and displacement from home and community are hypothesized to be related to mental health status after Sandy. This study is designed to show, for instance, what proportion of those who had symptoms indicative of probable PTSD after 9-11 also reported symptoms associated with Sandy experience. Findings from this study will provide public health emergency planners insight on vulnerability and resilience among persons who have experienced multiple disasters. Preliminary findings are expected by Fall, 2013.