Protecting non-traditional responders in resilient communities from health impacts following Hurricane Sandy

Background: Neighbors and volunteers are often the first to offer help and assistance following a disaster where the needs for assistance outnumber the number and availability of professional responders.  This is particularly true following a natural disaster where well-intended community members want to help their neighbors who are severely affected by the storm.  Many times, although well-intended, these volunteers lack the knowledge, skills or experience to work in austere or hazardous conditions, and lack the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect themselves in a potentially contaminated environment.

Methods: A field survey of 400 homeowners and volunteers who performed mold remediation activities and participated in NYC Department of Health sponsored worker safety training programs, was administered to determine possible exposures and health effects.  In addition, 400 homeowners and volunteers who performed remediation activities but received no worker safety training were also surveyed and compared.

Results:  As this research is ongoing, we anticipate the identification of certain patterns of illness, consistent with exposure to indoor air irritants, such as mold.  We expect the rates of self-reported illness to be less among volunteers in general, as well as the group that received worker safety training and protective equipment from the NYC Department of Health.

Conclusions:  Health department sponsored, just-in-time worker safety training programs for non-traditional responders to disasters, including “do-it-yourself” homeowners and volunteers, as well as the issuance of personal protective equipment (PPE) may be an effective public health intervention to reduce the rates of post-disaster illness and injury in resilient communities.