Abstract
Traumatic exposure during a hurricane is associated with adverse mental health conditions post-event. The World Trade Center Health Registry provided a sampling pool for a rapid survey of persons directly affected by Hurricane Sandy in the New York City (NYC) metropolitan area in late October 2012. This study evaluated the relationship between Sandy experiences and Sandy-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among individuals previously exposed to the September 11, 2001 (9/11) disaster. A total of 4,558 surveys were completed from April 10-November 7, 2013. After exclusions for missing data, the final sample included 2,214 (53.5%) respondents from FEMA-defined inundation zones and 1,923 (46.5%) from non-inundation zones. Sandy exposures included witnessing terrible events, Sandy-related injury, fearing for own life or safety of others, evacuation, living in a home that was flooded or damaged, property loss, and financial loss. Sandy-related PTSD was defined as a score of ≥44 on a Sandy-specific PTSD Checklist. PTSD prevalence was higher in the inundation zones (11.3%) and lower in the non-inundation zones (4.4%). The highest prevalence of Sandy-related PTSD was among individuals in the inundation zone who sustained an injury (31.2%), reported a history of 9/11-related PTSD (28.8%), or had low social support prior to the event (28.6%). In the inundation zones, significantly elevated adjusted odds of Sandy-related PTSD were observed among persons with a prior history of 9/11-related PTSD, low social support, and those who experienced a greater number of Sandy traumatic events. Sandy-related stress symptoms indicative of PTSD affected a significant proportion of persons who lived in flooded areas of the NYC metropolitan area. Prior 9/11-related PTSD increased the likelihood of Sandy-related PTSD, while social support was protective. Public health preparation for events similar to Sandy should incorporate outreach and linkages to care for persons with prior disaster-related trauma.
Highlights
Traumatic exposure during a hurricane, such as disaster-related displacement, relocation, injury, and personal and financial loss, has been associated with adverse post-event mental health conditions including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Neria, Nandi, & Galea, 2008; Norris et al, 2002)
Sandy-related stress symptoms indicative of PTSD affected a significant proportion of persons who lived in flooded areas of the New York City (NYC) metropolitan area
Prior 9/11-related PTSD increased the likelihood of Sandy-related PTSD, while social support was protective
Summary
Traumatic exposure during a hurricane, such as disaster-related displacement, relocation, injury, and personal and financial loss, has been associated with adverse post-event mental health conditions including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Neria, Nandi, & Galea, 2008; Norris et al, 2002). An online survey of 1,000 participants conducted one month post-Sandy found PTSD symptoms in 23.6% of persons from Sandy affected areas (Palgi et al, 2014), and PTSD symptoms were positively related to degree of Sandy exposure (Shrira, Palgi, Hamama-Raz, Goodwin, & Ben- Ezra, 2014). Another cross-sectional telephone survey of 200 adults conducted 6–8 months post-Sandy among individuals residing in communities along New Jersey’s coastline found that 14.5% of residents screened positive for PTSD; high Sandy exposure strongly predicted adverse mental health status (Boscarino et al, 2013). This study evaluated the relationship between Sandy experiences and Sandy-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among individuals previously exposed to the September 11, 2001 (9/11) disaster
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