Environmental Threat
Environmental Threat
Week Assignment #7
Sonia Donaires
December 9, 2015
MPH 584, Community Health
Dr. Kelly Wheeler
Flooding in Texas
Flooding health issues is one of the environmental threats in Texas. One of the major problems that flooding causes to Texan residents is the damage of homes and properties. Floodwater also put the lives of people in danger causing death or missing people. According to the Institute of Environmental and Human Health, the floodwater is harmful and has the potential to wash away roads, lawns, and other places. The force of the water that comes from torrential rains will run off everything that encounter in its ways such as fertilizers, lawn chemicals, oil, and grease from roads and other places. Flooding leaves behind the exposure of toxic elements such as asbestos, Zink, Cooper, other types of metals and petroleum products that can be toxic to animals, pets, and human health (Young, 2015).
Flooding threats do not go away when the water recedes, on the contrary, there are potential contaminants released in the environment exposing toxic elements in the form of dust that contribute to air pollution. Also, the formation of mold in houses is another problem that according to David C. Straus a microbiologist and immunologist at the Texas Tech University Health Science Center states that mold causes respiratory problems, wheezing, sneezing, shortness of breath and inflammation of the lungs. There are a 100,000 species of mold that are dangerous that need to be removed after flooding to protect the health of many residents that their houses have been affected by flooding (Young, 2015).
Post-flooding threats become worse, because of the invasion of mosquitoes that are transmitters of diseases such as the West Nile virus that is a significant concern for the health of people. Mosquitos also are vectors that carry other pathogens of other illnesses such as St. Louis encephalitis virus, dengue fever, chikungunya virus and malaria (Young, 2015).
The destruction of flooding causes is costly in relation of repairing and cleaning up of debris. For instance, in the last storm of torrential rain in Huston, the restoration of buildings was very expensive. According to Francisco Sanchez, who works for the Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said that the restoration of public infrastructure will cost at least $45 million, $25 million in damage to public utilities, the cost to remove debris is about $15 million and $4.5 million in damages of building and equipment (Associated Press, 2015).
Flooding Preparedness is the primary strategy to prevent further losses in the case of torrential rain and to reduce the danger for people. The intervention of key local, state and national agencies are critical. Once the disaster occurred, it is necessary to establish preventive measurements to control communicable diseases. The post-flooding prevention should start immediately; to reduce the risk of developing of mold grows in impacted areas. Some useful strategies o reduce of conditions caused by flooding are:
· Removal of flood waters, cleaning, disinfection of surfaces of toxic materials
· Eliminating debris are necessary to reduce the effects of flooding
· Airflow in bedrooms and removal of carpets
· Post-flood surveillance of water
· Get air samples
· Outbreaks of flood-related infectious diseases (The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, 2013).
The primary intervention of collaborative partners is crucial before and after flooding. The collaboration of sate agencies and local governments, as well as the private sector, are critical to prevent catastrophic impact to property and people from natural hazards by addressing the potential for risk, evaluating the possible situation, and establishing priorities. “Texas state agencies, together with local partners across the State, can learn to speak a common mitigation language; work on similar risk and preventive strategies; and exchange useful information to achieve a common goal” (State of Texas Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2013).
Reference
Associated Press. (2015, May 31). Sun returns to Texas, revealing flood damage across state. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2015/05/31/more-rain-sweeps-across- texas-but-no-new-flood-problems-reported/
State of Texas Hazard Mitigation Plan. (2013). Retrieved from https://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/Mitigation/txHazMitPlan.pdf
Young, G. (2015, June 1). Researchers: Flooding can have long-lasting impact on health, environment. Retrieved from http://today.tamu.edu/2015/06/12/floods-can-present- health-problems-to-livestock-pets/
The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. (2013, January 9). Flooding preparedness Needs to Include Infection Prevention and Control Strategies. Retrieved from http://www.shea-online.org/View/ArticleId/188/Flooding-Preparedness-Needs-to- Include-Infection-Prevention-and-Control-Strategies.aspx