Emma Crall and Gabriella Grillo:
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, hurricanes and tropical cyclones have caused more fatalities and damage than any other weather disaster (n.d.). These destructive phenomena can have lasting, negative consequences on a community, resulting in deaths, injuries, and damage to property and infrastructure (Waddell et al., 2021). These consequences often displace communities from their homes. In the United States, 1,965 individuals have passed due to hurricanes from 2000-2021 (Insurance Information Institute, n.d.). In 2022, tropical storms and hurricanes caused around 114 fatalities and 15,500 million dollars in damages (NWS, 2023). Along with increased deaths and injuries, hurricanes have been associated with rises in respiratory illnesses, infectious diseases, intimate partner violence, and symptoms linked with PTSD, anxiety, and depression (Waddell et al., 2021).
Unfortunately, not every community receives the same amount of assistance following a hurricane. Mobile home communities have a history of experiencing barriers to governmental aid in the wake of a natural disaster, even though they are more likely to experience damage to their homes from flooding, hurricanes, high winds, and tornadoes (Kellner & Niyogi, 2014; Prasad & Stoler, 2016; Rumbach et al., 2020). Mobile home communities in Monroe County, Florida, experience a higher risk of damage as this county is very vulnerable to hurricane threats and flooding (First Street Foundation, n.d.; Monroe County, Florida, n.d.). In 2017, Hurricane Irma reached this county and hit the mobile home community the hardest, as about 666 homes were destroyed and 378 homes sustained significant damage (Monroe County, Florida, n.d.). As a result, we chose to focus our resilience-building intervention on the mobile home community living in Monroe County, to promote easier and more thorough recovery from hurricane devastation.
The intervention we have created focuses on building resilience in the mobile home community through the strengthening of neighborhood connections. Research has identified a sense of connection as a protective factor against isolation and abandonment which some people experience after a disaster (Berardi et al., 2022). We decided that an intervention that fosters stronger relationships among members of the mobile home community would help them put on a stronger front in preparation for a hurricane, as well as fully recover after the storm. To develop this intervention we used the CDC’s social ecological model as a framework to ensure that we impacted the community on multiple levels.
At the individual level, we will focus on educating members of the mobile home community about the recommended ways to physically prepare for a storm and the role that community connectedness plays in the outcomes of a natural disaster. We will share the CDC recommendations for preparing such as stocking up on canned food and water, and creating a plan of action with your household (National Center for Environmental Health, 2023). We will also share what the research shows about how being connected to your neighbors can increase the likelihood of being fully prepared for a storm (Kim & Kang, 2010). This education will help individuals understand how to be prepared for a storm, and help them understand why following these steps and building neighborhood connections are important.
At the relationship level, we will focus on developing strong bonds between members of the mobile home community. To achieve this, we will hold bi-weekly socialization events at 3 different locations in the community, where we can help the community members connect. These meetings will be advertised by posting an infographic around the community and playing a radio AD on a variety of stations. The goal of this is to build resilience in the community as making use of these interpersonal resources can reduce psychosocial resources after disasters (Bakic & Ajdukovic, 2021). These stronger relationships will hopefully help the community members be resilient against future hurricanes that might happen in their community, as they will have support from their neighbors to help them recover.
At the community level, we will be funding the construction of a few new buildings in the community that will be made to withstand the wind and water that a hurricane brings. Mobile homes are often not built to withstand extreme weather conditions, so it is recommended that those residing in these homes find shelter in a safe site-built structure (Lake County Board of County Commissioners, n.d.). We will also station mental health therapists in these buildings after the storm so that people who have to stay there because their homes were destroyed, can receive the proper care that they need to overcome the mental battles they might be experiencing (Srivastava, 2011). These shelters will allow community members to continue developing relationships and support one another during a time that can be stressful.
Finally, at the societal level, we will be advocating for policy change that ensures mobile home communities receive the proper funding they need to recover after hurricanes. Despite being exposed to flooding at a higher rate, Mobile home communities are often disadvantaged by recovery plans (Rumbach et al., 2020). This has been seen in real work scenarios, where laws are changed that make it difficult for mobile home communities to receive the money they need to physically recover from a hurricane. Our goal is to have the voices of this community be heard so that policymakers can recognize their need for funding to rebuild their communities after hurricane devastation.
References
Bakic, H., & Ajdukovic, D. (2021). Resilience after natural disasters: The process of harnessing resources in communities differentially exposed to a flood. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 12(1), 1891733. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2021.1891733
Berardi, M.K., Brennan, M., Hernandez, T., (2022, October 31). A Community Approach to Disaster Preparedness and Response. PennState Extension. https://extension.psu.edu/a-co...redness-and-response
Florida Department of Health (FDOH). (2022). DOH-Monroe - Health Equity Plan. Florida Department of Health. https://www.floridahealth.gov/...HealthEquityPlan.pdf
First Street Foundation. (n.d.). Monroe County, Florida Flood Factor Report. Risk Factor. https://riskfactor.com/county/...nty/12087_fsid/flood
Insurance Information Institute. (n.d.). Facts + statistics: Hurricanes. III: Insurance Information Institute. https://www.iii.org/fact-stati...tatistics-hurricanes
Kellner, O., & Niyogi, D. (2014). Land Surface Heterogeneity Signature in Tornado Climatology? An Illustrative Analysis over Indiana, 1950–2012. Earth Interactions, 18(10), 1-32. https://doi.org/10.1175/2013EI000548.1
Kim, Y.-C., & Kang, J. (2010). Communication, neighbourhood belonging and household hurricane preparedness. Disasters, 34(2), 470–488. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7717.2009.01138.x
Lake County Board of County Commissioners. (n.d.). Preparedness and Safety. Lake County, FL. https://www.lakecountyfl.gov/E...agement/Preparedness
Monroe County Florida. (n.d.). Hurricane Irma Recovery. Hurricane Irma Recovery | Monroe County, FL - Official Website. http://www.monroecounty-fl.gov...ricane-Irma-Recovery
National Center for Environmental Health. (2023, August 7). Preparing for a hurricane or tropical storm. Centers for DIsease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/featu...paredness/index.html
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (n.d.). Hurricane Costs. NOAA Office for Coastal Management. https://coast.noaa.gov/states/...hurricane-costs.html
National Weather Service (NWS). (2023, June 14). Summary of Natural Hazard Statistics for 2022 in the United States. National Weather Service: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://www.weather.gov/media/hazstat/sum22.pdf
Prasad, S., Stoler, J. (2016) Mobile Home Residents and Hurricane Vulnerability in South Florida: Research Gaps and Challenges. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science 7(4), 436–439. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13753-016-0101-x
Srivastava, K. (2011). Positive mental health and its relationship with resilience. Industrial Psychiatry Journal, 20(2), 75–76. https://doi.org/10.4103/0972-6748.102469
Rumbach, A., Sullivan, E., & Makarewicz, C. (2020). Mobile Home Parks and Disasters: Understanding Risk to the Third Housing Type in the United States. Natural Hazards Review,21(2), 05020001. https://doi.org/doi:10.1061/(A...NH.1527-6996.0000357
Waddell, S. L., Jayaweera, D. T., Mirsaeidi, M., Beier, J. C., & Kumar, N. (2021). Perspectives on the Health Effects of Hurricanes: A Review and Challenges. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(5), 2756. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052756
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