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Evacuation During Hurricane Sandy: Data from a Rapid Community Assessment.
Shakara Brown, Hilary Parton1, Cynthia Driver2
1Bureau of Communicable Disease, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY, USA.
Plos Currents
|February 12, 2016
Summary
Many New York City residents did not evacuate during Hurricane Sandy. Factors like witnessing past trauma and experiencing household damage influenced evacuation decisions, highlighting the need for better understanding of evacuation behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Disaster preparedness and response
- Public health and emergency management
- Social science research
Background:
- Hurricane Sandy prompted mandatory evacuations in New York City's Zone A.
- Low compliance with evacuation orders poses significant public health risks.
- Understanding non-compliance factors is crucial for future disaster preparedness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate factors influencing evacuation decisions among residents in storm-affected New York City neighborhoods during Hurricane Sandy.
- To identify barriers and facilitators to heeding pre-emptive evacuation warnings.
Main Methods:
- A survey of 420 adult residents in South Brooklyn, the Rockaways, and Staten Island was conducted post-Hurricane Sandy.
- Data on evacuation behavior, timing, and potential influencing factors were collected and analyzed.
- Statistical tests (chi-square, t-test) were used to assess associations between variables.
Main Results:
- Only 49% of surveyed residents evacuated during Hurricane Sandy.
- Evacuation rates were higher among those who witnessed trauma related to the World Trade Center attacks (66% vs. 40%).
- Residents reporting extensive household damage had significantly higher evacuation rates (83% vs. 30%).
- Among evacuees, those on higher floors were less likely to evacuate before the storm (22% vs. 56%).
Conclusions:
- Evacuation compliance in affected New York City areas was suboptimal despite warnings.
- Past trauma exposure and perceived property damage influenced evacuation decisions.
- Further research into evacuation timing and behavioral factors is essential to improve compliance and reduce risks.
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