Improving Hurricane Harvey Disaster Research Response Through Academic-Practice Partnerships

Area of Science:

• Environmental health
• Disaster response
• Public health

Background:

• Hurricane Harvey caused significant damage and health concerns in Houston, Texas.
• Multiple entities, including researchers and public health agencies, collected data post-disaster.
• Previous disaster research response (DR2) partnerships existed from a 2015 workshop.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess potential health effects of Hurricane Harvey.
• To inform the public about health risks.
• To improve coordination of disaster research response (DR2) efforts.

Main Methods:

• Utilized disaster research response (DR2) resources.
• Leveraged partnerships established during a 2015 DR2 workshop.
• Coordinated data collection among researchers, media, and public health agencies.

Main Results:

• Data collection efforts were organized to limit redundancy.
• Sampling coverage of impacted areas was ensured.
• Partnerships facilitated efficient data gathering.

Conclusions:

• Improved post-disaster coordination enhances DR2 effectiveness and efficiency.
• Coordinated data can inform recovery and preparedness for future disasters.
• Strategic partnerships are crucial for effective disaster response.