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Are We Ready to Build Back “Healthier?” An Exploratory Analysis of U.S. State-Level Disaster Recovery Plans

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  • Mallory Kennedy

    (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA)

  • Shannon A. Gonick

    (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA)

  • Nicole A. Errett

    (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA)

Abstract

As communities recover from disasters, it is crucial to understand the extent to which states are prepared to support the recovery of health systems and services. This need has been emphasized by the United States’ experience with COVID-19. This study sought to assess public health activities in state disaster recovery implementation plans. In this exploratory, descriptive study, state-wide disaster recovery implementation plans were collected from emergency management agency websites and verified ( n = 33). We reviewed and coded the recovery plans to identify health-related activities. While 70% and 64% of reviewed plans included activities to address short-term healthcare and behavioral health needs, respectively, one-third or less of the plans included activities to address long-term healthcare and behavioral health needs. Further, plans have limited descriptions of health-related data collection, analysis, or data-driven processes. Additional evidence-informed public health requirements and activities are needed in disaster recovery implementation plans. State disaster recovery plans would benefit from additional description of public health roles, responsibilities, and activities, as well as additional plans for collecting and analyzing public health data to drive recovery decision making and activities. Plans should include approaches for ongoing evaluation of recovery activities.

Suggested Citation

  • Mallory Kennedy & Shannon A. Gonick & Nicole A. Errett, 2021. "Are We Ready to Build Back “Healthier?” An Exploratory Analysis of U.S. State-Level Disaster Recovery Plans," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-10, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:15:p:8003-:d:603568
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. James K. Mitchell, 2006. "The Primacy of Partnership: Scoping a New National Disaster Recovery Policy," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 604(1), pages 228-255, March.
    2. Mallory Kennedy & Shannon Gonick & Hendrika Meischke & Janelle Rios & Nicole A. Errett, 2019. "Building Back Better: Local Health Department Engagement and Integration of Health Promotion into Hurricane Harvey Recovery Planning and Implementation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-12, January.
    3. Dzau, V.J. & Lurie, N. & Tuckson, R.V., 2018. "After Harvey, Irma, and Maria, an opportunity for better health-Rebuilding our communities as we want them," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 108(1), pages 32-33.
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