Natural Disaster and Disability: Case Study of the Florida 2004 Hurricane Season Based on the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

Purpose The purpose of this project was to evaluate the impact of the hurricane season on frequent mental distress (FMD ≥ 14 days in the past 30) and the potential difference by disability status in Florida. It is essential to evaluate the quality of life before and after the hurricanes for people with disabilities (PWD), compared to people without disabilities (PWOD). If there are disparities in outcomes, all levels of government may need to modify their preparedness plans. Methods Of the 7,192 Floridians that participated in the 2004 BRFSS, 4,898 were included in the sample for weighted analysis. Participants who refused to answer or had missing data on key variables were excluded from the sample (n=537). Season was based on the interview month, where “before” is from January-May and “after” is November-December. People were defined as having a disability if they answered “yes” to either question relating to activity limitation and special equipment usage. Results Self-reported FMD in PWD is significantly higher than those without disabilities, regardless of season. However, when examining the effect of the hurricane season, PWD exhibited a 4.7% increase in self-reported FMD, with 21% before the hurricane season compared to 25.7% after the hurricane season. Whereas, PWOD exhibited a 2.1% increase between hurricane seasons, with 6.6% before and 8.7% after. No statistically significant interaction was found between hurricane season and disability, therefore disability is not considered an effect modifier. The study also found that after the hurricane season, people were more likely to report FMD (AOR 1.31, 95% CI 0.99–1.922). Conclusion Although no interaction was found between hurricane season and disability, factors influencing FMD were uncovered, most importantly disability. With approximately 21% of the participants in the Florida BRFSS reporting a disability and around 23% of PWD reporting FMD, consideration should be given in reference to mental health regardless of whether or not a natural or man made disaster is in effect.