Social Vulnerability and Access of Local Medical Care During Hurricane Harvey: A Spatial Analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

When Hurricane Harvey struck the coastline of Texas in 2017, it caused 88 fatalities and over US $125 billion in damage, along with increased emergency department visits in Houston and in cities receiving hurricane evacuees, such as the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex (DFW).This study explored demographic indicators of vulnerability for patients from the Hurricane Harvey impact area who sought medical care in Houston and in DFW. The objectives were to characterize the vulnerability of affected populations presenting locally, as well as those presenting away from home, and to determine whether more vulnerable communities were more likely to seek medical care locally or elsewhere.

Methods

We used syndromic surveillance data alongside the Centers for Disease Control and

SUBMITTER: Rickless DS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8440658 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature