Public Health Problems in Major Disasters

Abstract

It is impossible to predetermine rigidly the public health problems in major disasters or the official relief actions to be taken; each disaster presents its own characteristics. Good public health organization must, in such circum stances, be able to co-operate quickly with other relief agencies, identify and evaluate actual and potential public health hazards, mobilize existing health re sources, take emergency measures to control or eliminate hazards and restore public health facilities. The co-operative functioning of local, state, and federal health agencies is described by the author, and especially the organization and work of the federal Public Health Service in disaster operations. The author illustrates the functioning of the Service in connection with the outbreak in 1952 of mosquito-borne encephalitis in the Central Valley of California and the 1955 hurricane and floods in the northeastern states.—Ed.