Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-xbtfd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T14:54:28.952Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Impact of Hurricane Ike on Texas Poison Center Calls

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 April 2013

Mathias B. Forrester
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

On September 13, 2008, Hurricane Ike made landfall in Texas, resulting in the mandatory evacuation of 8 counties before landfall and the declaration of disaster areas in 29 counties afterward. This study evaluated whether Hurricane Ike affected the pattern of Texas poison center calls. Texas poison center calls received from the disaster area counties were identified for 3 time periods: August 12 to September 10, 2008 (preevacuation), September 11 to 13, 2008 (evacuation and hurricane landfall), and September 14 to 30, 2008 (postevacuation). For selected types of calls, the mean daily call volume during time periods 2 and 3 was compared with a baseline range (BR) derived from the mean daily call volume during time period 1. During the evacuation and landfall period, gasoline exposure calls were higher than expected (mean 3, BR −1 to 2). During the postevacuation period, higher than expected numbers of calls were observed for gasoline exposures (mean 5, BR −1 to 2) and carbon monoxide exposures (mean 3, BR –1–1). During an evacuation, certain calls such as those involving gasoline exposures may increase. After a hurricane, calls such as those involving carbon monoxide and gasoline exposures may increase. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2009;3:151–157)

Keywords

carbon monoxidefood poisoninggasolinehurricanepoison center
Type
Original Research and Critical Analysis
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 3 , Issue 3 , October 2009 , pp. 151 - 157
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1.List of Houston Area Hurricane Ike Closures and Evacuations. MyFox Houston Web site. September 11, 2008. http://www.myfoxhouston.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=AADE896082C8DE88C27C0654C005AEF0?contentId=7401984&version=36&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1. Accessed October 28, 2008.Google Scholar
2.Tolson M. Night of fury, days of misery. Houston Chronicle. September 14, 2008: pp A1, A4.Google Scholar
3.Sherman C, Arrillaga P. By Air, Boat and Truck, Search for Ike Victims. Yahoo! News Web site. September 13, 2008. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080913/ap_on_re_us/ike. Accessed October 28, 2008.Google Scholar
4.McKinley JC, Urbina I. Huge storm slams into coast of Texas. The New York Times. September 13, 2008. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/13/us/13ike.html. Accessed October 28, 2008.Google Scholar
5.Hurricane Ike (September 2008). National Weather Service Web site. http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/projects/ike08.htm. Accessed October 28, 2008.Google Scholar
6.President Declares Major Disaster for Texas. FEMA Web site. September 13, 2008. http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=45759. Accessed October 28, 2008.Google Scholar
7.Powell SM, Roth B. Texans seek aid in Congress as Ike’s cost estimates soar. Houston Chronicle. September 24, 2008: pp B1, B3.Google Scholar
8.Ike victim’s body found on island. Houston Chronicle. October 8, 2008: p B4.Google Scholar
9.Olsen L. One month later, fate still a mystery. Houston Chronicle. October 12, 2008: p A1, A6.Google Scholar
10.Bronstein, AC, Spyker, DA, Cantilena, LR, et al2006 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers’ National Poison Data System (NPDS). Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2007;45:815–917.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11.Nathan, AR, Olson, KR, Everson, GW, et alEffects of a major earthquake on calls to regional poison control centers. West J Med. 1992;156:278–280.Google Scholar
12.Klein, KR, Herzog, P, Smolinske, S, et alDemand for poison control center services “surged” during the 2003 blackout. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2007;45:248–254.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13.Lumsden, K, Gallo, AM, Thompson, M, et alThe nights the lights went out in Canada. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 2004;42:774.Google Scholar
14.Banerji, S, May, J, Wruk, K, et alLet it snow! Emergency set up of 6 poison center remote agents in under 8 hours during a severe blizzard. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2007;45:607–608.Google Scholar
15.Forrester, MB.Investigation of Texas poison center calls regarding a chlorine gas release: implications for terrorist attack toxicosurveillance. Tex Med. 2006;102:52–57.Google Scholar
16.Forrester, MB.Impact of Hurricane Rita on Texas poison center calls. Prehospital Disaster Med. 2008;23:248–254.Google Scholar
17.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Monitoring poison control center data to detect health hazards during hurricane season—Florida, 2003–2005. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2006;55:426–428.Google Scholar
18.Cox, R, Amundson, T, Brackin, B.Evaluation of the patterns of potentially toxic exposures in Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2008;46:722–727.Google Scholar
19.Jaramillo, JE, Forrester, MB, Winter, ML, et alHurricane Katrina-related calls to the Texas Poison Center Network. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2006;44:676–677.Google Scholar
20.Schauben, JL, Kay, RS, Schulte, J, et alUtilizing poison center data to provide hurricane surveillance—the Florida experience. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2006;44:676.Google Scholar
21.Bronstein, AC, Seroka, AM, Wruk, KM, et alApplication of poison center TESS data for toxicosurveillance: the concept of the surveillance technician—10% automation and 90% perspiration. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 2004;42:787–788.Google Scholar
22.Litovitz, TL, Watson, WA, Belson, M, et alToxic Exposure Surveillance System (TESS): real-time toxicosurveillance across United States poison centers. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2004;197:156.Google Scholar
23.Anderson, DL, Miller, B, Kassenborg, H, et alUtilizing poison center data for public health surveillance. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 2003;41:687.Google Scholar
24.Allen, S, Bernstein, J, Weisman, R, et alThe use of poison centers for surveillance and response to bioterrorism events. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 2002;40:642–643.Google Scholar
25.Mrvos, R, Krenzelok, EP.Poison center surveillance for bio-chem terrorism. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 2002;40:638–639.Google Scholar
26.George C. Fumes, burns afflict many. Houston Chronicle. September 15, 2008: p B3.Google Scholar
27.Ruiz R. Ike-related fatalities in Houston area climb to 28. Houston Chronicle. September 23, 2008: p B4.Google Scholar
28.DSHS Issues Health-related Precautions Following Hurricane Ike. Texas Department of State Health Services Web site. September 14, 2008. http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/news/releases/20080914.shtm. Accessed March 3, 2009.Google Scholar
29.DSHS Reminds Public of Carbon Monoxide Dangers. Texas Department of State Health Services Web site. September 16, 2008. http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/news/releases/20080916.shtm. Accessed March 3, 2009.Google Scholar