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Preparedness for and Impact of Tropical Cyclone Yasi in North Queensland, Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2013

Kim Usher ,
Petra Buettner ,
Caryn West ,
Jane Millis ,
Cindy Woods ,
Matt Mason ,
Helen Boon  and
Jennifer Chamberlain-Salaun
Kim Usher*
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Midwifery & Nutrition, James Cook University, Cairns Queensland, Australia
Petra Buettner
Affiliation:
School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine & Rehabilitation Sciences, James Cook University, Cairns Queensland, Australia
Caryn West
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Midwifery & Nutrition, James Cook University, Cairns Queensland, Australia
Jane Millis
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Midwifery & Nutrition, James Cook University, Cairns Queensland, Australia
Cindy Woods
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Midwifery & Nutrition, James Cook University, Cairns Queensland, Australia
Matt Mason
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Midwifery & Nutrition, James Cook University, Thursday Island, Australia
Helen Boon
Affiliation:
School of Education, James Cook University, Townsville Queensland, Australia
Jennifer Chamberlain-Salaun
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Midwifery & Nutrition, James Cook University, Cairns Queensland, Australia
*
Correspondence: Kim Usher, RN, DipHSc, BA, MNSt, PhD School of Nursing, Midwifery & Nutrition James Cook University 14-88 McGregor Rd, PO Box 6811 Cairns QLD 4870, Australia E-mail kim.usher@jcu.edu.au
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Abstract

Introduction

Tropical cyclone (TC) Yasi, thought to be the largest and most severe cyclone to cross the Queensland coast since 1918, made landfall on the southern tropical coast near Mission Beach and continued to track westward across Northern Queensland on February 3, 2011. The warning and response model (WRM) suggests that situational factors, personal characteristics, and social contextual variables influence the degree of threat perceived and protective actions taken.

Aim

The aim of this study was to examine preparation for this impending natural disaster by residents of the affected regions, and to identify the residents’ resource losses and symptoms of psychological distress following TC Yasi.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted 6-12 months after the cyclone using an adapted tool designed to measure preparedness, loss and psychosocial distress. Four hundred and thirty-three responses were received. Statistical analysis was conducted using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Categorical characteristics were described using sample size and percentages.

Results

Almost all respondents perceived the cyclone warning as serious or very serious, and more than a third started preparing for the cyclone at least three days before it reached landfall. Overall, 115 (26.7%) respondents reported moderate and 59 (13.7%) reported major property damage; 72 (17.1%) reported a moderate and 49 (11.6%) reported a major change in their feeling of whether they have control over their life; 55 (13.1%) reported a major change in their motivation of getting things done; and 33 (7.9%) reported a major change in their perception of feeling valuable to others. Overall, 142 (34.1%) documented at least one of five symptoms of acute distress.

Conclusion

The findings document the experiences of Australians who have lived through tropical cyclone Yasi. The results support the WRM theory which proposes that people with previous experience take threatened disasters seriously.

UsherK, BuettnerP, WestC, MillisJ, WoodsC, MasonM, BoonH, Chamberlain-SalaunJ. Preparedness for and Impact of Tropical Cyclone Yasi in North Queensland, Australia. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2013;28(3):1-7.

Keywords

Australiacyclonemental healthnatural disasterspreparedness
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 28 , Issue 3 , June 2013 , pp. 272 - 278
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2013 

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