Two months after Hurricane Harvey submerged much of metropolitan Houston, recovery is under way across the city. Residents and volunteers are gutting and restoring flooded homes. Government agencies and nonprofit organizations are announcing cleanup programs and developing plans to distribute relief funds.
But many questions remain about impacts on public health. What contaminants did floodwaters leave behind? How many people are being exposed to mold — which can grow rapidly in damp, humid conditions — as they repair their homes? Will there be an increase in Zika, West Nile or other vector-borne diseases as mosquito populations recover? Or an uptick in reported cases of other illnesses?
I am an epidemiologist, and my work focuses on understanding the causes and distribution of illnesses, injuries and deaths among different populations — a critical issue during and after major disasters. Our work starts when the water recedes: We want to find out how well residents were prepared before the storm, and what kinds of health impacts they may be experiencing now or can expect in the future. If they still have unmet needs, we can connect them with information and resources.
Researchers are at work across Texas in areas impacted by Harvey. Here’s what some of us are doing.
Houston homeowners fight mold and standing water after Harvey.
Contaminants Left Behind
I’m currently working in Houston with partners from community organizations including Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services and the Houston Health Department to sample soil and sediment that was mobilized by flooding during Harvey.
For example, residents of Manchester, a neighborhood in Houston’s East End with many low-income and minority residents, live close to industrial sites, refineries and chemical storage facilities, many of which were flooded during Harvey. They are worried that contaminated sediments may have been washed into their yards and could threaten their health if dust enters homes as…