Briefly describe your selected recent natural disaster.
Discuss the health consequences of the disaster at the population level.
Explain how the concepts of population health and epidemiology discussed in this course were or could have been used to assess the preparation and health outcomes after this disaster.
Explain how the concepts of population health and epidemiology discussed in this course were or could have been used to mitigate negative health effects following this disaster.
Describe the specific leadership roles that nurses have in mitigating negative health outcomes following disasters.
Health Consequences at the Population Level
The earthquake inflicted severe, cascading health consequences, disproportionately affecting the vulnerable populations in the remote mountain areas:
Trauma and Mortality: The most immediate consequence was mass casualties, including nearly 3,000 fatalities and thousands of injuries, many severe. This overwhelmed local emergency and hospital capacity, a major population health crisis.
Infrastructure Collapse and Access Issues: Damage to roads, bridges, and health facilities (hospitals and clinics) completely cut off remote villages. This made it impossible for emergency medical services to reach the injured quickly, increasing the case-fatality rate and limiting access to chronic disease care.
Displacement and Environmental Hazards: Approximately 380,000 people were displaced due to collapsed homes. Mass displacement led to:
Lack of clean water and sanitation (WASH): Increased risk of waterborne diseases (e.g., cholera, dysentery) due to poor hygiene in temporary shelters.
Overcrowding: Heightened risk of respiratory infections and other communicable diseases.
Mental Health Crisis: The trauma of losing family, homes, and livelihoods resulted in a population-wide spike in acute stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This massive, chronic mental health burden required immediate psychosocial support.
Sample Answer
The recent natural disaster selected is the 2023 Morocco Earthquake (Al Haouz earthquake).
This was a magnitude 6.8 earthquake that struck the High Atlas Mountains region of Morocco on September 8, 2023. It was the strongest to hit the area in over a century. The disaster resulted in thousands of fatalities and injuries, causing widespread destruction, particularly in remote, rural villages built with vulnerable mud-brick and masonry construction.
Health Consequences at the Population Level
The earthquake inflicted severe, cascading health consequences, disproportionately affecting the vulnerable populations in the remote mountain areas:
Trauma and Mortality: The most immediate consequence was mass casualties, including nearly 3,000 fatalities and thousands of injuries, many severe. This overwhelmed local emergency and hospital capacity, a major population health crisis.