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. 2006 Jan-Feb;121(1):36-44.
doi: 10.1177/003335490612100109.

Blackout of 2003: public health effects and emergency response

Mark E Beatty  1 , Scot Phelps, Mpha Chris Rohner, Mupa Isaac Weisfuse
Affiliations

Blackout of 2003: public health effects and emergency response

Mark E Beatty et al. Public Health Rep. 2006 Jan-Feb.

Abstract

We examined the public health effects of the Northeast blackout of August 2003 and the emergency response to the blackout by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). We reviewed departmental documents from the DOHMH Emergency Operations Center and surveyed DOHMH employees to identify deficiencies in the response and elicit suggestions for improvement. DOHMH deployed its all-hazards, scalable public health Incident Management System to respond to several impacts: (1) failure of multiple hospital emergency generators; (2) patients dependent on electrically powered equipment; (3) loss of electronic data input to the DOHMH syndromic surveillance system from hospital emergency departments; (4) potential for vaccine spoilage due to loss of refrigeration; (5) beach contamination with untreated sewage; (6) heat-related health effects and increase of foodborne disease; and (7) potential for an increased rodent population as a result of increased amounts of discarded perishables. Areas identified for improvement included communications during the event, DOHMH dependence on an external source of electricity, facility management during the response, and lack of readily available and appropriate emergency supplies.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's public health incident management system
Figure 2
Figure 2
DOHMH employee recommendations for improvement of the blackout response
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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