How Public Health Protects Us During Disasters

Send us Fan MailSeptember is National Preparedness Month, but we should be prepared for disasters regardless of the time of year. In addition to being prepared, it's good to know also what role public health has when it comes to preparing and responding to disasters. Amal Mitra, DrPH, MBBS, chair of the department of public health at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Julia Jones Matthews School for Population and Public Health explains how those in public health prepare for disasters, especially water safety, sanitation and disease surveillance. Mitra also highlights long-term long-term health issues post-disasters, such as PTSD, cardiovascular disease and sleep disturbances. He also shares his experience of what it was like to live in an are impacted by Hurricane Katrina 20 years ago.