This webinar provides information on the epidemiologic investigation of the 117 deaths associated withHurricane Sandy (2012)  It will describe the goals, methodology (using American Red Cross data), and results, including public health recommendations of the investigation. A national perspective of tracking deaths associated with disasters will also be presented.

Webinar Goals:

1. Learn about the deaths associated with Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
2. Learn about how hurricane-related drowning deaths in evacuation zones are preventable.
3. Learn about the accuracy of American Red Cross fatality data from New York City’s perspective
4. Learn about the CDC national perspective on disaster epidemiology.
5. Raise the visibility and level of dialogue about disaster epidemiology within the larger community of injury prevention programs at the state, territorial, and local levels.

Presenters/Participants:

• Michelle Murti, MD, Fraser Health Authority, British Columbia;
• Renata Howland, MPH, CSTE/CDC Applied Epidemiology Fellow, New York City Department of Health;
• Amy F. Wolkin, MSPH, Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, National Center for Environmental Health, CDC;
• Rebecca S. Noe, MPH, Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, National Center for Environmental Health, CDC; and
• Jeanne Spears, RN, Volunteer Partner, Disaster Health Services, American Red Cross.

This webinar is sponsored by the Safe States Disaster Epidemiology Special Interest Group. This is the self-directed group with projects and activities decided by the members.

Continuing education credits are offered for this training for Safe States members. These include credits for individuals who are Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and Certified in Public Health (CPH).