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Utilizing Professional Practitioners The Role of the Professional Social Worker 14 th Annual EMI Higher Education Conference Emmetsburg, Maryland Dr . Tom Osowski Dr. Alan Bougere Dr. Tim Rehner. Presentation Outline. Context of disasters in Mississippi Disasters in Mississippi Research

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  1. Utilizing Professional PractitionersThe Role of the Professional Social Worker14th Annual EMI Higher Education ConferenceEmmetsburg, MarylandDr. Tom OsowskiDr. Alan BougereDr. Tim Rehner

  2. Presentation Outline • Context of disasters in Mississippi • Disasters in Mississippi • Research • Lessons learned • Involvement of Professional Practitioners

  3. A Mississippi Context • 2.967 million residents • 60.5 white • 37.2 black • 20.8 ↓ poverty line/13.2 in US • Rapid ↑Hispanic/Latino • Large long term Vietnamese population on coast • SOURCE: 2010 US Census/MS State Demography Information

  4. South Mississippi • Defined: South of I -20 • Approximately 1.8 million people • Heavily forested, rolling hills – suburban spread • Home to states largest cities: Jackson, Gulfport/Biloxi, Hattiesburg, Pascagoula

  5. Coastal Mississippi • 3 coastal counties, half million people. • Tourism - casinos • Ship-building • Fishing • Healthcare • Aerospace engineering • Stennis Space Center • YEP, we design rocket engines!

  6. Mississippi Coastal Topography • Flat! Gentle rise starting about 10 miles inland • 65 miles: Hattiesburg, approx 135’ above sea level • Western Delta, natural flood plain. Highest point 807’ Woodall Mountain! (246 metres)

  7. University of Southern Mississippi • Only research university in South Mississippi • Dual campus university • Hattiesburg (14,000) • Coast (3,000) • Approximately 17,000 students.

  8. USM – Gulf Coast Campus • Located on beach front property! • Long Beach, MS • Highest point about 30’ • Marine Science, Nursing and Business – largest majors. (on coast site) • 5 additional off campus coastal teaching sites: Stennis Space Center, Keesler AFB, Gulfport, Point Cadet, Ocean Springs Research Labs

  9. South Mississippi: Disaster Target • FOUR MAJOR DISASTERS • 1. 1969: Hurricane Camille • 2. 1996: Methylparathion (Cotton Poisoning) • 3. 2005: Hurricane Katrina • 4. 2010: BP Oil Release

  10. 1969 Hurricane Camille • August 17 (BSL/PC) • Cat 5 landfall/200+mph winds • 143 people died on coast • $1.42 billion damage (1969 dollars) • Results in closure of Gulf Park College for Women – will become USM – Gulf Coast Campus.

  11. 1996: Methylparathion Disaster • MP: agricultural pesticide to control insects. Works well on roaches also! • Early 1980’s – 1995, sprayed in over 1800 structures (1,777 homes) • Clean-up $69 million, economic impact $100 million. • Largest single-year EPA payout on toxic clean-up.

  12. August 29, 2005: Hurricane Katrina • 1,836 people died • Category 3 Hurricane • Came ashore MS/LA border – similar area as Camille, 36 years earlier. • 30’ tidal surge coastal MS • 90% of all MS coastal community structures damaged/destroyed • 100% of USM – GC facilities damaged!

  13. April 20, 2010: BP Oil Release • 11 killed/17 injured • 7/15/2010 capped • 4.9 million barrels into Gulf • Destruction of marine habitat, shoreline and coastal economy. • LA/MS major economic losses

  14. Research • After Methylparathion • 10/1 – 12/20 1997 • 115 households/1242 contaminated • CES-D: 19.92/16 clinical • ↑ need MH services • ↑ role for S Workers • ↓ community adaptation • SOURCE: Rehner, T, (et al). 2000 Depression Among Victims of Methyl Parathion Disaster in South Mississippi • After BP Oil Release • 10/30 – 11/6, 2010 • 361 randomly selected households, S of I -10 • CES-D: 6.69/16 clinical • CES-D scores higher for impacted persons! • ↑ need for children’s MH • Proximity/stacked disasters. • Perception of disaster • SOURCE: Osowski T. (et all). Forthcoming:. “Descriptive and Inferential Statistics of the BP Oil Disaster”.

  15. Research • Summary of three research papers: • Proximity to disaster • Previous exposure to disaster – stacked disasters • Pre-existing health/mental health conditions • Economic resources • Households with pre-school children • Speed of disaster (slow moving vs sudden) • SOURCE: Osowski T. (et all) Forthcoming. Descriptive and Inferential Statistics of Children BP Oil Disaster. Osowski, T (et al) Forthcoming. Descriptive and Inferential Statistics of BP Oil Disaster. Osowski, T (et al). Forthcoming: Community Resilience of a Disaster following the BP Oil Spill.

  16. Tangible Lessons Learned • For USM – Gulf Coast • Overall disaster plan effective! • Critical infrastructure • Off site data storage • 72 – 48 – 24

  17. Tangible Lessons Learned • USM – Hattiesburg • Disaster plan, not entirely effective! • Evacuate students within 48 – 72 hour window. • Prepare for utility failure of more than 48 hours. • Electronic door locks!

  18. Tangible lessons learned • 4,000 students remained in campus housing – no water. Immediate sewage issues. • No electricity/no water = no food service! • 4,000 students no activities, no air conditioning – HIGH potential for violence! • Evacuees from coast and NOLA arriving on campus seeking shelter. • Parents arriving to “take home their babies” • Campus is almost impossible to truly secure!

  19. Tangible lessons learned • Not enough “outside EM” people involved in disaster plan. • People assuming what other agencies can provide. • FEMA money helpful…..2005 FEMA policies hindered rapid recovery. • What is role of a university in a disaster? • Research……immeasurable losses of data and research projects.

  20. Tangible lessons learned • Clean-up and restoration is EASY – Recovery is long-term and HARD! • Involve human professionals in planning, social workers, nurses, along with traditional EM planners.

  21. Involvement of Professional Practitioners • There is NOTHING that occurs during a disaster that social workers do not deal with EVERYDAY: • Loss of housing • Loss of job • Spousal abuse • Economic issues • Substance Abuse • Crisis Counseling • Dealing with uncertainty and stress • Connecting client need with existing services • Utilizing NGO’s and Government Services

  22. Professional Practitioners • Your neighbors • Before the Storm • During the Storm • After the Storm

  23. USM Campus Emergency • Directed by Chief of Police • Involvement of Counseling Center/Student Health and others as needed. • Information Officer: PR….needs ongoing • Crisis Plans: only as good as people knowing how to respond • CARES team • Incident debriefing

  24. What Southern Miss is still not good at dealing with!

  25. Video • The Southern Miss Story: Hurricanes, Depression and State Politics: • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z--6nAEEAO4

  26. Questions? Comments, DONATIONS!! • Dr. Tom Osowski • School of Social Work • 730 East Beach BLVD • Long Beach MS 39560 • 228-214-3262 • tom.osowski@usm.edu

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