Feinstein Institute for Medical Research officials announced on Friday that they had been awarded a $600,398 grant to study the psychological impacts of Superstorm Sandy on New York City and Long Island residents.
The study is part of $4.3 million in funding for several projects from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and will be used in an attempt to quantify the psychological impact of the hurricane and develop a profile detailing the characteristics of individuals most vulnerable in emergency situations, North Shore-LIJ Health System officials said in a news release.
“This project is a first, integral step in understanding the short and long-term mental health effects of natural disasters such as Hurricane Sandy and will readily inform future prevention and emergency preparedness efforts in our local communities,” said Rebecca Schwartz, who along with Dr. Emanuela Taioli will lead the research in conjunction with Lisa Murphy, the Nassau County Department of Human Service’s commissioner.
Health system officials said researchers can gather anecdotal evidence from the health providers, first responders, hospitals and shelters that aided in the storm’s immediate aftermath.
But researchers lack reliable data on the psychological effects of the 50 million people affected by Superstorm Sandy, which evacuated 370,000 people from New York City, put 3 million people out of power and caused 1.1 million students to miss school days, health system officials said.
Researchers plan to conduct an epidemiologic study, which includes administering mental health measures to adults in New York City and Long Island, and analyze changes and trends in emergency department mental health admissions from before, during and after the storm took place, health system officials said.
Officials said the study’s results will help the team gain an understanding of the populations most vulnerable to mental health problems that happen as a result of natural disasters.
According to the release, Murphy and her department’s staff will help facilitate the study as well as aid in the dissemination of its results to the communities and agencies working toward disaster preparedness in the area.
