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Post-Flood Rapid Needs Assessment in Srinagar City, Jammu and Kashmir State, India, September, 2014

Part of: Floods collection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2018

Rajesh Yadav ,
Dundaiah Somashekar ,
Samir V. Sodha ,
Kayla F. Laserson ,
Srinivasa Venkatesh  and
Himanshu Chauhan
Rajesh Yadav*
Affiliation:
National Centre for Disease Control, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, India
Dundaiah Somashekar
Affiliation:
National Centre for Disease Control, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, India
Samir V. Sodha
Affiliation:
Division of Global Health Protection, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New Delhi, India Division of Global Health Protection, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Kayla F. Laserson
Affiliation:
Division of Global Health Protection, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New Delhi, India Division of Global Health Protection, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Srinivasa Venkatesh
Affiliation:
National Centre for Disease Control, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, India
Himanshu Chauhan
Affiliation:
National Centre for Disease Control, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, India
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Rajesh Yadav, National Centre for Disease Control, Room Number 102, Administrative Building, 22 Shamnath Marg, Delhi, 110057, India (e-mail: drrajeshvyadav@gmail.com).
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Abstract

Objectives

Torrential rainfall and flooding from September 2-6, 2014 submerged >350 villages in Jammu and Kashmir state. We conducted rapid needs assessment in capital Srinagar from 27 September to 1 October to assess population health and safety needs.

Methods

Based on Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) methodology, we selected 7 households each from 30 census blocks using 2-stage cluster sampling. We collected information on demographics, needs, and illnesses using structured questionnaire.

Results

Of the 210 households surveyed, an estimated 57% (CI: 41%-73%) reported significant damage, 50% (CI: 36%-63%) were evacuated, and 16% (CI: 10%-22%) reported injuries. Households lacked electricity (22%; CI: 8.8%-36%), tap water (13%; CI: 5%-21%), working toilets (11%; CI: 4%-19%), and adequate food supply (14%; CI: 8%-20%). Moreover, 55% (CI: 45%-64%) of households reported cough, cold, fever, rashes, or diarrhea; 68% (CI: 59%-77%) experienced agitation, anxiety, depression, or nightmares since the flooding. Of the households with a member on medicines for non-communicable diseases, 40% did not have a week’s supply. Restoring basic essentials (30%; CI: 22%-37%) and repairing houses (30%; CI: 19%-40%) were the most urgent needs expressed.

Conclusions

Floods damaged >1/2 of households in Srinagar, disrupting basic essentials, and causing mental trauma. These findings helped authorities prioritize assistance with psychological symptoms and availability of prescription medicines. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:133–137)

Keywords

rapid needs assessmentfloodsSrinagarCASPER
Type
Brief Report
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 13 , Issue 2 , April 2019 , pp. 133 - 137
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2018 

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