13531

TORNADO-RELATED DEATHS AND INJURIES DUE TO THE MAY 3, 1999 TORNADOES: 

TORNADO-RELATED DEATHS AND INJURIES DUE TO THE MAY 3, 1999 TORNADOES Sheryll Brown, Pam Archer, Elizabeth Kruger, and Sue Mallonee Injury Prevention Service Oklahoma State Department of Health

Path of F5 Tornado Through Moore: 

Path of F5 Tornado Through Moore

OBJECTIVES : 

OBJECTIVES Injury epidemiology Magnitude of injuries Causes of Injuries Locations Warnings Protective actions

METHODS: 

METHODS Injury Assessment Community Survey Random telephone survey of OCMSA

INJURY ASSESSMENT: 

INJURY ASSESSMENT Reviewed hospital medical records Emergency room and inpatient Reviewed Medical Examiner reports Surveyed survivors by mail Telephone interviews by Medical Examiner’s office

COMMUNITY SURVEY: 

COMMUNITY SURVEY Face-to-face interviews in severely damaged areas 4 days following tornadoes Bridge Creek Moore and Southwest OKC Del City

RANDOM TELEPHONE SURVEY: 

RANDOM TELEPHONE SURVEY Telephone interview of 6 county Oklahoma City Metropolitan Statistical Area Computer generated random digit telephone sample

DEATHS: 

DEATHS 45 persons died 3 cardiac deaths 1 preparing for the tornado 1 after the tornado 40 directly from tornado

INJURIES: 

INJURIES 577 injured persons 26 preparing for the tornado 39 after the tornado 512 directly from tornado

DIRECT INJURIES*: 

DIRECT INJURIES* 134 (26%) hospitalized 376 (73%) treated and released in emergency departments *512 persons. Treatment status was unknown for 2 persons.

AGE AND SEX: 

AGE AND SEX Number

FREQUECY OF INJURY BY TREATMENT AND OUTCOME STATUS: 

FREQUECY OF INJURY BY TREATMENT AND OUTCOME STATUS 0 20 40 60 80 100 Soft Tissue Fx/Disloc* Brain FB Chest Eye Internal Percent Died Hosp ED *Significantly higher among persons who died.

CAUSES OF INJURIES: 

CAUSES OF INJURIES Unspecified flying/falling debris (36%) Picked up/blown by tornado (16%) Collapse of walls, ceiling, roof (13%) Flying/falling wood or boards (11%) Hit by objects (11%) Glass (6%) MVC (5%) Other (10%) Unknown (29%) *Percents add up to more than 100 because persons sustained more than one injury from more than one cause.

PROBABLE CAUSE OF DEATH: 

PROBABLE CAUSE OF DEATH Multiple injuries (50%) Head injuries (23%) Chest trauma (18%) Traumatic asphyxia (10%)

LOCATIONS* OF DEATHS AND INJURIES: 

LOCATIONS* OF DEATHS AND INJURIES *Includes locations of 353 injured survivors and 40 persons who died. **Proportion of deaths significantly higher than in houses.

SPECIFIC LOCATIONS OF 27 PERSONS WHO DIED: 

SPECIFIC LOCATIONS OF 27 PERSONS WHO DIED 19 (70%) not in recommended place 8 mobile home 7 outdoors (2 under overpass) 1 upstairs apartment 2 rooms with exterior walls 1 motor vehicle 8 (30%) in recommended place 5 closet 3 bathroom

LOCATIONS OF PERSONS IN DAMAGED AREAS: 

LOCATIONS OF PERSONS IN DAMAGED AREAS *450 people in damaged areas.

WARNINGS THAT CAUSED ACTION (COMMUNITY SURVEY*): 

WARNINGS THAT CAUSED ACTION (COMMUNITY SURVEY*) 58% 12% 8% 5% 4% 4% 9% TV SEEING SIRENS RADIO WEATHER CHANGES PAGER/PHONE WORD OF MOUTH/OTHER *Interviews with 450 people in areas damaged by the tornado.

PREVALENCE OF WARNINGS: 

PREVALENCE OF WARNINGS 0 20 40 60 80 100 Television Siren Saw Tornado Radio WB radio No Warning Telephone Community Injured

KNOWLEDGE OF SHELTERS: 

KNOWLEDGE OF SHELTERS Community survey 66% “didn’t know or weren’t sure” of shelter location Random telephone survey 37% “didn’t know or weren’t sure” at time of tornado 32% “didn’t know or weren’t sure” 14-17 months later 14% shelter on home premises at time of tornado 17% shelter on home premises 14-17 months later

PROTECTION: 

PROTECTION Go to lowest level of dwelling, away from exterior walls, in an interior closet or bathroom Need to examine how public perceives “recommended safe place” Cover the body with thick blankets or clothing (protect from flying debris) Protect the head from brain injury by wearing a motorcycle or bicycle helmet

RECOMMENDATIONS: 

RECOMMENDATIONS Have a preparedness plan in advance If in a mobile home, LEAVE immediately. Have a predetermine shelter Heed the warnings Increase availability of shelters Increase knowledge of location of shelters

RECOMMENDATIONS: 

RECOMMENDATIONS Don’t seek protection under overpasses If caught outdoors or in motor vehicle, seek substantial shelter