Research Papers

Cretikos MA, Merritt TD, Main K, Eastwood K, Winn L, Moran L, Durrheim DN. Mitigating the health impacts of a natural disaster - the June 2007 long-weekend storm in the Hunter region of New South Wales. Medical Journal of Australia 2007; 187(11-12): 670-673.

A severe storm affecting Newcastle and the Hunter Valley during June 2007 caused widespread flooding and damage to houses, businesses, schools and health care facilities, and damaged critical infrastructure, resulting in a natural disaster being declared in 19 local government areas. Interruption of the electricity supply to over 200 000 homes and businesses, interruption of water and gas supplies, and sewerage system pump failures presented substantial public health threats. The activities conducted by the public health emergency operations centre coordinating surveillance activities, responding to acute public health issues and preventing disease outbreaks are presented.