Regional Health System Response to the 2007 Greensburg, Kansas, EF5 Tornado

• 2007

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• Elizabeth Ablah; Annie Tinius; Kurt Konda; Carolyn Synovitz; Italo Subbarao
PMID: 18388635DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/dmp.0b013e31815901dc

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This article analyzes the impact of an EF5 tornado that struck Greensburg, KS in 2007, causing widespread destruction and 12 fatalities. Data from emergency medical services and hospitals revealed challenges faced by responders due to infrastructure damage. Hospitals treated 90 patients with an average injury severity score of 6.4, showing a correlation between age and injury severity. Critical mortality was 18%, highlighting the importance of preparedness and advanced warning to reduce tornado-related injuries and deaths. The study emphasizes the significance of using injury severity scores to assess natural disasters like tornadoes for future disaster preparedness.

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Tags

Focus Area: Natural Disasters

Audience: Public Health Professionals

Emergency Management Stage: Response

Bundles: Disaster Research Literature Review

Keywords: Aged; Disasters; Emergency Medical Services; Hospitals; Injury Severity Score; Kansas; Management Audit; Medical Audit; Mortality; Program Evaluation; Public Health; Severity of Illness Index; Tornadoes; Wounds and Injuries; Adolescent; Middle Aged; Organizational Case Studies; Disaster Medicine

Institutions: The University of Kansas

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