Exploring disaster preparedness for climate-driven Atlantic hurricanes for patients with severe mental illness

Customized disaster preparedness is an unmet need for patients with severe mental illness (SMI) in this era of compounding disasters. Climate change is making Atlantic hurricanes stronger and wetter, with a tendency to slow and stall along coastlines, resulting in more damaging storms that may disrupt access to healthcare and lifestyle routines for patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and members of their support networks. COVID-19—and future pandemic airborne diseases—add risk and complexity to evacuation and sheltering. Threats posed by this worsening risk landscape require tailored approaches to disaster preparedness for patients with SMI. We are conducting a pilot survey with samples of patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder to examine hurricane experience, threat appraisal for this hurricane season, and adaptive actions to prepare for possible hurricane impacts. Because of inaccurate self-appraisal of capabilities commonly observed with SMI patients, informants who know them well are also interviewed. The survey is underway. Results will be compiled, analyzed, and presented. Adaptive disaster preparedness actions include making disaster plans, preparing the home, stockpiling supplies, and safely sheltering in place or evacuating. Taking COVID-19 precautions, obtaining ample supplies of medications and maintaining contact with providers are critical components. Patients with SMI have special needs yet are underprepared for disasters striking their communities. Compounding disaster scenarios are progressively evolving, thereby elevating risks for harm. Rising disaster risks amplify the urgency for developing effective approaches for safeguarding patients with SMI, their support networks, their providers, and their care systems