NURS FPX 6020 Assessment 1 Risk Assessment
Student name
Capella University
NURS-FPX 6020: Biopsychosocial Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice 1
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Submission Date
Risk Assessment
Hurricane Ian is a devastating hurricane that hit Florida in September 2022 and resulted in millions of catastrophic floods and more than 149 deaths (Rafferty, 2022). The population was put at risk of respiratory, gastrointestinal and skin infections due to stormwater and contaminated floodwaters. Electricity failures and broken sanitation augmented the risk of infectious illness dissemination in overpopulated shelters as well.
The conditions demanded an immediate evaluation of the environmental hazards and situation of the population to avoid contagious epidemics. A risk analysis process that was critical also assisted in influencing some interventions to the communities that were depending on backup.
Applying the Adaptive Decision-Making Model
The ADDM Decision-Making Model is useful in the planning of infection control by adapting to a constantly changing situation of a hurricane. It is based on a set of predetermined controls of the pollution of floodwaters, maddens, and the population of filled shelters to inform the formation of developing interventions (Jensen and O’Sullivan, 2024).
Uncertainty and variability in real-time are also possible in ADDM compared to the Rational Decision-Making Model, where all the information and linear processes are mandatory. This flexibility makes it appropriately installed to suit the use in hurricanes, and that requires the instant rearrangement of health schemes. In other conditions of Hurricane Ian, ADDM facilitated the response to the changes by responding to the changes on time, deploying water purifying equipment and mobile clinics.
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Health Problems and Needs
Hurricane Ian had a significant environmental impact because it was a devastating flood with mould and a lot of destruction to the environment. Water polluted with sewage escalated cases of gastrointestinal infections, and the houses that were run-down by water aggravated respiratory diseases like asthma and COPD (Patel, 2022). Overpopulated shelters have created more opportunities to transmit respiratory viruses (including influenza and COVID-19).
The skin injuries sustained on the skin in the process of removal of the debris were also likely to get infected in unhealthy situations. The combined outcome of these dangers proved that the need to implement powerful measures of infection-control interventions in the respective communities was very high.
The vulnerable populations were elderly persons, children, low-income families, and chronic patients who were vulnerable to increased risk of infection and were further exacerbated by insufficient resources and health services. Among the migrant workers and uninsured residents, there were other obstacles to the timely acquisition of care or protective supplies (Patel, 2022).
Needs of the community included availability of clean water, assistance in the elimination of molds, and secure housing. The secondary health epidemics of these groups were significantly lowered by the use of mobile clinics, hygiene packs distribution, and the distribution of N95 masks. These needs were identified as the need to focus on equitable intervention during the disaster in the Hurricane Ian recovery process.
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Difference Comparison to Other Models
The Adaptive Decision-Making Model has its opposite with the other models because it permits the decisions to be changed as the disaster state develops, instead of using a specific sequence of activities. The linear or rational models presuppose the perfect amount of information prior to action, and this alternative is hardly possible in the fast-paced movement of a hurricane (Zhang and Zhu, 2023).
In its place, the adaptive model uses real-time data like the rate of water pollution, congestiveness in the shelters, and molds in effecting real-time changes. It helps in taking quick actions and is grounded in evidence-based resolutions rather than inflexible plans, which might not resonate with the real field scenario. The adaptation framework is useful and receptive in hurricane recovery operations through unceasingly providing feedback.
Demographic and Environmental Considerations for Targeted Response
| Category | Details / Impact |
|---|---|
| Population Affected | Hurricane Ian impacted the diversity of the whole population, which included older adults, children, low-income families, migrant workers, and individuals with chronic illnesses. The seasonal residents and the tourists were not spared as well since they may not be a system to the local emergency instructions. Undocumented residents and low-income people were not able to follow the rules of infection control easily due to the absence of means of transportation and insurance. |
| Preconditioning Factors / Challenges | The absence of resources, the impossibility of getting health care, and exposure to polluted conditions were those factors that preconditioned these groups with the threats of infections (Thornton, 2025). The nature of the population necessitated special intervention and outreach in order to safeguard the at-risk populations. |
| Environmental Risks | Risks to the environment compounded the risks of infections to the communities affected by Hurricane Ian, particularly at the sites where floods transported sewage, chemicals, and debris. The water stagnated and led to the proliferation of bacteria and mosquitoes, and infected and transmitted diseases by vectors on the skin. The growth of dampness in houses became a common source of respiratory risks to residents and first responders (Thornton, 2025). |
| Cleanup / Exposure Risks | The cleanup operations caused exposure of people to sharp objects and contaminated materials that put them at risk of being injured and having secondary infections. |
| Resource Allocation / Recommendations | A combination of the demographics and environmental information could be more effective in helping the officials allocation of the majority of their supplies, including N95 masks, hygiene kits, and mobile clinics. |
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Environmental Exposure
Environmental exposure risk was a variety of polluted floodwater, molds, and a massive amount of structural destruction due to Hurricane Ian. The water mixed with the sewage contained bacteria and chemicals that preconditioned individuals to contract gastrointestinal and skin infections (Thornton, 2025).
Molds in the water-damaged houses also resulted in respiratory distress and the exacerbation of the chronic illnesses of the residents and the responders. The debris of the homes that were demolished endangered the population with harmful substances and could lead to injuries and secondary contamination. Thus, breeding of the mosquitoes would also happen in stagnant water, increasing the risk of contracting a disease that the mosquito was carrying in the process of recovery.
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Uncertainties
There are a number of uncertainties in the long-term health impacts of Hurricane Ian, despite the fact that the storm assessment was enormous. The total amount of the chemical exposure of the affected floodwaters (pesticides and petroleum products) remains to be reached in its entirety (Wright and Thom, 2023). The lack of information regarding the displaced, undocumented, and low-income residents disrupts the adequate estimation of the threat of infection.
The long-term effects of exposure to moulds have not been taken into consideration yet and may cause some respiratory issues in the long term. These ambiguities indicate that there is a necessity to ensure the constant surveillance and flexible provisions in concern with general health in providing a remedy.
Epidemiological and Systems-level Data Analysis
The epidemiological follow-up information regarding Hurricane Ian showed that the communities affected by the Hurricane were characterized by high rates of respiratory, skin, and gastrointestinal diseases. The exposure to mold, as well, has contributed to the increased number of symptoms related to asthma, and gastrointestinal infections were widespread due to the contaminated flood water (Sodders, 2023).
Hospitals had been increasing the number of skin wounds that were infected by poor environmental conditions. It was also reported that the residents were treated by the mobile clinics in large numbers with respiratory irritation and wound complications. These trends are the features of the high health burden of the hurricane and the necessity to focus on the infection-control efforts.
The data on the system level provided by the Florida Department of Health revealed that mobile clinics, emergency departments, and shelter-based medical services were frequently used during the aftermath period (Sodders, 2023). The health facilities used real-time data regarding water pollution, moulding, and the number of patients to determine how they would respond.
The information was used in the dispensing of the N95 masks, water purification kits and hygiene kits to the most affected areas. The use of telehealth services to access the non-traveling residents because of flooding or displacement was also a characteristic of it. System-level information and epidemiological information facilitated the distribution of resources, along with reinforcing the course of action among the population in the recovery.
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Health Trends
Health trends that stood out in the post-disaster of Hurricane Ian were respiratory and dermatologic diseases, not to mention gastrointestinal diseases. The mold also caused additional asthma attacks and other breathing irritations in the residents (Sodders, 2023).
The contamination of floodwaters led to the development of gastrointestinal diseases, and those injuries that were caused by the presence of rubber were typically prone to skin infections. Such trends represented the trends in the healthcare needs in the hurricane recovery period. The focus on such trends also showed the need to have long-term infection-prevention initiatives and specific measures in the area of social health.
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Relevance of Data
Hurricane Ian system-level and epidemiological data resulted in the combination of timely interventions, which were necessary in the shape of information about the state of health of people. The respiratory diseases and the number of emergencies, as well as environmental pollution, guided the application of mobile clinics, N95 masks, and hygiene stations (Gudenkauf et al., 2024).
The prevention of the infection could be directed with the help of vulnerable groups of people, including the elderly, children, and low-income residents. This also enhanced the disaster preparedness and healthcare infrastructure in the long term by the use of such statistics. In general, collaboration between and among communities was improved by the use of integrated information, which enabled community streamline health in hurricane recovery.
Needs for Communicating Effectively
The communication in the middle and after Hurricane Ian played a critical role in terms of assisting the residents in decreasing the risk of being infected and making responsible choices regarding their health. The public health authorities gave recommendations on the safe use of water, mold clean-up, and hygiene practices to prevent respiratory, skin, and gastrointestinal diseases (Gudenkauf et al., 2024).
Messaging was also made accessible in every channel, such as social media, local news, emergency alerts, and community organizations, to make sure that the non-English and the vulnerable get the message. Clarity and understanding facilitated the process of effective communication that led to trust and enhanced compliance with prevention measures. The sharp spread of the information on the usage of protective devices, water treatment and hygiene of shelters contributed to the recovery and reduced the incidence of secondary health issues.
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Culturally Sensitive Communication
Culturally competent communication was necessary in the case of Hurricane Ian because the residents of other backgrounds needed to know about the infection-prevention instructions. The health officers have worked with the representatives of the communities, religion, and the local communities to come up with culturally competent and multilingual resources (Gudenkauf et al., 2024).
This adaptation of messages by integrating cultural practices, languages, as well as community models, enhanced the accessibility of migrant workers, low-income families and older people. The plan has assisted in trust building, improved interaction and compliance with the recommended measures to control infections. Through this local understanding and cultural dimensions, the public health guidance was made read and achievable within all the communities that were engaged.
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Examples of Need for Communication
After Hurricane Ian, people needed to be provided with clear, urgent, and efficient information to minimize the probability of infection and solve the problem of health threats. The government representative of the public health gave instructions on the ways of purifying the water, maintaining safe shelters, getting rid of molds, and wearing protective clothing against respiratory, skin, and gastrointestinal diseases (Gudenkauf et al., 2024).
The outreach involved children, older adults, and those who do not speak English, more specifically through community networks, local news media and through social media. Communication with the results was also quick, and there was a response to the results, which prevented panic. There was greater obedience to the infection-control measures, and also provided those displaced with the resources they required. These programs were important in relieving second-order health issues and community recovery.
Conclusion
The Florida communities were under severe threats to respiratory, skin, and gastrointestinal health-related infections due to Hurricane Ian. The Adaptive Decision-Making Model helped the representatives of public health to evaluate the dynamic hazards, distribute their resources, and conduct some interventions.
The urgency of the decision-making rested on the data of the epidemiological and system levels and the application of the culturally sensitive communication to enhance the adherence and equity of preventive measures. The safety of vulnerable populations was pertinent to hygiene kits, personal protection, and mobile clinics. On the whole, the evidence-based, culturally-situated, and adaptive strategy enhanced the health outcomes of the population and improved the future preparedness to hurricanes.
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References for NURS FPX 6020 Assessment 1
Jensen, S., & O’Sullivan, T. (2024, August 19). Informing adaptation with lessons learned from key 21st century infectious disease outbreaks. Pressbooks.pub; Mavs Open Press. https://uta.pressbooks.pub/trendsininternationaldisastermanagement/chapter/informing_adaptation_with_lessons_learned/
Gudenkauf, L. M., Hathaway, C. A., Carroll, J. E., Small, B. J., Li, X., Hoogland, A. I., Castro, E., Armaiz-Pena, G. N., Oswald, L. B., Jim, H. S. L., Tworoger, S. S., & Gonzalez, B. D. (2024). Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, 33(6), 771–778. https://doi.org/10.1158/1055-9965.epi-23-1029
Patel, K. (2022, October 5). Florida’s waterways contaminated post-Ian, posing health risks. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/10/05/ian-hurricane-water-quality-florida/
NURS FPX 6020 Assessment 1 Risk Assessment
Rafferty, J. (2022, December 22). Www.britannica.com; Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Hurricane-Ian-2022
Sodders, N. (2023). Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 72. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7218a5
Thornton, C. R. (2025). ScholarWorks. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/17406/
Zhang, G., & Zhu, W. (2023). ArXiv.org. https://arxiv.org/abs/2307.13686
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Answer 2: Assessment of Hurricane Ian’s health risks and interventions.