THE ROLE OF RESEARCH SCIENCE IN RAPID RESPONSE TO NATURAL DISASTERS

Whether natural or man-made, unavoidable or intentional, environmental hazards that progress to the point of becoming natural disasters necessarily evoke rapid responses from multiple sectors of society. Although the most acute needs for rapid response are arguably in the realms of disaster relief, assessment of property damage and health impacts and needs, and the restoration of civil normalcy, the scientific research community also has an important role to play as rapid-responder. In the immediate aftermath of natural disaters, geoscientists, ecologists, and public health researchers working together have a unique opportunity -- and responsibility -- to work together to investigate the detailed etiology of disaster endpoints. But just as importantly, rapid-response basic research offers the prospect of formulating a sound scientific basis for ameliorating or even eliminating morbidity, mortality, and property damage in the wake of future disasters. In this presentation we will focus specifically on lessons learned from a set of NSF-sponsored rapid-response studies mounted in the New Orleans metropolitan area following the landfall of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.