2025 Disaster Research Training Workshop Booklet - Texas A&M Superfund Research Center

Disaster Research Training

Special Thanks !!!

Matthew Tilimon US Coast Guard

Scott Patlovich UT Health Science Center at Houston

Robert Emery UT Health Science Center at Houston

Christopher Wiatrek Texas Commission of Environmental Quality

Anthony Buck Texas Commission of Environmental Quality

Sarah Burnett CTEH

Christopher Kuhlman CTEH

Brent Koza Texas General Land Office

Michael Hunt Chevron

Jennifer Gaunt TAMU School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

Megan Bennett TAMU School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

Arlean Rohde TAMU School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

Thomas McDonald TAMU School of Public Health

Garett Sansom TAMU School of Public Health

Natalie Johnson TAMU School of Public Health

Jaqueline Zdebski University of Washington

Alex Johsnon University of Washington

Funding for this event was provided, in part, by the Office of the Vice President of Research at Texas A&M University, and grants from the National Institutes of Health –National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (P42 ES027704 and T32 ES026568).

This workshop is solely the responsibility of the organizers and does not necessarily reflect the official views of the US EPA, NIH, agencies of the State of Texas, or other stakeholders who may participate. The Federal and State agencies involved do not endorse any products or services described herein. Neither the US or Texas governments, nor any of the organizers assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of the information herein.

DISASTER RESEARCH TRAINING WORKSHOP

December 4-5, 2025

Location: TEEX – Brayton Fire Training Field, 1595 Nuclear Science Rd, College Station, TX 77843

Prerequisite online courses (must be completed before attending the workshop):

ICS-100 (IS-100.C): Introduction to Incident Command System https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-100.c

ICS-200 (IS-200.C): Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-200.b

ICS-800 (IS-800.D): National Response Framework, an Introduction https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-800.c

Agenda

DAY 1: DECEMBER 4, 2025 (Thursday)

7:30 – 8:00 am Check-in & Breakfast

8:00 – 10:15 am Incident Command System & Emergency Operations Matthew Tillimon (US Coast Guard) and Christophen Kuhlman (CTEH)

10:15 – 10:30 am Break

10:30 – 12:00 pm Safety Considerations for Conducting Field Research Scott Patlovich (UT Health) and Sarah Burnett (CTEH)

12:00 – 1:00 pm Lunch

1:00 – 2:45 pm Field Sampling After Disasters & Environmental Emergencies Thomas McDonald (Texas A&M University) and Sarah Burnett (CTEH)

2:45 – 3:00 pm Break

3:00 – 5:00 pm Public Resources at the Natural Hazard and Disaster Reconnaissance Facility Jacqueline Zdebski and Alex Johnson (University of Washington-Seattle)

5:00 – 5:15 pm Day 1 Wrap-up

DAY 2: DECEMBER 5, 2025 (Friday)

7:30 – 8:00 am Check-in & Breakfast

8:00 – 9:30 am Human Studies During & After Disasters & Environmental Emergencies

Garett Sansom (Texas A&M University)

9:30 – 9:45 am Break

9:45 – 11:30 pm Effectively Communicating Health & Safety Information Through the Mass Media

Robert Emery (UT Health)

11:30 – 12:15 pm Lunch

12:15 – 12:30 pm Overview of Tabletop Exercises

12:30 – 1:30 pm Tabletop Exercise Round 1

1:30 – 1:45 pm Break

1:45 – 2:45 pm Tabletop Exercise Round 2

2:45 – 3:00 pm Break

3:00 – 4:00 pm Tabletop Exercise Round 3

4:00 – 4:30 pm Day 2 Wrap-up/Closing

Tabletop Exercises

Hands-on activities focused on practicing and implementing the material of the workshop using disaster research activity examples after a major weather event such as Hurricane Harvey

12:15 – 12:30 Overview of the tabletop exercises

12:30 – 1:30 Tabletop Exercise 1

Group I: Interacting with first responders and government agencies

Group II: Collection of Field Samples

Group II: Risk Communication

1:30 – 1:45 Break

1:45 – 2:45 Tabletop Exercise 2

Group I: Risk Communication

Group II: Interacting with first responders and government agencies

Group III: Collection of Field Samples

2:45 – 3:00 Break

3:00 – 4:00 Tabletop Exercise 3

Group I: Collection of Field Samples

Group II: Risk Communication

Group III: Interacting with first responders and government agencies

4:00 – 4:30 Wrap-up/Closing

Workshop start/end times

General Information

Thursday, December 4, 2025 Registration: 7:30 am

Friday, December 5, 2025

Driving Directions

Lectures: 8:00 am

Lectures: 8:00 am

The address of the facility is 1595 Nuclear Science Rd, College Station, TX 77843 However, this address will bring you to the main building, not the EOTC. Please follow these driving directions:

- Follow the Nuclear Science Road past the main building with the TEEX sign (Building 25 “Brayton Fire Field HD Smith Operations Complex”) for about 300 yards. Building 25 should be on your left and the CLL airport perimeter fence on your right

- Enter the facility at Gate G (on your left) and continue straight onto Cormier Street

- Go past training sheds 68 through 65 (on your left)

- Turn right immediately past shed 65 onto Harvick Street

- Continue until Harvick St forks at Building 79 in front of Building 89

- Turn left and follow the road over the bridge (take the right bridge)

- Make a left onto Emergency Response Drive after the bridge

- EOTC is the large building up a small hill on your left (Building 95)

- Turn left before EOTC and park in the front of the entrance with the steps and glass windows (no permit necessary)

Parking

- Unrestricted parking is available at EOTC facility (see maps)

Meals and Coffee Breaks

Thursday, December 4 (Rm 135)

Friday, December 5 (Rm 135)

Internet Access

- Texas A&M trainees/staff: TAMU link

Breakfast: 7:30 am

Breakfast: 7:30 am

- Visitors: internet access codes will be provided on-site

Workshop Organizers Contact Information

Ivan Rusyn

Arlean Rohde

Phone: 919-624-2272

Phone: 832-492-5132

Email: irusyn@tamu.edu

Email: arohde@tamu.edu

TAMU WIFI for Guests

Overview: Visitors to Texas A&M University may connect to the TAMU_Visitor wireless network. Once connected, their device will be remembered for five days.

DISASTER RESEARCH TRAINING WORKSHOP

LECTUREMATERIALS

•MattTilimon

•EmergencyMgmt.Specialist

•20yearsactive-dutyU.S.CoastGuard

•15+yearsLANTAREAIMAT

•Type1OperationsSectorChief;PSC&IC

•Matthew.d.tilimon@uscg.mil

•ChrisKuhlman,PhD,CIH, DABT

•Director,EmergencyResponse Sciences,CTEH,LLC.

•12yearsinemergencyresponse toxicologyandindustrialhygiene

•PhDinPharmacologyandToxicology

•Board-certifiedinToxicology(DABT) andIndustrialHygiene(CIH)

•Vice-ChairofAmericanIndustrial HygieneAssociation’sEmergency ResponsePlanningCommittee

•ckuhlman@cteh.com

InstructorsIntroductionsContinued

•MichaelHunt

•EmergencyManagementSenior Specialist

•13YearswithChevronand24years intheCoastGuard

•OperationsSectionChiefHurricane Ritaandpost9/11

•QualifiedIncidentCommander,Ops SectionChief,PlanningSectionChief

•CertifiedICSInstructor-FEMA

•MasterExercisePractitioner–FEMA

•MastersofPublicService& Administration-TexasA&M

Agenda

•TypesofDisasters

•Workingwithagencypartners

•ReviewofICSprinciples

•ReviewofICSstructures

•OverviewofthePlanningCycle

•NavigatingtheEOC/ICP

•Howtoobtaininformationonincidents

•Releaseofpublicinformation

•How,whenandwithwhomtoseekpermissiontoenterareasofdisasterfor sampling

•LargeincidentretrospectiveofICSimplementation/Lessonslearned

WhoDealswithDisasters?

•FEMA’sdefinition:anoccurrenceofanaturalcatastrophe, technologicalaccident,orhuman-causedeventthathasresulted inseverepropertydamage,deaths,and/ormultipleinjuries.

•Whataresomeexamples?

•Wildfire

•Hurricane

•OilSpill

•CyberAttack

•Tornado

WhoDealswithDisasters?

•Realanswer:Notjustthegovernmentbuteveryone

•The“WholeCommunity”whichincludes:

•Individualsandfamilies

•Businesses

•Faith-basedandcommunityorganizations

•Non-profitgroups

•Schoolsandacademia

•Mediaoutlets

•Alllevelsofgovernment:state,local,tribal,territorial,&federal

HISTORYOFICS

•ICSwasdevelopedinthe1970sbyaninteragencygroupinSouthern CaliforniacalledFIRESCOPE.

•ICSwasdevelopedtomanagerapidlymovingwildfiresandtoaddressthefollowing problems:

•Dangerousconditions

•Toomanypeoplereportingtoonesupervisor;

•Differentemergencyresponseorganizationalstructures;

•Lackofreliableincidentinformation;

•Inadequateandincompatiblecommunications;

•Lackofstructureforcoordinatedplanningamongagencies;

•Unclearlinesofauthority;

•Terminologydifferencesamongagencies;and

•Unclearorunspecifiedincidentobjectives.

•In1980,federalofficialstransitionedICSintotheNationalInteragency IncidentManagementSystem(NIIMS).In2002becameNIMS.

ICSFEATURES/BENEFITS

•Providesastandardizedmanagementtoolfor meetingthedemandsofsmallorlargeemergency ornonemergencysituations.

•Represents"bestpractices"andhasbecomethe standardforemergencymanagementacrossthe country.

•Maybeusedforplannedevents,natural disasters,andactsofterrorism.

CommonTerminology EstablishmentandTransferofCommand ChainOfCommand/UnityofCommand UnifiedCommand ManagementbyObjectivesIncident ActionPlanningManageableSpanof ControlIncidentLocations/Facilities

ComprehensiveResourceManagement IntegratedCommunications InformationandIntelligenceManagement Accountability Dispatch/Deployment ModularOrganization

ORGANIZATIONALCHART

FUNCTIONALAREAS

•IncidentCommand:setstheincidentobjectives,strategies,and priorities.Hasoverallresponsibilityfortheincident.

•Operations:conductsoperationstoreachtheincidentobjectives. Developstacticsanddirectsalloperationalresources.

•Planning:supportstheincidentactionplanningprocessby trackingresources,collecting/analyzinginformation,and maintainingdocumentation.

•Logistics:arrangesforresourcesandneededservicestosupport achievementoftheincidentobjectives.

•Finance/Administration:monitorscostsrelatedtotheincident. Providesaccounting,procurement,timerecording,andcost analyses.

•Intelligence/Investigation:collects,analyzes,anddisseminate informationandintelligenceforincidentsinvolvingintel gatheringandinvestigativeactivities.

UnifiedCommand

Definition: Providesguidelinestoenable agencieswithdifferentlegal, geographic,andfunctional responsibilitiestocoordinate, plan,andinteracteffectively.

ICSPracticeScenario

•OnDecember4,2025,at0832asemi-truckcarrying8,400gallons ofdieselcollidedwithacargotrainattheintersectionofOldMain DrandWellbornRd.Theassociatedtrainderailmentdamaged onetankcarcontaining18,000gallonsofchlorine.Theentire contentsofthedamagedsemi-trucktrailerwasdischargedinto WhiteCreekviaastormdrain.Thechlorinetankcarisrapidly leakingontotheroadwaycreatinganairplume.Thewindisoutof thesouthwestwiththeplumemovingacrosscampus.Theinjured semi-truckdriverhasbeentransportedtothehospital,noother injurieshavebeenreported.

WhiteCreek

ICSCaseStudy–CrudeOilRelease

GroveIncidentSpill–HallCreekChannel(2016)

•Ventura,California

•Crudeoilpipelinefailure

•~45,000gallonsofoilreleasedfrompipelinevault intoabarrancanearresidences

OnJune23,2016,atapproximately0530hours (hrs),theVenturaCountyFireDepartment(Fire Department)respondedtoaresidentreportofa foul,petroleumodornearhisresidenceonGrove Lane.

At0623hrs,theFireDepartmentinitiallyreported anoilspillofapproximately5,000barrelsfroma pipelinelocatedoffofHallCanyontothe CaliforniaOfficeofEmergencyServices(CalOES); however,theestimatewasupdatedto600barrels.

TheFireDepartmentwasabletocontainthespill inthedrycreekbedbyconstructingseveral earthendamstolimittheimpactofthespillto waterways.Inaddition,theU.S.CoastGuard confirmedtheoilspilldidnotextendtothePacific Ocean.

GroveIncidentSpill–HallCreekChannel(2016)

GroveIncidentSpill–HallCreekChannel(2016)

IncidentCommand:

AUnifiedCommand(UC)structurewassoon adopted,includingrepresentativesfromthe followingagencies:

•CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandWildlife’s OfficeofSpillPreventionandResponse(OSPR)

•U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)

•ResponsibleParty-CrimsonPipeline

Additionalagenciesprovidedsupport:

•U.C.Davis,OiledWildlifeCareNetwork

•BarbarenoandVentarenoBandsoftheMission IndianTribe

•OwlClanoftheChumashIndianTribe

Respondedtotheincidenttoprovidesupport tothefollowingICunits:

•Safety/EnvironmentalUnits

•Operations/Planning

•LiaisonUnit

•PublicInformationOfficer

GroveIncidentSpill–HallCreekChannel(2016)

SummaryofUC-CoordinatedResponseActivities:

Atthepeakoftheresponseactivities,aroundJuly12,2016,there wereover170personsdeployed,aswellasfivevacuumtrucks,an excavator,andfiveShorelineCleanupAssessmentTechniques (SCAT)teams.Someotherdetails:

•7,000feetofboomdeployed

•24,234gallonsofoilrecovered

•Oiledvegetation,oiledsand,oiled debris,andoiledsoilwereremoved.

OnAugust19and30,2016,UCdetermined“NoFurtherCleanup Required”endpointwasmetinDivisionAandDivisionsBandC, respectively,asdefinedintheGroveIncidentClean-upEndpointPlan preparedbytheUCinJune2016.

SUPERFUND RESEARCH CENTER DISASTER RESEARCH TRAINING WORKSHOP DECEMBER 4, 2025 10:30 AM -12:00 PM

Whatare the hazards here?

Whatare the hazards here?

GoletaFamilySchoolstudentsheadtoSantaCruzIslandtohelpwiththeDragonflyMercuryProject,which analyzesmercurylevelsfromdragonfliesatspecificNationalParkssites.(GoletaFamilySchoolphoto)

Whatare the hazards here?

Whatare the hazards here?

InfectiousDiseaseIncidents LessonsLearned

Zikavirustransmissionfromexposurethatoccurredduringcollectionof mosquitoesinSenegal,2011

•Mosquitocollectionstudyfocusedonmalariaconducted inSenegalduringthesummerof2008

•Pre-dawncollectiontimesaimedtocapturemosquitoes thathadpreyedonvillagersintheirhomesduringthe night

•Researchersspecificallydidnotusemosquitorepellents toprotectthemselves,andasaresultreportedbeing bittenfrequently

•TworesearcherstestedpositiveforZikavirus

•Subsequently,uponreturntransmissiontowifeoccurred –thisisthefirstknowndocumentedcaseofsexual transmissionofZikavirus https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/17/5/pdfs/10-1939.pdf

NavigatingRiskinTurbulentTimes

Fatalcaseofpneumonicplaguefromdirectbloodandaerosolexposure duringnecropsyofamountainlioninArizona,2007

•NationalParkServiceemployeeconductedanecropsyonamountainlioninhis garagewithouttheuseofpersonalprotectiveequipment

•Threedayslaterhedevelopedafeverandhemoptysisanddiedapproximately6days afterexposure

•TissuesfromthemountainliontestedpositiveforYersiniapestis

•Thiscaseshowcasedtheneedofenhancedawarenessof zoonoticdiseasesandappropriateuseofPPE

•DevelopmentofSafePracticestoAvoidZoonotic DiseasefromWildlifeguidancedocument:

https://www.nps.gov/public_health/info/di/Field%20Guide%20NPS%20biologists.pdf

LeishmaniasisexposurebycapturingandhandlingbirdsinBrazil (FelintodeBrito,2012)

•ReportonoccupationallyacquiredcaseofAmericanCutaneousLeishmaniasis(ACL)duringfieldstudieson birdbiology.

•Thiscasehighlightsthepotentialrisksoflaboratoryandfieldworkandtheneedtocomplywithstrict biosafetyproceduresindailyroutines.

A35yearoldmaledoctoralstudentnoticedtheemergenceofan ulceratedlesionwithhighedges.

Thelesionwasfirstnotedtwomonthsafterfieldworkcapturing birdsintheforestsinParanati,MatoGrosso,Brazil.

Routineclinicalandlaboratoryexaminationscomprisingof immunologicalandparasitologicaltestswerecarriedoutinthelab.

https://www.hindawi.com/journals/cridm/2012/279517/ThepatientwastreatedwithN-methyl-glucaminefor20days.Injurybegan healingatday11andcompletelyhealedafterthecompletionoftreatment.

Field&TravelMedicine

Pre-TravelMedicalVisits(OccupationalHealthClinic)

•Ideallyschedule2monthsaheadoftripandbringvaccine/titer/TB records

•Personalhealthandmedications

•Vaccines–E.g.,HepA&B,typhoid,YFV,rabies,etc.

•Chemoprophylaxis-E.g.,malaria,etc.

•Riskreductionadvice:insectrepellents,cookedfood,purifiedwater, sunscreen,jetlag,traffic,pollution,personalsafety,etc.

•Zika,malaria,otherendemicdiseases

Pre-existingMedicalConditions& MentalHealth

•Atpre-travelmedicalvisitgooverhealth conditions,medications, glasses/contacts,pendingsurgery,past history,pregnantorplanning

•Riskofmentalhealthissuesincreasesin travelers

•Areyoutravelingwithotherswhomay beatrisk?Family,othersnotassociated withresearch?

•‘Holiday’,freedom,exploration, anonymous,distantfromregularnorms contextmaycontributetoaddedhazards ofSTIs

•SomeRxmedsmaybeconfiscatedor notallowed,illegal,->jail.Check.

Field&TravelMedicine

DuringTravel

•Besuretocarrypreprintedinternationaltravelinsurance, advice,rescuecardatalltimes

•Injuries,exposures,andhealthevents

•Compliancewithriskreductionadvice

•Medical/firstaidkituse,whentocallforhelp,abilitytoaccess medicalcareatdestination

•Locationsofadequateclinicalcare

•Emergencymedicalevacuationdecisions

Knowyourclinics

Field&TravelMedicine

Posttravelissues

•Knowwhentocheckbackwithhealthcareprovider

•Concernsabouthighriskexposuresduringtravel

•Careforonsetofnewtravel-relatedhealthissues

CDCTravelHealth PromedHealthmap

•2016-LAW-26866,09/24/16,1600hours, TheInternationalEmergencyResponse CoordinationCenter(IERCC)reported thataSPOTdevicewassoundingin FresnoCounty,thecoordinatesofthe deviceis36°54’33”N,118°23’54”W. FresnoCountySheriff'sDepartment (FCSD)wasnotified.Update,1700hours on09/24/16,FCSDadvisedthatthe incidentwasinSequoia-KingsNational Park.FCSDadvisedNationalPark Services(NPS).Update,1930hourson 09/24/16,NPSadvisedthatR/Owas locatedandonepersoninthehiking partyhadsufferedakneeinjuryand wastransportedtoalocalmedicalfacility. MissionClosed

•2016-LAW-26862,09/24/16,1545hours, IERCCisreportingthatain-reachdevice issoundinginElDoradoCounty,the coordinatesofthedeviceis38°55’40”N, 120°23’04”W.ElDoradoCountySheriff's Department(EDSD)wasnotified.Update, 1630hourson09/24/16,EDSDadvised thattheylocatedthedeviceanditwasa medicalassistancecallatRossResort. Personwasmedevacedtolocal hospitalfacility.MissionClosed

•2016-LAW-26858,09/24/16,1245hours, IERCCisreportingthatanin-reach deviceissoundinginMonoCounty,the ditfthdii37°54’8”N

HeatIllnessPrevention

•Weathermonitoring&acclimatization

•Recognizesigns&symptoms

Communication Options

•Knowlocation&beabletoprovidedirections

•Writtenemergencyresponseprocedures

Allergies

IworkinremoteareasandworrythatIcouldhavea reactionandwanttobepreparedjustincase.To whichmydoctorsaid,“Sure,hereyougo."

NEWCalifornialawAB1386(2017)allowsapproved trainingproviderstoauthorizeatripleader, researcher,orotherstogetaprescriptionforuseof anepinephrineautoinjectoronsomeoneelse experiencinganaphylaxis.

Rapidlyevacanypatientwithasevere allergicreactionformedicalcare. Secondaryreactionscanoccur.

Allergicreactionstoflyingstinginginsects(honeybees,hornets,waspsandyellowjackets)arerelativelycommon. About.5%ofchildrenandroughly3%ofadultsexperienceanaphylaxis.About10to15%willexperiencelargerareasof swelling(NIH,2007).

AEDsintheField

Source:WILDERNESS&ENVIRONMENTALMEDICINE,24,195–202(2013)

Wearlongpants,socks.Stayinmiddleofthetrail.Dotickchecks.Remove promptlywithpointedtweezers,pullingstraightout.Rubsitewithalcohol. Monitorforsymptomsandbullseyeringaroundbite.

Leavesofthree,letitbe.WashwithTechnu.Washclothes.Reactioncanbe seriousifpersonishighlysensitized,smokeisinhaled,etc.

Don’tprovokeorhandlesnakes.Ifbittenbyarattlesnake,evacuateimmediately. Knowyournearestproviderwithanti-venom.Havecellphoneandtransportplan inplace

Avoidcontactwithrodentsanddroppings.Donotsweeporinhale.Monitorfor symptoms.Informdoctorifyoubecomeill.

Avoidfrostbite&hypothermiabystayingdryandwarm.Carryextrasocks,dry layers,food,water,atarp,pad,andblankets/sleepingbagtomakeahypowrap. Don’tignorethemumblejumbles.Severesymptoms,decreasingmentalstatus: evacimmediately.Protectfromre-freezing.

WesternRattlesnakes(CaliforniaHerps.com)

Mosquito-borneDiseases

ThefemaleAedesaegyptimosquitois behindthespreadoftheZikavirus,as wellasDengueandChikungunya

CULEXMOSQUITOES

TheWestNilevirusistransmitted predominantlybyCulexmosquitoes. Theytypicallybiteatduskandafter dark.

AEDESMOSQUITOES

TheAedesgroupofmosquitoesincludesmanynuisancemosquitoes,aswellas speciesthattransmitdiseasetohumans.Thisisadiversegroupthatincludesthe inlandfloodwatermosquito(Aedesvexans),theAsiantigermosquito(Aedes albopictus)andthetreeholemosquito–allofwhichprefertofeedontheblood ofmammals.Daybiters.

Ifitcanholdwaterformorethanafewdays,itcanbreedmosquitoes:

Preventmosquitobiteswhiletravelling:

Useinsectrepellant,wearlongsleevesandlongpants,useairconditioningorwindows/doorswith screens.Ifyougetsick,tellthedoctorwhereyoutravelled.

QuotesfromOSHAcitation:

“employeeswerenotadequately protectedfromcontactwithbears, bynotprovidingandrequiringthe carryingofbearspray…notrequiring theemployeestosubmitatrip itinerary,andnotrequiringcheck-in procedurestobefollowedwhile workingintheBridgerTetonNational Forest.”

UtahStateUniversityPassengerVanAccident(AgStudents,8killed)

TDstandsfor…

•PerCDC:Attackratesrangefrom30%to70%of travelers,dependingonthedestinationandseason

•Poorhygienepracticeinlocalrestaurantsislikelythe largestcontributortotheriskforTD

•BacteriaarethemostcommoncauseofTD: enterotoxigenicEscherichiacoli,followedby Campylobacterjejuni,Shigellaspp.,andSalmonellaspp

•High-riskareasincludemostofAsia,theMiddleEast, Africa,Mexico,andCentralandSouthAmerica

Washhandsoften

Considerfood&waterchoices

Carryappropriateantibiotics

Buildflexibilityintoyourschedule

EXAMPLEGUIDANCEPROVIDEDATUTHEALTH HOUSTON

•GuidancedocumentcreatedcooperativelybyEHSandUTPoliceDepartment

•Primarily,althoughnotexclusively,forpublichealthbasededucationandcommunity researchprojectsconductedin(sometimesunsavory)urbansettingsaroundthegreater Houstonarea(orotherurbansettings)

•Provideshelpfultipsforsafetyandsecuritywhenconductingresearchinurbansettings

•Severalhelpfulappendicesincludedindocument

•Safetyplantemplateprovidedtohelpresearchersdocumentandcommunicatetheirplans

POTENTIALCOMMUNITYBASEDRISKSTHAT MIGHTBEENCOUNTERED

•Risksoftraveltoandfromthecommunitytobeserved

•Theftordamagetopropertyofthepractitioner

•Physicalharmtothepractitioner

•Psychologicaltraumaexperiencedbythepractitioner

•Situationsthatcouldpromoteaccusationsofimproperbehavioronthepartofthe practitioner

PLANNINGYOURROUTE

•MapouttheroutewithGooglemapsoranotherresource

•CarrylocalcontactinformationandlocalpoliceandEMScontactinfo

•Ifmeetingwithsomeone,callthempriortodeparturetoverify:

•thecorrectaddress

•therewillbesomeonetheretomeetyou

•correctparkinglocation

TRAVELING

•Wearprudentattire,donotappearoverorunderdressed.Blendinwithlocals.

•Inspectvehicleforsafety(tires,overloading,brakes,etc.)

•Projectcertaintyofrouteanddestination

•Avoid"highrisk"areas

•Travelwithacolleague/trustedother

•Establishrapportwithregulardrivers

•Determinerisklevelsofvaryingmeansoftransport(bus,train,taxi,hitchhiking,etc.)

•(Women)Sitwithotherwomenormiddleagedcouples

PARKINGCONSIDERATIONS

•Choosewell-litparkingareas

•Lookaroundforloiterersbeforegettingoutofyourmotorvehicle

•Alwayslockvaluablesandpackagesoutofsightinthevehicle

•Ifyougetoutofyourvehicle,alwaysturnofftheignition,removethekey,andlockyourvehicledoors,no matterhowsoonyouplantoreturn.Thisisparticularlyimportantatservicestationsandconveniencestores

•Trynottoparknexttovans,largeSUVs,pickuptrucks,orothervehicleswhosesizeandstructurecanprovide concealment

•Exerciseparticularcautionwhenusingundergroundorenclosedparkinggarages.Alwaystrytowalkinthe centeraisle,ratherthanclosetoparkedcars

•Ifyouhavethechoice,parkinareasthathaveanattendantorinlocationswithheavypedestriantraffic

ONSITECONSIDERATIONS

•Avoidwalkingalonewheneverpossible.

•Whenwalking,walkinthemiddleofthesidewalkandwalkfacingoncomingtraffic.

•Attempttoappearconfidentandpurposefulwhenyouwalkandbealerttoyoursurroundingsatalltimes.

•Ifyoucarryapurse,carryitclosetoyourbody,preferablyinfront.Carrynomoremoneyorcreditcardsthanyouabsolutelyneed.

•Whenwalking,trynottooverloadyourselfwithpackagesorotheritems.Keepyourhandsasfreeaspossible.

•Whenwalking,choosebusy,well-litstreetsandavoidisolatedareas,alleys,vacantlots,abandonedbuildings,andconstructionsites.

•Whenwalkingduringhoursofdarkness,wearlightcoloredclothingandcarryaflashlight.

•Ifyoucarryapursewithashoulderstrap,bepreparedtoletitgoifsnatched.Otherwise,youcouldbeknockeddownandhurt.

•Whenwalking,carryaloudwhistleorhigh-decibelpersonalalarm.Usethemtoattractattentionorsummonhelpifyoufeelyouarein danger.Carrythewhistleoralarminyourhandsoyoucanuseitimmediately.

•Iffollowedorthreatenedbysomeonewhoiswalking,useyourwhistleorpersonalalarmorscreamloudly,crossthestreetandrunin theoppositedirection.

•Whenenteringanystructurebeawareofallexits.Makesurenothingblockstheexits.

IFSOMETHINGBADHAPPENS

•Atanypointthesituationdoesn’tfeelsafe,leave

•Containanyangerandfearandspeakinanauthoritativetonethatisloudenoughfor otherstohear,butdon’tscreamoryell.

•Ifthepersonorpersonsareattemptingarobberyhandthemwhatevertheywant,do notresist

•Call911immediatelyforassistanceifnecessary

REPORTINGANINCIDENT

•Afteranincidentimmediatelycallthelocalauthorities

•Theauthoritiesaregoingtoneedthefollowinginformation

•Whowasinvolved(thisincludesnamesordescriptionsofunknownindividuals)

•Whathappened

•Wheretheincidentoccurred(addressorotherdescriptorsifaddressisunknown)

•Whentheincidenttookplace

•Arethereanyinjuries

WHATYOUSHOULDNOTDO

•Donotconsumealcoholbeforeorduringcommunitybasedwork.

•Donotcarrylargeamountsofcashorvaluablesonyourpersonofvehicle.

•Donotcarryfirearmsorotheroffensivetools.Thesetoolsrequirespecialtrainingandmay besubjecttocertainlegalrequirements.

•Ifcashgifts,cashequivalents,orgiftcertificatesarerequiredforcompensationfor participatinginresearchonlycarrytheminimumamounttocompletethestudyinthetime allottedforthevisit.

•Donotcarrycashgifts,cashequivalents,orgiftcertificatesrequiredforfieldresearchina mannerthatcanbeseenbythepublic.Coverinanenvelopepriortodelivery.

DEVELOPMENTOFACOMMUNITYRESEARCH SAFETYPLAN

•Byprovidingasafetyplantemplate,researchersareenticedtocontemplatemanysafety andsecurityissuesthattheymaynothaveotherwiseconsidered

•Importanttodocumentandcommunicatesafetyplanstoallstakeholders

•Processofreviewandapprovalvariesbyinstitution

•Suggestdevelopingaplanforyourinstitution

•Useexistingtemplatesandmakethemyourown

HELPFULRESOURCES

•ChapmanB.Rationalchoiceandcategoricalreason.UnivPennsylvaniaLawRev151:1169–1212;2003.

•CohenLE,FelsonM.Socialchangeandcrimeratetrends:aroutineactivityapproach.AmSociologRev44:588–611;1979.

•Craig,G.,A.Corden&P.Thornton.SafetyinSocialResearch.SocialResearchUpdate,Issue29.UniversityofSurrey. http://www.soc.surrey.ac.uk/sru/SRU29.html

•Lee,R.M.(1993)DoingResearchonSensitiveTopics,London:Sage.

•MalesevicS.Rationalchoicetheoryandthesociologyofethnicrelations:acritique.EthnicRacialStudies25:193–212;2002.

•MessnerS,SouthJ.Interracialhomicide:amacrostructral-opportunityperspective.SociologicalForum7:517–536;1992.

•Paterson,B.,Gregory,D.,Thorne,S.AProtocolforResearcherSafetyQualHealthRes19999:259-269

•Urbanik,M.M.,Stack,P.G.,Hui,L.EpisodesofViolenceDuringEthnographicFieldworkinthe‘Hood’.UniversityRisk ManagementandInsuranceAssociationJournal2016

•Williams,T.,Dunlap,E.,JohnsonB.,Hamid,A.PersonalSafetyInDangerousPlaces.JournalofContemporaryEthnography1992 21:343-374

SpecializedWork&Field Projects

Whatare the hazards here?

ResearchinAntarctica&theArctic

Photocredit:CynthiaSpence,NationalScienceFoundation

WildlifeStudies

AnextensivelistoffatalitiesinthefieldhasbeencompiledbyRichardConniff,authorandcontributortotheNYTimes, inhisblog“TheWalloftheDead:AMemorialtoFallenNaturalists.”Atleast7wildlifebiologistshavediedinthefield inthelast3years.

4x4DrivingOffRoad/OffPavement

TreeClimbing

HazardAssessmentsforOutdoorWorkandRemoteSites

BerkeleySeismologicalLab

Proceduresformonitoring (O2,H2S,CO&LEL)&safeentry 70+sitesinCA&OR

HoplandResearchCenter

Dustexposureassessment duringbarncleanout (afterlambing)

NewDirectionsinRiskandSafety

Pre-deployment

https://tools.niehs.nih.gov/wetp/public/hasl_get_blob.cfm?ID=11006

NIEHSWorkerTrainingProgram

SafetyAwarenessforDisasterResearchers:APracticalGuideto DisasterResearchers’HealthandSafety

•Module1:UnderstandingDisasterSites

•Module2:AssessingHazardExposuresatDisasterSites

•Module3:Resilience:ProtectingMentalHealth

https://tools.niehs.nih.gov/wetp/public/hasl_get_blob.cfm?ID=14201

SAMHSADisasterMobileApp

https://store.samhsa.gov/product/samhsa-disaster-mobile-app/pep13-dkapp-1

TheKeyhole7:Howfar shouldtheNational Parksgotokeeppeople safe? OutsideMagazine,May2016

Contacts

ScottPatlovich,DrPH,CIH,CSP,CBSP,CHMM,CPH AssistantVicePresident,EnvironmentalHealth&Safety TheUniversityofTexasHealthScienceCenteratHouston Instructor,TheUniversityofTexasSchoolofPublicHealth 713-500-8100

Scott.J.Patlovich@uth.tmc.edu

ExposureAssessmentDuringEmergency ChemicalIncidents

ChristopherKuhlman,PhD,CIH,DABT CTEH,LLC

LittleRock,Arkansas

Phone:501-247-3871

Email:ckuhlman@cteh.com

Abbreviations

•AEGL:AcuteExposureGuidelineLevel

•ACGIH:AmericanConferenceof GovernmentalIndustrialHygienists

•AIHA:AmericanIndustrialHygiene Association

•CEIL:Ceiling

•ER:Emergencyresponse

•ERPG:EmergencyResponsePlanning Guideline

•IDLH:ImmediatelyDangeroustoLifeor Health

•NIOSH:NationalInstituteforOccupational SafetyandHealth

•NO2:Nitrogendioxide

•NOx:Nitrogenoxides

•OSHA:OccupationalSafetyandHealth Administration

•PEL:Permissibleexposurelimit

•PPE:Personalprotectiveequipment

•ppm:Partspermillion

•REL:Recommendedexposurelimit

•SO2:Sulfurdioxide

•STEL:Shorttermexposurelimit

•TLV:Thresholdlimitvalue

•TWA:Timeweightedaverage

GoalsofthisPresentation

•Emphasizetheimportanceofcollectingactionable,reproducible,and defensibledatausingachemicalemergencycasestudy.

•Knowtheroleofthetoxicologistinanemergencyresponse(ER)

•Understandtheprocessofdevelopinganairmonitoringstrategytoevaluate immediateandlong-termhealthconcernsfromachemicalemergency incident.

•Chemicalsofconcern

•Relevantexposureguidelinesforresponders/workers

•Instrumentation/methodsforexposureassessment

ImportanceofDataCollectioninanER

Duringanemergencychemicalincident,highqualityandtargeteddata isactionable,reproducibleanddefensible.Decisionpointsinclude:

•Humanimpacts

•Situationalawareness

•Environmentalimpacts

•Remediationresources

•Datamanagement

•Crisiscommunication

•Regulatoryrequirements

•Businessinterruption

•Companyreputation

•Responsemanagement

DecisionAnalysisDuringanER

Thetoxicologist’sroleindatainterpretationiscriticaltomakequickandeffective decisionsduringthereactivephaseofanemergency.

•Decisionsimpact:

•Workerhealthandsafety

•Communityhealthandsafety

•360-degreeperimeter

•PPE,evacuations,andclearances

TheCrescentDunesSolarEnergyProject includes10,347heliostatsthatcollect andfocusthesun'sthermalenergyto heatmoltensalt(amixtureof potassiumandsodiumnitrate)flowing throughanapproximately656-foot (200m)tallsolarpowertower.

Themoltensalt,whichreachesaround 565degreesCelsius(1049degrees Fahrenheit),circulatesfromthetower toastoragetank,whereitisthenused toproducesteamandgenerate electricity.

Decisionsinform:

•Worker&SiteAssessmentAir SamplingandAnalysisPlans

•CommunityAirMonitoringPlan

•HealthandSafetyPlans

CaseStudy:SolarTowerPowerPlantIncident

Inlate2017,emissionsofyellow/browncoloredvaporswereobservedfrommultiple placesonthehotsalttankthatcontaineda mixtureofnitratesalts(i.e.,moltensalt).

•Visibleyellow/brownvapors

•Vaporsirritatingeyes,nose,andthroatof workersonsite

•Odorsdescribedaspungent,sharp,acrid, harshandsimilartobleach

CaseStudy:SolarTowerPowerPlantIncident

DevelopaSamplingandAnalysisPlan

Whatarethechemicalsof potentialconcern?

Whatinstrumentationis needed?

Whatarethepriorityareasto monitor?

WorkerMonitoring

SiteAssessment

CommunityMonitoring

“Duetothethermaldecompositionofnitratesalts,therearesome problemssuchasthechangesinthecomponentofmoltensaltsas wellaspotentialrisksofNOxreleasedinheattransferandthermal energystorageprocesses…

Formoltennitratesaltsusedinclosedsystem,theincreased NOxinclosedcycleloopwillincreasethepressureofpipelineifit cannotbeexhaustedintime,andifitreactswithwatervapor,nitric andnitrousacidformedwillcausecorrosiontocontainermaterial, whichmayresultinpotentialsafetyhazard.It'ssuggestedthatan absorptivedeviceforNOxfrommoltensaltswouldbeaddedinthe solarpowersystem.”

(Weietal.,2014)

WhatareNitrogenOxides?

Nitrogenoxidesareamixtureofgases thatarecomposedofnitrogenand oxygen.

Twoofthemosttoxicologicallysignificant nitrogenoxidesarenitricoxide(NO)and nitrogendioxide(NO2);bothare nonflammableandcolorlesstoreddish brownatroomtemperature.

CaseStudy:SolarTowerPowerPlantIncident

Initialairmonitoringdatareceivedand confirmedwithfieldpersonnel.Nowwhat?

Confirmednitrogendioxide,nitrogen oxideonreal-timeinstrumentation

Whatarerelevantchemicalexposure guidelines/limits?

AcuteExposureGuidelinesforNitrogenOxides

OccupationalExposureLimitsforNitrogenOxides

IDLHlevelsforNO2andNOare13ppmand100ppm,respectively

HealthEffectsofNitrogenDioxide

Controlledhumanexposurestudieshaveshown thatexposureofasthmaticsubjectstolow concentrationsofNO2cancauseincreasedairway reactivity.

Furthermore,becauseitisrelativelyinsoluble comparedtootherirritantgasessuchassulfur dioxide(SO2),NO2isnotentirelyscrubbedinthe nasalpassages,andcanpenetratepasttheupper airwaystoreachsmallrespiratoryzoneairways whereitcanhaveserioushealtheffects.

CaseStudy:SolarTowerPowerPlantIncident

NitrogenDioxidePassiveDosimeter

•Dosimetertubesprovidetimeweighted-averagesamplingofNO2in worker’sbreathingzone.

•Operatebydirectdiffusionexposure

•Morethan50weredeployedon workersenteringtheexclusionzone

•Resultsrangedfromnon-detectto0.106 ppmNO2

PhysicalHazards

PhysicalHazards

PhysicalHazards

RespiratoryProtection

SummaryandConclusion

•Thingstoponder:

•Informationnevercomesinallatonce.

•Determinationsaremadeasmoreis understood.

ClientPerspective:

“IH’sthatareworkinganemergencyresponseneedtomake quickanddecisivedecisions.Iknowthatisobvioustous,butit hasbeenmyexperiencethatatypicalIHlikestogetalotof datapriortomakingadecision.Inemergencyresponseswe typicallyhavelimiteddataandneedtomakesound professionaljudgementstoprotecttheworkersandthe communities.”–PatBrady,DirectorHazardousMaterialsSafety, BNSFRailway

SummaryandConclusion

•Industrialhygienedataiscriticalforatoxicologisttomakerealtimeinterpretationsandrecommendationsduringemergency response.

References

•AmericanConferenceofGovernmentalIndustrialHygienists(ATSDR).ThresholdLimitValuesandBiological ExposureIndicesGuidelines.AccessedOctober,2025:https://www.acgih.org/science/tlv-bei-guidelines/

•AmericanIndustrialHygieneAssociation(AIHA).EmergencyResponsePlanningGuidelines(ERPGs).Accessed October,2025:https://www.aiha.org/get-involved/aiha-guideline-foundation/erpgs

•NationalInstituteforOccupationalSafetyandHealth(NIOSH).PocketGuidetoChemicalHazards.Accessed October,2025:https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/default.html

•OccupationalSafetyandHealthAdministration(OSHA).PermissibleExposureLimits–AnnotatedTables. AccessedOctober,2025:https://www.osha.gov/annotated-pels

•UnitedStatesEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA).AcuteExposureGuidelineLevelsforAirborne Chemicals.AccessedOctober,2025:https://www.epa.gov/aegl

•Wei,Xiaolan,YanWang,QiangPeng,JianpingYang,XiaoxiYang,andJingDing."NOxemissionsandNO2 formationinthermalenergystorageprocessofbinarymoltennitratesalts."Energy74,2014,215-221.

FieldSamplingand DeterminingExposures

TexasA&MUniversity SuperfundResearchCenter

DisasterResearchTrainingWorkshop December4-5,2025

RecentDR2NewsEastPalestineTrainDerailment.

TheGovernmentAccountabilityProject recentlyacquiredaMarch7,2023,email fromtheEPAtoNorfolkSouthernthat allegedlyshowstheagencyreliedonthe railroadcompany’stestingmethodsandtold themnottotestforfivetoxiccompounds.

Themostsignificantallegationcentersonthe EPA’sselectionof“baseline”soilsamples fromlocationsheavilyimpactedbythetoxic plumeofsmokefromtheopenburnofvinyl chloridetankers.Baselinesamplesserveas benchmarksforcomparisontotrack contaminationlevels.

https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/midwest/ohio-train-derailment/epa-norfolksouthern-east-palestine-soil-testing-data/

https://www.wrkf.org/npr-news/2025-07-09/what-to-do-if-you-get-a-flash-flood-warning

RecentDR2NewsHurricaneHelene Aftermath

Tohelpresearchersunderstandhowtocollectandhandleenvironmental samplespostdisasters

Outline

•EnvironmentalSampling–Overview

•DataQuality

-QualityManagementPlan

-QualityAssuranceProjectPlans(QAPPs)

-Documentation

•Public&PrivateSampleCollectionGuidelines

•SamplingMethods

-Volatiles

-Organics -Traceelements

-Microbial(E.coli,fecalcoliform)

•SampleCollectionProcedures

-Fieldparametermeasurements

-Labelling

-Soil/sediment

-Water

Outline

•SampleEquipment&Supplies

-Containers

-PersonalProtectiveEquipment

-Bailers

-SedimentSamplers

-pH/conductivity/DOmeters

-MonitoringDevices

•SampleHandling&Processing

-Storageandholdingtimes

-Shipping

•Cleaning&Sanitizing

•PostSample-Collection

-Analysis

BasicConsiderationsofPlanning

EnvironmentalSampling-Overview

•Themainobjectiveofsamplingistoobtainrepresentative samplesofthecompoundtobeanalyzed.

•Samplingmethodvarydependingonwhetherweare dealingwiththeelementtobeanalyzedisinthesolid, liquidorgasstate.

•Datacollectionisaimperfectscience.

•InformationTechnologyincreasesaccuracyand availability.

EnvironmentalSampling-Overview

•Inappropriatesamplecollectionprocedures‘yield samplesthatare:

•Notrepresentativeofthepopulationofinterest

•Areoflittleuse

•Seriouslycompromisethepurposeofsampling

•Contributetotheuncertaintyoftheanalyticalresults

•(Keith,1990,p.610).

EnvironmentalSampling–Overview

BasicConsiderationsofPlanning

•Thereareoftenthreestagesofsamplingevents:

•Initialassessmenttodetermineifadetailedinvestigation isnecessary

•Detailedsamplingandanalysisplan

•Post-remedialevaluation

EnvironmentalSamplingandAnalysis

•Datacollectionentailstheacquisitionandanalysisof informationabouthazardsonasitethatmayaffecthuman healthandwhichwillbethefocusfortheparticularrisk assessment(USEPA,1989).

•Adequatedatacollectionisthefoundationtoanacceptable environmentalandhumanhealthriskassessments.

EnvironmentalSamplingandAnalysis

•Samplingisoftencarriedouttomoreclearlydefinedetectedor suspectedcontaminationand,ifremediationoccurs.

•Alsotoverifythatcontaminatedmaterialhasbeenremovedand thatanycontaminationremainingdoesnotconstituteahumanor ecologicalhealthorenvironmentalrisk.

EnvironmentalSamplingandAnalysis

•Thegreatestconcern,in collectingsamples,istoensure thatthesamplestakenadequately representpotentialexposuresfor thesituation.

•Consequentlyitisessentialtobe fullyapprisedofthecontextof theriskassessment,the objectivesofthetask,the environmentalconditionsatthe sitelocationsandwhatanalytes willbetestedineachsample, beforesamplingcommences (Lock,1996).

EnvironmentalSamplingandAnalysis

•Inappropriatesample collectionprocedures‘yield samplesthatarenot representativeofthe populationofinterest;are oflittleuse;seriously compromisethepurposeof sampling;andcontributeto theuncertaintyofthe analyticalresults’(Keith, 1990,p.610).

EnvironmentalSamplingandAnalysis

•Animportantaspectof environmentalsamplingand analysisisthattheenvironment isnotstaticandsampling resultscanvaryovertime.

•Theinterpretationof environmentalsamplingdata shouldtakethisintoaccount.

EnvironmentalSampling–Overview

PrimarySamplingApproaches

JudgmentalApproach

SystematicApproach

RandomApproach

EnvironmentalSampling–Overview

PrimarySamplingApproaches

ApproachRelativeNumberofRelativeBiasBasisofSelecting Samples SamplingSites

JudgementalSmallestLargestPriorhistory,visual assessmentof technicaljudgement

EnvironmentalSampling–Overview

SamplingStrategies

•Thereasonsforsamplinginclude:

-Determiningthenatureofthecontamination

-Determiningtheconcentrationanddistributionofthe contaminant

-Monitoringsiteconditionstodetermineifremedialactionis required

-Designingandimplementingremedialactions -Determiningiftheremedialactionshavebeeneffective.

DataQuality-DataQualityObjectives

•Dataqualityobjectives‘providecriticaldefinitionsoftheconfidencethatmustbe inherentintheconclusionsdrawnfromthedataproducedbythewholeproject’ anddeterminethedegreeofuncertaintyorerrorthatcanbetoleratedinthedata (Keith,1990,p.611).

•DataQualityObjectiveswhichclearlyspecifytheamount,natureandqualityof thedatatobecollectedshouldbedetailedandsituation-specific.

•Thecriteriaforbothacceptingandrejectingdatashouldberigorous.

DataQuality

DataQuality

QualityManagementSystem

QA:Systemofactivitiesdesignedtoensurethataprocess, service,orproductisoftherequiredquality

•Qualityassurancemanager

•Qualitymanagementplan -Policiesandprocedures

-Authorityandresponsibilities

QC:Technicalactivitiesthatmeasureperformancerelative tostandardsforverificationthatthosestandardsaremet

•Calibratinginstruments

•Duplicatesamples,etc.

DataQuality-FieldCollectionQC

•Controls

-Samplingequipmentandsupplies.

-Samplepreservation,transportation,andstorage.

-ControlSamples

•Documentation

-QualityManagementPlan

-QualityAssuranceProjectPlan

-StandardOperatingProcedures

-FieldLogBooks

-Chain-of-Custody

DataQuality–FieldControls

•Allblanksamplesarepreserved,transported,stored, extracted,andanalyzedinamanneridenticaltothetest samples

•DuplicateSamples,additionalsamplesforMatrixSpike andMatrixSpikeDuplicatesamples

•FieldBlankSamples,BottleBlanks,EquipmentRinse Blanks,TemperatureBlanks….

•Consideranythingusedinthefieldthatcouldpossibly contaminatethesamples

DataQuality-QualityAssuranceProjectPlan (QAPP)

•QAPPdocumentsthequality assuranceandquality controlactivitiesforthe projectfromcollectionto datareporting.

•Thedocumentcontains project-specificQA/QC informationforindividual projects.

DataQuality–FieldLogBooks

•Filledoutinthefieldwithallappropriateinformationtoidentifythe samplinglocation,sampletype,sampler,date,andtimeofcollection.

DataQuality–Chain-of-Custody

•Filledoutinthefieldwith allappropriateinformation toidentifythesampling location,sampletype, sampler,date,andtimeof collection

•ChainofCustodyprotocols areusedtoship/transfer samplestoanalytical laboratories

DataQuality-ChainofCustodyForm

•Whatkindof samplewastaken (grabor composite)?

•Why,where,when, wasittaken?

•Whotookit?

•Whohandledit andwhendidit changehands?

Public&PrivateSampleCollectionGuidelines

CanalwaysstartwithEPAQualityat; https://www.epa.gov/quality

SW846-UpdateVJuly2014;Chapter01, https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/201510/documents/chap1_1.pdf

ThegoalofthischapterfromtheEPA(SW-846)istoprovide anunderstandingofenvironmentaldataandtheneedfor quality.

TypesofSamplesforanEnvironmentalStudy

•Field/BulkSampleAnalysis

•Surfacewater(organicsandtracemetals)

•Soil/Sediment(organicsandtracemetals)

•BiologicalSamples:PlantsandAnimals:

•includingfish,frogs,oysters,plants,etc

BulkPropertyAnalysis

•Inadditiontohavingitsowntoxiceffect, temperatureaffectsthesolubilityand,in turn,thetoxicityofmanyotherparameters.

•Generallythesolubilityofsolidsincreases withincreasingtemperature,whilegases tendtobemoresolubleincoldwater.

•Temperatureisafactorindetermining allowablelimitsforotherparameterssuch asammonia.

BulkPropertyAnalysis

•LivingthingsareextremelysensitivetopHandfunction best(withcertainexceptions,suchascertainportionsof thedigestivetract)whensolutionsarenearlyneutral. Mostinteriorlivingmatter(excludingthecellnucleus)has apHofabout6.8.

BulkPropertyAnalysis

•Turbidityisthemeasureofrelativeclarityofaliquid.Itisanoptical characteristicofwaterandisanexpressionoftheamountoflightthat isscatteredbymaterialinthewaterwhenalightisshinedthrough thewatersample.

•Thehighertheintensityofscatteredlight,thehighertheturbidity. Materialthatcauseswatertobeturbidincludeclay,silt,finelydivided inorganicandorganicmatter,algae,solublecoloredorganic compounds,andplanktonandothermicroscopicorganisms.

SamplingWaterMatrices

•Whatisthesingle greatestproblemwhen takingwatersamples?

SamplingWaterMatrices

•Obtainingarepresentative sample.

•Waterscanbevery heterogeneousbothspatially andtemporallymakingit difficulttoobtaintruly representativesamples.

SamplingSediment/SoilMatrices

•Obtaininga representativesample.

•Lossofvolatile compounds.

•Changeinanalyte concentrationduring transportand/orstorage.

•Organicandtracemetal sampling

SamplingSediment/Soil/SludgeMatrices

Becausesample heterogeneityoftencauses problems.Representative uncertaintiesfrequentlyfar exceedtheinherent collectionandanalysis uncertainties.

Sometimessamplesare deliberatelycollected unrepresentatively(initial studiesatawastesite,oil spill,chemicalspill).

SamplingSediment/Soil/SludgeMatrices

•Grabsample(randomly collectedthroughouttheday)

•Compositeorproportional (twoormoresamples combinedinknownand appropriateproportions appropriateproportionsto obtainanaveragevalue)in relationtotime,flowrateor anyothervariable.

SamplingBiologicalMatrices

•Whataretheproblemswhenbiological matrices?

SamplingBiologicalMatrices

•Whensamplingbiota,factorstobe consideredinclude:

•Thepurposeofthestudy.

•Homogeneityofthematrix.

•Concentrationoftheanalytes.

•Efficiencyofextractingandconcentrating.

•Sensitivityofthemethod.

SamplingBiologicalMatrices

•Theavailabilityofselected substrate.

•Analyteconcentrationmayhave asignificantbearingonthe samplesize.

•Variationswithinastudy population.

•Speciesmobility.

•Tissuedifferentiation

SamplingBiologicalMatrices

•Targetorganismsaremigratory.

•Whetherthereareseasonal, feeding,spawning,orother periodicactivitiesthatmay influenceconcentrationor locationoftheanalyteswithin anorganism.

SamplingBiologicalMatrices

•Commonsamplingproblems

•Forbiologicalmaterialthelimitingfactormayoftenbe theavailabilityofsubstrate

•Analyteconcentrationmayhaveasignificantbearing onthesamplesize

•SamplePreservation

•Keepassimpleaspossible,freezingisusuallythe preferredoption.

SamplingBiologicalMatrices

•Samplingdeviceswillinfluencewhattypeof organismswillbecaught.

•Electricalshockers

•Nets(hoop,gill,dip,seine,trawl)

•Trotlines

•Trapsanddartguns

•Botanicalsamplingtoolsincludeshearsand saws

SamplingBiologicalMatrices

•Whensamplingbiota,factorstobeconsidered include:

•thepurpose

•homogeneityofthematrix

•concentrationoftheanalytes

•efficiencyofextractingandconcentrating

•sensitivityofthemethod

SamplingBiologicalMatrices

•Commonsamplingproblems

•Forbiologicalmaterialthelimitingfactor mayoftenbetheavailabilityofsubstrate

•Analyteconcentrationmayhavea significantbearingonthesamplesize

•SamplePreservation

•Keepassimpleaspossible,freezingis usuallythepreferredoption.

SamplingBiologicalMatrices

•Samplingdeviceswillinfluencewhattypeof organismswillbecaught.

•Electricalshockers

•Nets(hoop,gill,dip,seine,trawl)

•Trotlines

•Trapsanddartguns

•Botanicalsamplingtoolsincludeshearsand saws

SampleCollectionProcedures

-Fieldparametermeasurements

-Labelling

-Soil/sediment

-Water -Air

SampleEquipment&Supplies

-Containers

-PersonalProtectiveEquipment

-Bailers

-SedimentSamplers

-pH/conductivity/DOmeters

-MonitoringDevices

Preservation,Shipping,andStorage

•Shipping-oncesamplinghasconcludedorifalong samplingproject,shipatintervals–needtoworkwith thereceivinglaboratories

•Thestoragecondition,samplecondition,hold-time,and typeofanalysisrequiredisverifiedbythelaboratory.

•Storage-samplesareloggedinandstoredfrozenat -20°C,-80°Correfrigeratedat4°Cuntilanalysis.

•Uponreceiptinthelaboratory(chemistry),eachsample isassignedauniqueidentifier.

Labelling

Labelling

SamplingIssues

CoreDescriptions

ShippingIssue

Shipping-correctly

Public&PrivateSampleCollectionGuidelines

EPAGuidanceonChoosingaSamplingDesignforEnvironmentalDataCollection foruseinDevelopingaQualityAssuranceProjectPlan.EPAQA/G-5S. EPA/600/R-98/018.December2002.

http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-06/documents/g5s-final.pdf

•Thesamplingdesignisafundamentalpartofdatacollectionforscientifically baseddecisionmaking.Awell-developedsamplingdesignplaysacriticalrolein ensuringthatdataaresufficienttodrawtheconclusionsneeded.Asound,sciencebaseddecisionisbasedonaccurateinformation.Togeneratingaccurate informationaboutthelevelofcontaminationintheenvironment,youshould considerthefollowing:

•theappropriatenessandaccuracyofthesamplecollectionandhandlingmethod,

•theeffectofmeasurementerror,

•thequalityandappropriatenessofthelaboratoryanalysis,and

•therepresentativenessofthedatawithrespecttotheobjectiveofthestudy.

Public&PrivateSampleCollectionGuidelines

•3.EPAGuidanceforQualityAssuranceProjectPlans,EPA QA/G-5EPA/240/R-02/009.Dec2002.

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/201506/documents/g5-final.pdf

•WhatisaQAProjectPlan?AQAProjectPlandescribesthe activitiesofanenvironmentaldataoperationsproject involvedwiththeacquisitionofenvironmentalinformation whethergeneratedfromdirectmeasurementsactivities, collectedfromothersources,orcompiledfromcomputerized databasesandinformationsystems.

Public&PrivateSampleCollectionGuidelines

EPAGuidanceforQualityAssuranceProjectPlans,EPAQA/G-5EPA/240/R-02/009.Dec 2002.https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-06/documents/g5-final.pdf

•WhatisaQAProjectPlan?AQAProjectPlandescribestheactivitiesofanenvironmentaldata operationsprojectinvolvedwiththeacquisitionofenvironmentalinformationwhethergenerated fromdirectmeasurementsactivities,collectedfromothersources,orcompiledfromcomputerized databasesandinformationsystems.

•WhatisthepurposeoftheQAProjectPlan?TheQAProjectPlandocumentstheresultsofa project’stechnicalplanningprocess,providinginoneplaceaclear,concise,andcompleteplanfor theenvironmentaldataoperationanditsqualityobjectivesandidentifyingkeyprojectpersonnel.

•WhatisthedifferencebetweenaQualityManagementPlanandaQAProjectPlan?AQuality ManagementPlandescribesanorganization’squalitysystem,i.e.,itssystematicapproachtoquality assurance,whileaQAProjectPlandescribesthenecessaryQAprocedures,qualitycontrol(QC) activities,andothertechnicalactivitiesthatwillbeimplementedforaspecificprojectorprogram.

Public&PrivateSampleCollectionGuidelines

CanalwaysstartwithEPAQualityat; https://www.epa.gov/quality

•1.SW846-UpdateVJuly2014;Chapter01,https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/201510/documents/chap1_1.pdf

•2.EPAGuidanceonChoosingaSamplingDesignforEnvironmentalDataCollectionforuse inDevelopingaQualityAssuranceProjectPlan.EPAQA/G-5S.EPA/600/R-98/018. December2002.http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-06/documents/g5s-final.pdf

•3.EPAGuidanceforQualityAssuranceProjectPlans,EPAQA/G-5EPA/240/R-02/009.Dec 2002.https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-06/documents/g5-final.pdf

Public&PrivateSampleCollectionGuidelines

•Representativenessmaybe consideredasthemeasure ofthedegreetowhichdata accuratelyandprecisely representacharacteristicof apopulation,parameter variationsatasampling point,aprocesscondition, oranenvironmental condition(ANSI/ASQC) 1994].

•Developingasampling designisacrucialstepin collectingappropriateand defensibledatathat accuratelyrepresentthe problembeinginvestigated.

SMART(SpecialMonitoringofAppliedResponse Technologies)

SpecialMonitoringofAppliedResponse Technologies(SMART)isacooperatively designedmonitoringprogramforinsitu burninganddispersants.SMARTrelieson small,highlymobileteamsthatcollectrealtimedatausingportable,rugged,andeasy-touseinstrumentsduringdispersantandinsitu burningoperations.

DataarechanneledtotheUnifiedCommand (representativesoftheresponsiblepartyandthe stateandfederalgovernmentswhoarein chargeofthespillresponse)toaddresscritical questions:

https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/oil-and-chemical-spills/oilspills/resources/smart.html

SMART(SpecialMonitoringofAppliedResponse Technologies)

Areparticulatesconcentrationtrendsatsensitivelocationsexceeding thelevelofconcern?

Aredispersantseffectiveindispersingtheoil?

HavingmonitoringdatacanassisttheUnifiedCommandwith decision-makingfordispersantandinsituburningoperations.

TheSMARTprogramisajointprojectoftheseagencies:

U.S.CoastGuard NOAA

U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention BureauofSafetyandEnvironmentalEnforcement(partof theagencyformerlyknownastheMineralsManagement Service)

SarahBurnett,PhD

ProjectToxicologist

HolisticSuiteofSolutions

EMERGENCYRESPONSE

ToxicologyEmergencyResponse Program

Rapiddatacollection& communication

Environmentalmonitoring

ER&NRDA

IndustrialHygieneStrikeTeam

Highhazardresponse

Largenetwork

HEALTH&SAFETY

Industrialhygieneservices

Complianceassessments

Gapassessments&programdevelopment

Personalprotectiveequipment(PPE) assessments

Healthandsafetytraining

Fatalityandseriousinjuryinvestigations

Occupationalhealthprogram

DISASTERRECOVERY&BUILDINGSCIENCE

Technology-enabledconstruction/contractor management

Employeestabilizationpost-storm

Commercialrealestatedamageassessment andrecoveryoversight

Indoorairqualityassessment

INNOVATIVESERVICES

Emergingcontaminants

PFAS,alternativefuels

Robotics&software

Sustainabilityconsulting(GHG inventory,permittingsupportfor construction)

Orphanwellclosure-methane

HEALTHSCIENCES&EPIDEMIOLOGY

LitigationsupportasSME(toxictort,drug/alcohol)

SDSupdating(QRG)

Epidemic/pandemicconsulting(workerhealth, decontamination)

Publichealthconsulting,inequity,socialjustice

CRISIS&RESPONSEMANAGEMENT

ResponsePlandevelopment

Drills&exerciseoversight/support

ICS/IMT/SMTtrainingandsupport

Whatisthe#1priorityduringallemergencyresponse events?

Thehealthandsafetyofrespondersandthepublic

ValueofAirMonitoringandSampling

Characterizethenatureandextentofairbornehazardstoworkersandthe public

Anticipate,recognize,andevaluatehazards

Provideinformationtotheresponsibleparty,IncidentCommand,regulatory agencies,andotherstakeholderstopromoteinformeddecision-making

Evaluatetheneedorefficacyofcontrolstominimizeexposure

Delineatesitecontrolzones(e.g.,ExclusionZone)

Provideinformationtoworkers

InformworkersofPPEneedstominimizeexposure

Provideinformationtothepublic(ortheJointInformationCenter)

Promotetransparentsharingofinformationwithimpactedcommunities

Howdoweapproachairmonitoringand sampling?

AirMonitoringvs.AirSampling

Real-TimeAirMonitoring

Definition:theuseofdirect-reading instrumentstoprovideanearinstantaneousreadoutofa chemicalconcentrationintheair

Providesreal-timeevaluationof chemicalconcentrationsinair

Canrapidlyinformofchangingsite conditions

Usedfordecision-makinginreal time

AirSampling

Definition:thecollectionofairusing containersorchemical-specific mediathataresenttoanoff-site laboratoryforchemicalanalysis

Providesairqualitydatabeyondthe scopeofreal-timeinstruments

Cangenerallyachievelower detectionlimits

Providesexposuredataovertime fordirectcomparisonto occupationalorcommunity exposureguidelines

AirMonitoringandSamplingApproach

Determineconstituentsofinterest(COI)

EvaluateSDStodeterminechemicalcompositionofareleasedproduct

Considerpropertiesofchemicalconstituents:flammable,asphyxiant,vapordensity

Evaluatescenario:combustion,decomposition,reactionproducts;othercompoundsthat maybegeneratedbytheincidentand/orduringremediationoperations

ConsiderhazardsofidentifiedCOIs:irritant,carcinogen,odorous

IdentifymethodsforcharacterizingidentifiedCOIs

Airmonitoringinstrumentation(real-time)

Airsamplingmethodologies

Evaluatesetting

Determineactionlevels

EvaluateSetting

WorkerMonitoring

Evaluateincidentareaand operationaldetails

Understandworkoperationsand identifyworkgroupswithhighest exposurerisk

Understandifworkerscandon respiratoryprotectionifneeded (medicallycleared,fittested)

Considermeteorologicalandsite conditions

Winddirection(downwind)

Sitetopography

Containmentmeasuresinplace

CommunityMonitoring

Evaluateincidentareato determinenearbycommunity receptors

Residentialneighborhoods

Commercialareas

Publicareas(parks,beaches)

Sensitivereceptors(environmental justicecommunities,schools, hospitals,nursinghomes,churches)

Considermeteorologicalandsite conditions

Winddirection(downwind)

Areatopography

DetermineActionLevels

WorkerMonitoring

OccupationalSafetyandHealth Administration(OSHA)Permissible ExposureLimits(PEL)

Regulatorylimitsonairborneexposure; legallyenforceable

8-hourTWA,15-minuteSTEL,orceiling AmericanConferenceofGovernmental IndustrialHygienists(ACGIH)Threshold LimitValues(TLV)

Health-basedguidelinevalues;notlegally enforceable

Generallymoreconservative(lower)than OSHAPELs

8-hourTWA,15-minuteSTEL,orceiling Considerrelevantstate-specificguidance (e.g.,Cal/OSHA)

CommunityMonitoring

Maybebasedonanydetectionoron health-basedguidelinevalues

AgencyforToxicSubstancesandDisease Registry(ATSDR)MinimalRiskLevels (MRL)

Exposuresof1-14,15-364,and365+days

UnitedStatesEnvironmentalProtection Agency(USEPA)AcuteEmergency GuidelineLevels(AEGL)

Onesingleexposureof10or30minutesor 1,4,or8hours

AmericanIndustrialHygieneAssociation (AIHA)EmergencyResponsePlanning Guidelines(ERPG)

Onesingleexposureof1hour Considerrelevantstate-specificguidance

MoreonActionLevels

Theairborneconcentrationofasubstancetowhichitisbelievedthatnearlyallworkersmay berepeatedlyexposedforaconventional8-hourworkdayanda40-hourworkweek,dayafter day,foraworkinglifetimewithoutadverseeffect

USEPAAEGL-

Theairborneconcentrationofasubstanceabovewhichitispredictedthatthegeneral population,includingsusceptibleindividuals,couldexperiencenotablediscomfort,irritation, orcertainasymptomaticnon-sensoryeffects;however,theeffectsarenotdisabling andaretransientandreversibleuponcessationofexposure

Anestimateofthedailyhumanexposuretoahazardoussubstancethatislikelytobewithout appreciableriskofadversenon-cancerhealtheffectsoveraspecifieddurationofexposure [1-14days,15-364days,365+days]

CTEHactionlevelsareinherentlyconservative,becausewewanttotake actionproactivelytomitigateexposure

Howdoweconductairmonitoringand sampling?

Real-TimeAirMonitoringMethods

MultiRAE

Sensitive,quick,quantitativeresponse

Photoionizationdetector(PID)respondsto200+compoundsbutisnotchemical-specific ~20chemical-specificsensors,includingoxygen,hydrogensulfide,and%LEL

UltraRAE

Sensitive,quick,quantitativeresponse

PIDrespondsto200+compoundsbutisnotchemical-specific

Chemical-specificmonitoringforbenzenewithlowdetectionlimit(0.01ppm)

DragerX-pid8500

Sensitive,quantitativeresponse,generallywithin30seconds

PID-gaschromatographytechnologycanquantify~40specificcompoundsandqualify more;valuableforrapidspeciationofVOCs

Gasteccolorimetricdetectortubes

Sensitiveresponse,generallywithinacoupleofminutes

Quantitativebutsubjective

Tubestomeasure500+specificgases

AirSamplingMethods

Manydifferentairsamplingmethodsfordifferentanalytes andapplications

Providesconcentrationaveragesovertimewithlow detectionlimits(generallylowerthanairmonitoring)

Achievesadequatesensitivityforcomparisontooccupationalor communityexposureguidelinevalues

Evacuatedcanistersarecommonlyusedforareasampling

1.4-or6-litercanisters

Oftenanalyzedfor~75volatileorganiccompounds(VOCs)via USEPAMethodTO-15

Personalairsamplesarecommonlyusedtocharacterize workerexposures

Enablesdirectcomparisonto8-houror15-minuteoccupational exposurelimits

BringItAllTogether:AnAirSAP

Setting

COI ActionLevelandActions Methods

Airmonitoringisoftenconductedataheightrepresentativeofthebreathingzonebutcanalso beconductedoutsideofthebreathingzoneforcharacterizationorworst-casedetermination.

BringItAllTogether:AnAirSAP

Airmonitoringisoftenconductedataheightrepresentativeofthebreathingzonebutcanalso beconductedoutsideofthebreathingzoneforcharacterizationorworst-casedetermination.

BringItAllTogether:AnAirSAP

Setting

Setting

Couldalsoestablishacommunityactionlevelbasedoncommunityexposure guidelines(e.g.,USEPAAEGL-1)sothatIncidentCommand canmakehealth-baseddecisionsregardingshelter-in-placeorevacuation

Airmonitoringisoftenconductedataheightrepresentativeofthebreathingzonebutcanalso beconductedoutsideofthebreathingzoneforcharacterizationorworst-casedetermination.

TheCulmination:CommunicatingDataWithStakeholders -making

CTEHProjectManagerorProjectTechnicalDirector(Toxicologist)is responsibleforcommunicatingtheresultsofairmonitoringand samplingtotheappropriatestakeholders

Responsibleparty

IncidentCommand

Regulatoryagencies

JointInformationCenter(JIC)

Workersand/orthepublicdirectlythroughone-on-oneinteractionsorFAQsheets

Transparentsharingofdatawithstakeholders,responders,andimpacted communitiesiskeytoinformeddecision-makingandhelpspromotethe healthandsafetyofrespondersandthepublic

TheRAPIDFacilityenablestransformativeresearchbyprovidinginvestigatorswiththeinstrumentation, software,andsupportneededtocollect,process,andanalyzeperishabledatafromnaturalhazard eventsandfromdisasters.

MajorActivities,Support,andServices

•Acquire,maintain,andoperatestate-of-the-artdatacollectioninstrumentationfor naturalhazardanddisasterinvestigations

•Provideadvisoryservicesandlogisticssupportforreconnaissanceinvestigations

•Processing,visualization,andpublicationwithDesignSafe-CI

•Trainabroaduserbasethroughworkshopsandotheractivities

Air,waterandsoil sampling

WhyDoWeConductPost-DisasterInvestigations?

What’sUniqueabouttheData?

•Extremeeventdatasetsinclude thereal-worldcomplexities(i.e., theinterplaybetweennatural, built,social,andhealthsystems) thatallowustounderstandbetter andquantifythesocio-technical dimensionsrelatedtolosses, restoration,andresiliency.

Suchdataisdifficultto generateinatraditional laboratorysetting

•Thehighvolumeofdata generatedbyanextremeeventis oftenhighly"perishable"—and thus,mustbecollectedquickly

•Thesedatahavemany applicationsanduses

WhyDoWeConductPost-DisasterInvestigations? What’sUniqueabouttheData?

•Disasterdatasetsincludethe real-worldcomplexities(i.e.,the interplaybetweennatural,built, andsocialsystems)thatallowus tounderstandbetterandquantify thesocio-technicaldimensions relatedtolosses,restoration,and resiliency.

Suchdataisdifficultto generateinatraditional laboratorysetting

•Thehighvolumeofdata generatedbyanextremeeventis oftenhighly"perishable"—and thus,mustbecollectedquickly

•Thesedatahavemany applicationsanduses

2018Palu,IndonesiaEarthquake

•Disasterdatasetsincludethe real-worldcomplexities(i.e.,the interplaybetweennatural,built, andsocialsystems)thatallowus tounderstandbetterandquantify thesocio-technicaldimensions relatedtolosses,restoration,and resiliency.

Suchdataisdifficultto generateinatraditional laboratorysetting

•Thehighvolumeofdata generatedbyanextremeeventis oftenhighly"perishable"—and thus,mustbecollectedquickly

•Thesedatahavemany applicationsanduses

Journalpublicationusingopen,DesignSafe-publishedPaludata....bya researchteamunaffiliatedwithreconnaissanceteam

(Summersetal.,2022),(Napolietal.,2020),(Bessette-Kirtonetal.,2019)

RAPID Instrumentation Portfolio

100uniqueinstrumentsthat are.....

•Portableandlightweight

•Easy-to-use

•Rugged

•Reliable

•High-resolution

•Multiuse

•Readytogo...

NaturalHazardandDisasterReconnaissanceFacility(RAPID)Senior PersonnelandStaff

MichaelGrilliot,PhD OperationsManager SeniorResearchScientist Civil&EnvironmentalEngineering UniversityofWashington

AndrewLyda OperationsEngineer

KarenDedinsky DataScientist

ErzhuoChe,PhD DataAnalyticsLead ResearchAsst.Prof. Civil&ConstructionEngineering OregonStateUniversity

JaquelineZdebski Exposure&Health TeamLead

MatiasKorfmacher PublicHealth Research Scientist

JuliaHutchins OperationsSpecialist

TimGould Environmental HealthSpecialist

Deployabletoolsenablingexposuremeasurementafterdisasters

AirandAerosols

Monitorsfrom low-cost (PurpleAir, Clarity)to advancedFTIR gasanalyzer

WaterandSoil

RemoteSensingandImaging

Multiparametersonde anddrone-mounted watersampler

BrukerE²M MobileField GC/MS

Trackwildfire smoke,mold, andtoxicgases

Portable XRFfor metals; field GC/MSfor volatile organics

WhatsupportdoesRAPIDoffer?

•Training

•Staffassistance

•Logisticscoordination

•Datapostprocessing,curation,andpublishing

•Proposalsupport

Drone-mounted hyperspectral, multispectral,and thermalsensors

3Dmappingof contaminated anddisasterimpacted areas

WorkingwiththeRAPIDFacility

What'soutsideRAPID'sscope?Scientificobjectivesetting,missioncoordination,directfunding

WhenshouldIcontactRAPID?Duringproposaldevelopment!

•Earlyengagementensuresequipmentandapproachmatchyourresearchgoals

•Contactinformationwillbeprovidedonclosingslide

Wherecanequipmentbedeployed?Anywhere.Wehaveashort-termfocus(>2weeks) WhocanuseRAPID?

•Anyone—academics,governmentagencies,etc.

•Wehelptranslateyourscientificobjectivesintorealistic,achievableremote-sensingandfielddatacollection plans

•NSF-andNIH-fundedprojectsprioritized;differentratesforNSFvs.non-NSFusers

Whatdoesitcost?

•Typically,severalthousanddollars(includingshipping)

•HighercostswhenRAPIDstafffielddeploymentneeded(i.e.,travel)

•Userfeesareavailableonourwebsite

HighResolution(2cm pixel)Orthomosaic

Onecansee:

•(Non-uniform)damage pattern

•Structuralremains;level ofignition

•Survivingstructures

•Burned/Surviving vegetation

•Infrastructurecondition

•Fireperimeter

•Post-fireground conditions;debris

•Burnedcars(EVmarks)

HighResolution(2cm pixel)Orthomosaic

Onecansee:

•(Non-uniform)damage pattern

•Structuralremains;level ofignition

•Survivingstructures

•Burned/Surviving vegetation

•Infrastructurecondition

•Fireperimeter

•Post-fireground conditions;debris

•Burnedcars(EVmarks)

Datato information

HyperspectralImagery

Pre-fundedtorespondtoextreme events

Oftenworkwithseasonedresearchers

Sharethereconnaissance—and reporting—efforts

EERsmayhavespecialaccesstopost disastersites

Proceduresforselectionofteam membersvarybyEER

FromtheNSFProposalandAwardPoliciesandProceduresGuide

"RAPIDisatypeofproposalusedwhenthereisasevereurgencywithregardtoavailabilityoforaccessto,data,facilitiesorspecializedequipment, includingquick-responseresearchonnaturaloranthropogeniceventsandsimilarunanticipatedoccurrences."(NSFproposalandaward policiesandproceduresguide)

RAPIDproposalsareNOTfor:

•projectsthatareappropriateforsubmissionas"regular"NSFproposals; •collectionofonlynon-perishabledata

PIsareadvisedthattheymustsubmitaconceptoutlinepriortosubmissionofaRAPIDproposal.Thiswillaidindeterminingtheappropriateness oftheworkforconsiderationunderthistypeofproposal.ConceptoutlinescanbesubmittedeitherbyemailtoacognizantProgramOfficer.

•TheProjectDescriptionisexpectedtobebriefandmustbenomorethanfivepages.Itmustincludeclearstatementsastowhytheproposed researchisurgentandwhyRAPIDisthemostappropriatetypeofproposalforsupportingtheproposedwork.Notethisproposalpreparation instructiondeviatesfromthestandardproposalpreparationinstructionscontainedinthisGuide;

•OnlyinternalmeritreviewisrequiredforRAPIDproposals.Insomeinstances,ProgramOfficersmayelecttoobtainexternalreviewstoinformtheir decision.Ifexternalreviewistobeobtained,thenthePIwillbeinformedintheinterestofmaintainingthetransparencyofthereviewand recommendationprocess.

•Requestsmaybeforupto$200K(includingindirectcosts)anduptooneyearinduration.Theawardsize,however,willbeconsistentwiththe projectscopeandofasizecomparabletograntsinsimilarareas.

•RAPIDproposalsarenoteligibleforreconsideration,ifdeclined.

2026RAPIDGraduateScholarsProgram

Programfocus

oTraininginstateoftheartfieldinstrumentationanddata collection

oApplyingandarchivingdatafornaturalhazardsanddisaster research

Supportprovided

oOneononetrainingandaccesstoRAPIDresources

oCoverageforinstrumentation,travel,andshipping

oSupportservicessuchaslicenseddronepilotwork

Eligibilityandtimeline

oOpentograduatestudentsinnaturalhazardsanddisaster fieldsatU.S.institutions

oApplicationsaccepteduntilJanuary31,2026

Funding

o$3,750grant

oUpto$7,500inwaivedequipmentfeesandstaffsupport

oOptional$1,500travelstipendforin-persontraining

SUPERFUND RESEARCH CENTER

DISASTER RESEARCH TRAINING WORKSHOP

DECEMBER 5, 2025 8:00-9:30 AM

HUMAN STUDIES DURING AND AFTER DISASTERS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCIES

Garett Sansom (Texas A&M Univ.)

HumanStudiesDuringand AfterDisastersand EnvironmentalEmergencies

GarettSansom,DrPH,MPH

CommunityEngagementCore

TexasA&MSuperfundResearchCenter

Topicstobecoveredinthislecture:

•Rights&ResponsibilitiesofDisasterResearchers

•DevelopingaQuestionnaireforDisasterResearch

•InterviewerRolesandResponsibilities

•BasicsofHumanStudiesandIRBProtocols

•ProcessforCollectingData:EnvironmentalEmergencies

•WorkingwithCommunities

•InteractingwithStudySubjectsPost-Disaster

•Whathappenstothedata?

•Caseexamples

WhatdoestheCommunityEngagmentCore(CEC) do?

•Connectsscientistswithcommunitiesimpactedby environmentalhazards

•Buildstrustandcommunicationpathwaysbetweenresidents, researchers,andagencies

•Translatestechnicalfindingsintoclear,accessible information

•Elevatescommunityknowledge,history,andlivedexperience toinformresearchquestions

•Supportstwo-waylearning:researcherslearnfromresidents andresidentsgainscientifictools

Research+HazardPreparednessFocus

•Helpscommunitiesunderstandcontaminationrisk,exposure pathways,andhealthimplications

•Co-developshazardpreparednessstrategies(storms, flooding,chemicalreleases,droughtimpacts)

•Trainsresidentsincommunitysciencesamplinganddata interpretation

•Guidesemergencymessaging,riskcommunication,and decision-makingduringhazardousevents

•Ensuresresearchleadstopracticalsolutions—saferwater, soil,air,andstrongerresilienceovertime

Numerousadditionalfaculty,staff,andstudents

Rights&ResponsibilitiesofDisasterResearchers

•After9/11,anthrax attacks,DeepWater Horizon

•Expansionofpostdisasterresearch applications

•Fasterresponsetimes

•Shortercompletion times

•Toolstosystematically collectandanalyze data

•Balanceneedfor perishabledatawith:

•Respectforfirst responders

•Provisionofemergency supplies

•Safetyofresearchteam

•Respectforimpacted communities

•AccordingtotheCentersforDiseaseControl andPrevention,thegoalsareto:

•“Determinethecriticalhealthneedsandassessthe impactofdisasters;

•Characterizethepopulationresidingintheaffected area;

•Producehousehold-basedinformationand estimatesfordecisionmakers;

•Evacuatetheeffectivenessofreliefeffortsthrough conductingfollow-upCASPERs.”

CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention(2012)CommunityAssessmentforPublicHealthEmergencyResponseToolkit: SecondEdition.Availableat:https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hsb/disaster/casper/overview.htm

AdvantagesofUsingCASPERtoCollectData afterDisasters

•Generalizabledata

•Providespopulationestimates

•Timely

•Relativelylowcost

•Simplereportingformat

•Flexible

•Disasterornon-disaster settings

•Suitableforcommunitiesof varyingsizeandcomposition

•Just-in-timetraining

CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention(2012)CommunityAssessmentforPublicHealthEmergencyResponseToolkit: SecondEdition.Availableat:https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hsb/disaster/casper/overview.htm

DevelopingaQuestionnaireforDisasterResearch

•RapidNeedsAssessments

•HarrisCountyPublicHealthconductedCASPERs immediatelyfollowingHurricaneHarveytoassess healthneedsinAldineandSoutheastHarrisCounty

HarrisCountyPublicHealth.SoutheastHarrisCountyHurricaneHarveySurveyResults.Availableat: https://publichealth.harriscountytx.gov/Portals/27/Documents/Organization/OPHPR/Casper/CASPER_Southeast_Final.pdf?v er=2018-04-24-164118-783

healthcomplaint prevalence

behaviors

•CDCCASPERToolkit https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hsb/disaster/casper/d ocs/cleared_casper_toolkit.pdf

•CDCCASPERWebsite www.cdc.gov/nceh/hsb/disaster/casper/ •CouncilofStateandTerritorialEpidemiologists’ DisasterEpidemiologySubcommittee https://www.cste.org/group/DisasterEpi

•NIHDisasterResearchResponseProject https://dr2.nlm.nih.gov/tools-resources

Informationthatshouldbeincludedinaquestionnaire:

•Identifyinginformation(name,address,phone#)

•Canbeusedtolinktootherrecords,forupdating, preventduplicateentries

•Demographicinformation(age,gender)

•Clinicalinformation(symptoms,dateofonset,resultsof labtesting)

•Exposureandriskfactorinformation

•THISISTHEFOCUSOFTHEQUESTIONNAIRE

•Sourceofinformation(interviewwithcaseorsurrogate? identificationoftheinterviewer)

Whywouldinformationaboutthe interviewerbeimportant?

ConstructingQuestions

•Afteryouhavedecidedalltheinformationthatyouneed, youcanbeginwritingquestions

•Formatandwordingwillvarybyinvestigation

•Generalformatsinclude:

•Open-ended–shouldbelimited!

•Fillintheblank

•Closed-ended

•Categoricalresponses

•Ordinalresponses

OpenEndedQuestions

•Respondentcangiveanyanswertheywant

•Possibleresponsesarelimitless

•Usefulto:

•Characterizeattitudes,beliefs,behaviors

•Difficultandtimeconsumingtoanalyze

Example:Studytounderstandvaccinationcoverage amongMedicarebeneficiarieswhowerenot vaccinated:Whydidn’tyougetaflushotlastyear?

OpenEndedQuestions

QX.Whydidn’tyougetaflushotlastyear?

Response1

“Ihavemaculardegeneration anddon’tdrive.Ihavea difficulttimegettingtothe doctor’sandIhavetoaskmy friendtodriveme.Mydoctor saidIshouldgetvaccinatedin OctoberandIwroteitonthe calendar.ButIdidn’twantto imposeonmyfriend.Sheis sobusyandherhusbandis quiteill.Anyway,sinceIdon’t getoutmuch,justtochurch andthegrocerystore,Idon’t thinkIneedthevaccination.”

Response2

“Ididnotgetthevaccine becauseIhadreadareport inthenewspaperthatit couldmakeyousick.Some oftheseillnessesareminor likepainorrednesswhere thevaccineisinjectedora slightfeverbutothersare serious.Infact,thereport saidthatsomepeople developedadiseasecalled GuillainBarréduetotheflu vaccineandoneelderly mandied.”

Response3

“Igotfluthelasttime Igottheflushot.I startedfeelingbadas Iwasdrivinghome fromtheclinic.Ifelt kindofachyandthen mythroatgot scratchy.Iwaslaid upinbedfordays. MydoctortellsmeI shouldgettheflu shoteveryyearbutI won’tmakethat mistakeagain.”

FillintheBlank

•Donotprovideanswer choices

•Expectedresponseis12words

•Usewhenpossible responsecategoriesare numerous

•Age,placeofresidence

•Date(birthdate,onset)

•Aspecificquantity

FillintheBlank

QX.Inwhatcountydoyoulive?

QX.Whatisyourdateofbirth?

(MM/DD/YYYY)

QX.Whendidyoureceiveyourpneumoniavaccine? (MM/DD/YYYY)

QX.Howmanytimesdidyouseeyourhealthcareproviderin thelastyear?

ClosedEndedQuestions

•Respondentsmustchoosefromoffered responses

•Investigatormustanticipatelikelyresponse

QX.Whatisyourfavoritecolor?

oRed

oBlue

oGreen

oYellow

oPurple

oOrange

ClosedEndedQuestions

Categorical

QX.Whatwasthemainreason thatyoudidnotgetaflushotlast winter?

oDidn’tknowitwasneeded

oCouldcauseinfluenza

oCouldcausesideeffects

oVaccinenotavailable

oDidn’tthinkitwouldprevent influenza

oNotatrisk

Ordinal

QX.Onascaleof1-5,describe yourlevelofconcernaboutthe sideeffectsoftheflushot.

oNotconcerned

oAlittleconcerned

oSomewhatconcerned

oModeratelyconcerned

oVeryconcerned

oDon’tknow

oRefused

ConstructingQuestions

•Selecttypebasedontheinformationyouneed

•Choosewordingcarefully

•Uselanguageappropriateforrespondent

•Whichonedoyouthinkwouldbebetter? QB.Hasaphysicianorotherhealthcareprovidermeasuredyourblood pressuretodetermineifyouhavehighbloodpressure? QA.Haveyoubeenevaluatedforhypertension?

ConstructingQuestions

•Limiteachquestiontoasingleidea

QX.Didthisclassteachyouhowtoconducthumanstudiesafteradisaster asamemberofaresearchteam?

•Useprecisewording

QX.Didyouhavediarrhea?

QX.Haveyouhad3ormoreloosebowelmovementsinany24hourperiod betweenApril25andMay1?

•Avoidleadingquestions

QX.DoyouthinkitisOKforindustrytofailtotakeprecautionsagainst contaminationofthisneighborhoodafterafloodingevent?

ConstructingQuestions

•Donotsuggestorimplyavaluejudgment

QX.Childhoodimmunizationsareimportant.Hasyourchildbeenvaccinated formeasles?

QX.Hasyourchildbeenvaccinatedformeasles?

•Avoidleadingquestions

QX.DoyouthinkitisOKtohaveunprotectedsexdespitetheprotectiona condomoffers?

•Avoidinvasive/personalquestions

QX.Whichcategorybestestimatesyourtotalhouseholdincome?

QX.Whatisyourincome?

ConstructingQuestions

•Includea“Don’tKnow” or“Refused”

•Ensurethatyour categoriescoverall potentialresponsesand aremutuallyexclusive

QX.Whichofthefollowingage categoriesdoyoufitinto?

o<20

o20-29

o30-39

SkipPatterns

•Useskippatternstoavoidwastingtimeaskingirrelevant questions

•Canuse“screening”questionstoassesswhether additionalinformationisnecessary

Q2.Inthelast7days,didyoudrinkanywaterotherthanbottled water?

oYes

oNo(Ifno,skiptoQ4)

Q3.Didyouuseanyofthefollowingsourcesfordrinkingwater?

oPrivateWell

oCommunityWell

oTapWateratHome

oOther

OpeningStatement

Identifythe organization Hello,Iam ,workingwiththeTexasDepartmentof CommunityHealth.MayIpleasespeakwith [a parentof ].

Explainthe purposeofthe studyin generalterms

Ensure confidentiality

Weareinvestigatinganoutbreakofaseriousdiarrhealillness causedbyE.colibacteriafollowingHurricaneHarvey.Wewould liketoaskyouafewquestionsaboutyourrecentactivities includingyourenvironmentalexposurestofloodwater.

Yourresponseswillonlybeusedforthepurposesofthisstudy andwillbeheldinthestrictestofconfidence.

Statethe lengthoftime theinterview willtake

Thisinterviewshouldtakeabout20minutes.Isthisagoodtimeto dotheinterview?

Puttingitalltogether

•Questionnairelayout

•Manyacceptableapproaches

•Groupsimilartypesofinformationtogether

•Askmoregeneralquestionsfirst,followedbymore specific

•Askleastsensitivequestionsfirst,followedby morepersonal

•Putmostimportantquestionsfirst,endwith interestingtoknow

•Aboveall–logicalandorganized,easytoread,clear instructions,numberthequestionsandthepages, spaceforresponsesshouldbeclearlyseparatedfrom question

ClosingStatement

Closing sentence

Thatwasmylastquestion.IrealizethatIhave askedyoualotofquestions.Doyouhaveany questionsorcommentsforme?

THANKthe respondent fortheirtime

Provide themwith investigator contact information

Thankyouverymuchforyourtimeand cooperation.Yourassistancewiththis investigationmayhelpuspreventfurthercases ofE.coliinfectioninthecommunity.

Ifyouthinkofsomethingelseandwanttoreach us,pleaseleaveamessagefor[NAMEOF PRIMARYINVESTIGATOR]atxxx-xxx-xxxxand wewillgetbacktoyou(moreaboutIRBlater).

InterviewerRolesandResponsibilities

•Remainflexible

•Prioritizesafety

•Adheretothemethodology

•Samplevalidity

•Dataquality

•Representativeness

•Timeliness

•Berespectful

•Understandpersonallimitations

InterviewerRolesandResponsibilities

•Remembertoaskeachquestionthesameway everytime

•Readtheentirequestionandallanswerchoicesif provided

•Don’tprefillanswersorfinishrespondent’s sentences

•Forexample,theymaysay“Iwassickandcouldn’tgetto thedoctor”whenyouaskedthemaboutevacuation.Do notusethistoprefill“Wasanyonepreventedfromgetting medicalcare?”

•Recordresponsesverbatim

Interviewingtips

•Peopleskillsareimportant

•Beknowledgeable

•Identifyyourselfandexplainthepurpose

•Maintainaprofessionalandfriendlyattitude

•Organizeyourapproach

•Communicateappropriatelybasedonpatient’sage,education, occupation

•Exhibitgenuineconcern

•Wordquestionscarefully

•Recordanyinformationthatyoulearn

•Thankthepatient

•Providethecasewithameanstocontactyou

Otherimportantpreparation

•RaiseCommunityAwareness

•Increasecooperationrates

•Enhancefieldteamsafety

•Just-In-TimeTraining

•Scheduledshortlybeforedata collection

•Ensuresdatacollectionisconsistent, uniform,andcomplete

•DataCollection&Data Management

•Teamsafety,roles,andresponsibilities

•Logisticalconsiderations

Purplepaint=Legal noticeoftrespass

Otherimportantpreparation

•Whenperforming researchthatinvolves humansubjects–you mustfirstreceive InstitutionalReviewBoard (IRB)approval

•Thisincludescollecting personaldatathrough surveys,biological samples,medicalrecords, orgeographicaldata.

BasicsofHumanStudiesandIRBProtocols

•AnIRBservesasanindependentbodythat reviewsandevaluatesallaspectsofa proposedstudyanddecidesonthescientific andethicalaspectsoftheresearch

•TheprimarypurposeoftheIRBistoprotect therights,well-being,andsafetyofpotential subjectswhowillparticipateintheresearch

•Howdetailedandhowlongapproval takesdependsonthetypeof researchandwhowillbeincluded

•Specialattentionispaidto:

•Vulnerablepopulations

•Workingwithchildren

•Typeofdatacollected(generalizable surveyresultsversusdatathatcan identifyindividuals)

•Protectedhealthinformation

•Geneticinformation

•Recruitmentandconduct

•LanguageBarrers

ProcessforCollectingData:Environmental Emergencies

•Thespecificapproachtocollecting environmentaldatagreatlydependsuponthe typeofemergency

•Inallinstances,preparationpriortoahazard eventiskeytoensuringsafetyandquality results

ProcessforCollectingData:Environmental Emergencies

•Trainingforteam

•HAZWOPcertification

•Priormockeven training

•Haveresponse“go bags”readyforteam members

•Personalprotective Equipment(PPE)

•Communication devices

ProcessforCollectingData:Environmental Emergencies

•Knowwhereyouaregoing andhavecontingency plans

•Roadsmaybeout

•Services(likegasoline)may beunavailable

•Tensionscouldbehigh(risk ofcriminalactivity)

•Workwithgoverning bodies,localpolice,and communitypartnerships

•Staytogetherandstaysafe

ProcessforCollectingData:Environmental Emergencies

•Knowwhatyouarelookingfor

•Airmonitoring(i.e.benzene,particulatematter,etc.)

•WaterCollection(drinkingwater,wastewater,storm runoff,etc.)

•Soilcollection(PAHs,heavymetals,etc.)

•Priortraininginfieldmethods

•EPAoutlinespropertechniqueforfieldacitivies

WorkingwithCommunities

•Communityengagement hasmanybenefits including

•Acceptancefrom communitywithresearch team

•Improvesresearchefforts

•Allowsforlocal knowledge

•Keepsteamssafeduring stressfulevents

•Isanethicalapproach

Whoarestakeholders?

•Thoseinvolved

•Thoseaffected

•Primaryintendedusers

•Groupsalreadyengaginginefforts

•Dependentonyourspecificproject WorkingwithCommunities

WorkingwithCommunities

Stakeholdersshouldbeinvolvedbefore implementation,duringservices,andwith evaluation

Inotherwords,everystepoftheway!

CovenantwithCommunities Collaborative,community-focusedresearch endeavorsofferbenefitsto1)researchers throughlong-termcommunitylabsthatsupport evidence-based,project-driven,andinnovative approachesforstudentsandfaculty;and2) communitypartnersthroughtrainingonissuebasedsubjectmatters,publicpolicy,public programs,development,andsustainable comprehensiveactionplans.

•Needsanalysisandstakeholderinput

•Identificationofbarriers

•Theorybasisfortheintervention

•Whatactionswereconsidered?

•Whyweretheseactionschosen?

•Howdidtheseactionsaddresstheidentifiedbarriers?

•Implementation

•Whatwasdone?

•Whodidit?

•Howweretheymonitored,supervised,etc.?

•Forhowlong,inwhatamount,inwhatwaywasitdone?

•Datacollectionduringemergencies

•Whatmeasureswereused?

•Howwerethedatacollected,andbywhom?

•Showagraphorgraphicoftheresults WorkingwithCommunities:DescribetheResults

•Whatweretheoutcomes?

•Dataontheprimaryoutcomemeasure

•Comparetobaseline(ifavailable)

•Comparetogoal

•Comparetobenchmark

•Providedataonanysecondarymeasuresthatalso supportyourconclusionsaboutprogramoutcomes

•Whatelsedidyoufindout?

•Answerstoanyadditionalquestionsthatcameup

•Anyotherinterestingfindings(lessonslearned)

WorkingwithCommunities:EvaluatingGoals

•Ifthegoalsweremet:

•Whatkeybarriersweretargeted?

•Whatwasthemosteffectiveaction,andwhy?

•Whatcanbeimproveduponduringthenextevent?

•Ifthegoalswerenotmet:

•Didyoumisssomekeybarrierstodatacollection?

•Wasthemethodsgood,buttherewerebarriersto implementationthatyoudidn’tanticipate?

•Didyougetonlypartwaythere(e.g.,Onlycouldsample certainareas)

•Popularpress WorkingwithCommunities:DisseminatingFindings

•Organizationalnewsletter

•Summariesforpatients, providers,payors

•Tradeassociation conferenceorpublication

•Scholarlyresearch conferencepresentation

•Scholarlyjournalarticle

•Wheretopublishdepends onrigorofthedesign

WorkingwithCommunities:NextSteps

•Uselessonslearnedinthisprojectastheneeds analysisforyournextimprovementactivity

•Applywhatyou’velearnedaboutsuccessinthis area

•Sethighergoals,anddesignadditionalactionsto addressthesameproblemevenbetterduring hazardevents

•Improvedscholarship

•Identifyproblem(surface water)

•Localknowledgein pinpointingareasof concern

•Co-Learningopportunities

•Createslocaltrustandbuilds socialcapital

•Givescommunitiesdatathat theyactuallywant

MaintainingtheRelationship

•Maintainingrelationshipsrequiredovercoming challengesrelatedtomisalignmentofacademicand communityprioritiesrelatedtomultiplefactors:

•CovenantwithCommunities

•CreatingCommunityFellows

•SharinginResources

•SharinginData

•Biweeklymeetings

•Committedtothelonghaul(manyyears)

VitaltoFormRelationshipsPriortoHazard Event

InteractingwithStudySubjectsPost-Disaster

•Understandthementalandphysicalhealth consequencesofdisasters–andtheimpacts incommunities

•Balanceneedforperishabledatawithrealityof disaster’simpactsonindividualsand communities

•Havereferrals,resources,orothermaterials availablewhenurgentneedsarise

Whathappenstothedata?

•Usefulprimarydataaboutcommunity

•Immediatepost-disasterresourceallocation

•2015HiddenPineswildfireCASPERshowedtetanus vaccinationsnotanissue;medicalresourcesredirected

•2022MemorialDayFloodCASPERshowedaneedfor foodpreparednessandmobilepower(generators)

•Dataforfuturegrantsforpreparednessormitigation

•Supportfundingofprojects

•Texas

•ImprovingCommunication

•Residentslackawarenessofpublichealthwebsites

•Wantmorecommunicationviasocialmedia

•Partnershipandplanning

•PublichealthworkedwithOEMtoupdateEmergency OperationsPlan

•Testedwithajointexercise

CaseStudyExamples

•HurricaneHarvey

•IntercontinentalTerminalsCompany(ITC)at DeerPark/CancerCluster

•Investigationinacancercluster

•Exampleofpre-hazardengagement

HurricaneHarvey

•Manchesterisa“fenceline”neighborhoodlocationontheHoustonShip Channel

•Theneighborhoodiswithin1mileof21facilitiesthatreporttoEPA’s ToxicReleaseInventory,11generatorsofhazardouswaste,4facilities thattreatandstorehazardouswaste

•Designatedfloodplainsexpandedby15%since1980

Addontoexistingstudiesthatprovide baselinedata

•Withthehelpoft.e.j.a.s., recruited,enrolled,and maintainedapilotcohortof 25householdsin Manchester

•Collectedsurveydata,tap andsurfacewater,soil, indoorair,andindoordust beforeHarvey

•Comparedwithpost-Harvey soilsamples,same households

Post-HurricanePriorities

•Addedadditionaldata collection,askingresidents towearsiliconebraceletsto measureexposurepostHarvey

•Continuedtoconduct spatialanalysisto determinesourcesof exposures;Presentedat TexasA&MGISDay

•t.e.j.a.s.providedtoxictours togroupsofhighschool andTexasA&Mstudentsto seeHarveyimpacts

•Supportofcommunitypartners, includingtheHoustonHealth Department

•Collectedsoilsamplesin5 parksinundatedbyHarvey floodwatersandimpactedby sediment

•Collected114surveysand27 in-depthqualitativeinterviews withthoseusingtheparks

•Perceptionsofpollution,self-rated health,communityresiliencies, actionstoprotecthealth

IntercontinentalTerminalCompany(ITC)

TeammobilizestoaddresstheITC petrochemicalfire(DeerPark,TX)

•March17,2019:PetrochemicalfireatITC Terminal

•PlumeofsmokemovedeasttowestacrossHouston

•FinalfirenotextinguisheduntilMarch22,2019

TeammobilizestoaddresstheITC petrochemicalfire(DeerPark,TX)

•March18th-24thApril4th18th:EnvironmentalSamples Collected

•22airsamplesassessedforTotalVolatileOrganic Compounds(TVOCs),benzene,andfine particulatematter

•Ashhadfallenonseveralcommunitygardensand playgroundsso80soilsamplesweretakenfrom theselocationsassessingformetalsandPolycyclic AromaticHydrocarbons(PAHs)

•24watersamplesweretakendownstreamalong theHoustonShipChannelandintoBurnetBay assessingforbenzeneandPFAS

EnvironmentalSampling

EnvironmentalSampling

BenzeneLevels

•Resultsshowed:

•TVOCspeakedat3.3ppmatFurrHighSchoolon March22nd,followinganunexpectedfirealongadike atITC

•Benzene15minuteexposureassessmentspikedat 0.1ppmonMarch22nd

•WaterandsoilanalysesareongoingforPAHsand perfluorinatedcompounds

CASPERinDeerPark,TX

•ACASPERmethodfrom theCentersforDisease ControlandPrevention (CDC)wasutilizedto collectarepresentative sample.Thirtyzones wererandomlyselected withinthecityandseven homeswithineachzone wereselectedtobe approached

•Ofthedifferent way'sindividuals couldhaveheard aboutthe warning,theonly waythatlead peopletofollow thosewarnings wereiftheyheard iffrom friends/family,or socialmedia

CancerClusterIdentifiedinHouston

•Twoneighborhoodsin Houston(Kashmere GardensandFifthWard)

•Increaseriskofseveral cancersincluding ChildhoodLeukemia

•Thoughttobeassociated withCreosote

OutreachwithCommunity

SamplingRevealsIncreaseCancerRiskinDisaster ProneRegion

KashmereGardens,FifthWard,andDenverHarborinHouston,TXcontain polycyclicaromatichydrocarbonsinexcessoftheU.S.EPA’slowerbound forelevatedcancerriskfromallsamples.

PuttingintheEngagementpriortohazardevents

SouthTexasisproneto manyhazardexperience including:drought, extremeheat,flooding, hurricanes,andpoorair andwaterquality.

THEREALITY OFCOLONIAS

HighPovertyandUnemployment:Averagehousehold incomeisunder$834permonth,withunemployment rangingfrom20–60%comparedtotheTexasaverageof 7%.

InsufficientInfrastructure:Limitedaccesstopotable water,sewagesystems,pavedroads,andproper drainage.

EducationalBarriers:Approximately70%ofresidents havenotcompletedhighschool.

Gass,H.(2018,March1).Texas’scolonias:solutiontohousingcrisisormoralblotonrichnation’sconscience?Christian ScienceMonitor.

https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2018/0225/Texas-s-colonias-solution-to-housing-crisis-or-moral-blot-on-richnation-s-conscience Radio,M.P.(2015,April28).ColoniaLifeHasImproved,ButTheseBorderCommunitiesStillHaveManyNeeds.Marfa PublicRadio,RadioforaWideRange.;MARFA.https://www.marfapublicradio.org/2015-04-28/colonia-life-hasimproved-but-these-border-communities-still-have-many-needs

Whythismattersforscienceand communtiy

DecliningSTEMengagement,especially,inunderservedregions. Environmentalissuesarelocalandglobal—thesestudentsarefuturesolvers.

“Ifcuriosityistheessenceofscience, equityistheenginethatkeepsitalive.”

Whatwedid–inbrief

TOPIC1:YOUTHTAKINGACTION OBJECTIVES IdentifyandComparePublicHealthandEnvironmentalHealthDiscussthe SignificanceofPublicHealthandEnvironmentalHealthExplainwhatisa CitizenScientistandwhattheirRoleEntailsApplyLessonsLearnedasa CitizenScientistintheCommunity

TOPIC2:WHATWEDON'TSEEINTHEWATER OBJECTIVES ExplainWaterQuality DistinguishBetweentheTwoMostCommonWaterContaminants(Lead&Arsenic) DetermineSafeWaterQualityLevels TestforWaterContaminants(Lead) FIELDACTIVITY NorthAlamoWaterSupplyCorporationWaterTreatmentPlantTour

TOPIC3:UNCOVERINGTHEDANGERSOF CONTAMINATEDWATER OBJECTIVES ExplainBoilNoticesandHowtoAppropriatelyRespond DetermineHowWaterWellsCanPullContaminantsInfromSurroundingGroundwaterEvaluate HealthRisksAssociatedwithBeingExposedtoArsenicandLeadinourDrinkingWater ApplyLessonsLearnedbyTestingforLeadUsingtheKemioHeavyMetalsDevice FIELDACTIVITY

TOPIC4:TIMETOPROTECTTHEENVIRONMENT OBJECTIVES EvaluateWhatIsEnvironmentalJusticeandHowitRelatestoYouthCitizenScientistRoleIdentifyHow PromotoresdeSalud/CommunityHealthWorkersServeasCommunityAdvocatesApplySkillsLearnedasa YouthCitizenScientisttoImproveFamilyandCommunity

HavingaTrainedandEngaged PopulationPriortoHazardEvents

“Thisprogramopenedmyeyestohowmuchour communitiesneedpeoplewhounderstand science.IthelpedmeseethatIcanbeoneof thosepeople—thatIcanstudyengineering andbepartofthesolution.”

VanessaOrtiz,YouthCommunityScientist

“Beforejoiningtheprogram,Ihadnever thoughtmuchaboutwaterquality.ButasI learnedmore,Irealizedhowimportantitisfor ourcommunity—andthatsciencecanbe somethingwealltakepartin.”

OmarSánchezDanielJr.,YouthCommunityScientist

Questions?

SUPERFUND RESEARCH CENTER

DISASTER RESEARCH TRAINING WORKSHOP

DECEMBER 5, 2025 9:45-11:30 AM COMMUNICATING HEALTH &

)

Presentedby:

RobertEmery,DrPH,CHP,CIH,CBSP,CSP,CHMM,CPP,ARM

VicePresidentfor Safety,Health,Environment&RiskManagement ProfessorofOccupationalHealth TheUniversityofTexasHealthScienceCenteratHouston

Objectives

–Explainwhyitisimportantforsafety&health professionalstobeabletoeffectivelyinteractwith themedia–especiallyinthepost9/11world –Describethevariousmediaoutletsandtheirunique characteristics

–Providealistofmedia“do’s”and“don’ts” –Showsome“realworld”examples–andletyou judgeifthemessagegotthrough

WhyTrainSafety&Health“Experts” inMediaRelations?

Inourcurrentenvironment,theneedforprompt, accuratepublichealthinformationisACUTE

Lotsofmediaoutletsexist,sotheuseofguest

“bloviators”(“talkingheadswhocandiscourseatlength inanauthoritativemanneronnothing”)ismandatory

Dutytodriveoutbadinformationwithgood

Theabilitytoappropriatelyhandlemediainteractionsis keytosuccess

PrimaryMassMediaFormats

Rankedinorderofpopularityasreportedby consumersof“nonspecificcontent”

–Television

–Internet/Web

–Radio(drivetime,especially)

–Newspapers,periodicals

Eachmediumhascommunicationproblemsuniqueto itsmodeofabsorption

ConsidertheTimeDimension

•Wherewereyouon9/11?Andwheredidyougofor instantinformation?

•TV,web,radio–almostinstantly

•Newspaper–nextday

•Magazine–newweekormonth

•ScientificJournal–nextyear

•Historybooks–followingyears

WhatisYourGOAL?

Effectivepublichealthmessaging shouldmakepeoplesafeand makepeoplefeelsafe. Dothefirst,thenthesecond.

ThePoweroftheMedia

Instantaneousindelivery

24/7infrequency

Globalinbreadth

Fiercelycompetitiveinaction

Voraciousinitsappetitefor“content”

Deficientinmemory

So,wheredoes “news”comefrom?

Breakingnews–“Somethingjusthappened…”

SARS,MadCowDisease,CDCreport,Celebritydeath

Trendingnews–“Thisalwayshappens…” Fluseason,FattestCity,MS150,DiabetesMonth Herdingnews–“Somebodyelsejustreportedthis…” CNNcrawler,APwire,MattDrudge,WebMD “Pitched”news–“Thislooksinteresting…” Embargoedpublication,newsrelease,mediaadvisory, pressconference,phoneteaser,blaste-mail

Editorswanttosee:

“Big”StoriesBroughtHOME

Want“content”from“localexperts”about safety/publichealthissues

Shockvalueisinstant,hardfactscomeslowly WorstthingyoucandoistosayNOTHING

One-thirdofmanagingamediadisasteris ACCURATE,TIMELYMESSAGING

WhatSpurs MediaInterest inYOU?

Proactive–story“pitches”

–Publichealthexample–HomelandDefense

Reactive–breakingnews

–Publichealthexample–SpaceShuttleColumbia Cooperative–newsonassignment –Publichealthexample–“DiseaseoftheWeek”

FormalPressReleasesor MediaAnnouncements

Anstrategicattempttogetmediainterest

Positivemediacoveragecanequalmillionsin advertising—onecolumninchintheNYTimesor just30sec.onTV=$900ifpaidfor)

Whattoinclude:

–Justthefacts;who/what/where/why –Lessismore,alotlessisalotmore –Includebasiccontactinformation

PICTURESTelltheStoryforTV

–Information:deliveritasabumpersticker

–Props:devices,tools,demonstrations

–“Average”people:patients,victims,helpers

–Backdrop:goodlight,movement,colors

–“B”Roll:pre-filmedfootage

TimelinessisEverything

Thereisno“tomorrow”forthenewsmedia.

Promptresponseiscritical

–Avoidacademic“dreamtime”

–Usegoodvoicemailgreeting

–Wearapager,turnonyourcellphone

Bearesourceto“connectthedots”

Developareputationforreliability— homework

PublicAffairs“Flaks”

Manyorganizationshavemediarelations policiesandPublicAffairsunits

Maynotbeabletohidebehindthe“flak”–a “front”personcansendthewrongmessageon screen

–Consideraworkplaceaccidentwithmediainterest–whatisthecompanyhiding?

Prudentforsafety&healthprofessionalstobe preparedifcalledupon

HelpfulHintsforInterviews

1.Knowwhentoaccept/refuseaninterview

2.Anticipatedifficultquestions,prepareanswers

3.Ifsurprised,counttofive

4.Beconcise—stay“onmessage”

5.Behonest—themediawillcatchalie

6.Admityoudon’tknowifyoudon’t

7.Don’tbeargumentativeordidactic

ForTVorRadio: Specialinterviewtips

Makeabuddyofthevideographer

Askwhatthefirstquestionwillbe Turnnegativequestionsinto

POSITIVESTATEMENTS

Talkin“soundbites”—K-I-S-S

Benatural—thecameraknowsaphony Checktoseeifthemicis“Off”

MediaNEVERDos

Neverasktoapproveareporter’sstory Nevergo“offtherecord”

Nevermentionthereporter’sboss

Neversayyou’llcallbackunlessyouwill Neversay“Ihatereporters”or“Ineverwatch TVnews”or“Wedon’ttakeyourpaper”

MediaALWAYSDos

Alwaysaskforapro’shelpifit’savailable

Alwaysaskyourself:whatdoesmywork meanforUncleBuddy/AuntSue?

Alwaysoffer“bulletpoints”inwriting

Alwaysspelloutyourname

Alwaysclearlystateyouraffiliation

AsaConsumerofMediaContent

Fivekeysquestionsyoushouldalwaysconsider

–Whocreatedthemessage?

–Whattechniquesareusedtoattractyourattention?

–Whatlifestyles,values,andpointsofviewarepresentedinor omittedfromthemessage?

–Whywasthemessagesent?

–Howmightdifferentpeopleunderstandthemessagedifferently fromyou?

Adaptedfrom:JollsandThoman,CenterforMediaLiteracy,SantaMonica,CA

GenericMediaTimeline

Coldcallorpitch

Create“backgrounder” (alwaysinarush)

–Whatareourtakehome points?

Setup

Interview

Edit Run

Let’sseewhatgoesin,and whatcomesout

SUPERFUND RESEARCH CENTER

DISASTER RESEARCH TRAINING WORKSHOP

DECEMBER 5, 2025 12:15-4:00 PM

Table Top Exercises:

1. Collection of Field Samples

Goal: To practice proper sample collection, storage and documentation

Overview: Trainees (15-17 people in the group) will be split up into 3 smaller teams (each team will have one “trainer” supervising their activities) and provided instructions (description of a disaster scenario, maps/GPS coordinates) and sampling supplies. Each team will be given a separate scenario and location so that they do not trip over each other. Teams will huddle to decide where to sample and what to collect based on the scenario provided. Roles for each team member will be decided (suggested roles: team lead, sampling lead, scribe, supplies handler, report preparer) and maps and supply needs are reviewed. Teams will need to choose proper supplies and PPE for their scenario from a “supply locker”. Teams will exit the building and navigate their way to the designated sampling location. Samples are taken, logged and packaged. Teams will return to the building and prepare 2-3 slide report on their activity. Teams will report on their activity. Trainers will comment on the observations they have made for each team’s work and provide recommendations for improvement.

Suggested Timeline

5 mins: Trainees break into 3 groups; Trainers provide general instructions on the activity 10 mins: Teams huddle and decide where to sample and what to collect based on the scenario provided 15 min: Collection of samples following the scenario, preparation of a report

15 mins: Team reports (5 mins per team)

15 mins: Comments from the trainers and general discussion

2. Risk Communication and Human Studies

Goal: To learn how to properly interact with the human subjects, and communicate risk Overview: Trainees (15-17 people in the group) will be split up into 3 smaller teams (each team will have one “trainer” to perform “role playing”). Teams will participate in one of three tasks: (i) data collection from a human subject using a sample survey; (ii) giving an interview to a reporter; or (iii) interacting with community members in a town hall-like setting. Teams will be provided instructions (description of the scenarios identical to those in exercise on “Interacting with first responders and government agencies”, a survey instrument, etc.). Teams will huddle to decide on the role for each team member. Teams will interact with their respective “role playing” trainer to complete their assigned task. Teams will prepare 2-3 slide report on their activity. Teams will report on their activity. Trainers will comment on the observations they have made for each team’s work and provide recommendations for improvement.

Suggested Timeline

5 mins: Trainees break into 3 groups; Trainers provide general instructions on the activity

5 mins: Teams huddle and decide on the role for each team member

20 mins: Each group conducts instructed tasks; prepare a report

15 mins: Team reports (5 mins per team)

15 mins: Comments from the trainers and general discussion

3. Interacting with first responders and government agencies

Goal: To learn how to interact with the “authorities”

Overview: Trainees (15-17 people in the group) will be split up into 3 smaller teams (each team will have one “trainer”). Next, the trainers will hold a simulated briefing on the current conditions in the disaster area, distribute maps and other information, and answer questions from the audience. Three different types of scenarios (to overlap with the “Collection of Field Samples” exercise) will be presented as occurring simultaneously. Trainees will huddle as a group to review the information provided and decide the strategy for selecting sample sites, obtaining permissions (if any) for sampling, chart a travel plan for best access to sampling sites, and a sequence of sample collection. The teams will prepare a summary of their proposed plan and present to others. Trainers will comment on the observations they have made for each team’s work and provide recommendations for improvement.

Suggested Timeline

5 mins: Trainees break into 3 groups; Trainers provide general instructions on the activity

15 mins: Simulated daily briefing on the disaster and weather conditions; Q&A

15 mins: Teams develop a plan for sample collection; prepare a report

15 mins: Team reports (5 mins per team)

10 mins: Comments from the trainers and general discussion

OVEARLL NATURAL DISASTER SCENARIO DESCRIPTION

Originating in the Gulf of Mexico, the hurricane grew from a tropical depression into a Category 3 hurricane as it made landfall near the Texas Gulf Coast The center of circulation stalled over south Texas and then meandered slowly east into the Gulf of Mexico before making a final landfall near Cameron, Louisiana. The slow movement of the storm over a five-day period led to the catastrophic flooding that was observed in southeast Texas. Numerous flash flood emergencies were issued along the entire Gulf Coast from the US-Mexico border to the the Houston and Beaumont areas of Texas, and as deep as Bastrop County and nearby communities. The area coverage of locations picking up at least 10 inches of rain was greater than the state of West Virginia. The Harris County Flood Control District estimated three hundred billion gallons of water was dumped on the county and surrounding areas in four days.

Catastrophic flooding resulting from the hurricane and associated rain event may have led to re-distribution of chemical and bacterial contaminants around multiple industrial sites near Texas Gulf Coast. The hurricane has broken up into a tropical depression that has moved north to the Oklahoma. Mandatory evacuation orders have been lifted for all counties in Texas Jackson and Calhoun counties were locations where the flooding was most severe. Multiple road closures were in effect, and remain closed due to damage to bridges and overpasses. The situation remains fluid with information being updated by the local Incident Command Posts along the Coast. Extreme caution is advised when traveling in the affected areas.

Two weeks after the hurricane, three surveying teams (Alpha, Bravo and Charlie) are being sent to collect environmental samples in several locations that have been most affected as reported as sites of potential spillage of chemical and bacterial waste into residential water supplies. Because of how vast the affected areas are, teams are to depart from locations in San Antonio (Area Alpha), Austin (Area Bravo), and College Station (Area Charlie). It is expected that teams will return to their home base the same day.

Trainee Name

Jiang Zheng

Caroline Emery

Devin Teri

Sharmin Duza

Olivia Lampe

Meredith Schervish

Nikki Barlow

Allison Fry

Theodros Woldeyohannes

Kyle Wilson

HaleyJesse

Jordan Helfrich

Ruby Hernandez

Tate Matthews

Aidan Holman

Weston Gary

Rachel Wheless-Smith

Tzu-hsin Yen

Madison McFarland

Johnson Oladele

Mason Havard

IbrahimAlshammari

Dalton Allen

Kayla Morales

Cassie Ammermann

Evelyn Reategui-Zirena

Anindita Roy

Hannah Roe

Gustavo Elizondo

Thomas Chan

Amaturi Nur

Trainees Team & Group Assignments forTable Top Exercises