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ECONOMIC AND HEALTH IMPACTS
that their children’s college plans had been negatively affected by the financial impacts of Sandy.
Health Impacts
As described in the previous sections, respondents often reported lives upended by the storm, including by job loss, displacement, economic losses, and recovery problems dragging on for years. These challenges are in addition to - and often exacerbate - serious short and long lasting health impacts of the disaster.
My daughter has PTSD, my other one is on antidepressants. I drink every day and just want to run away. It has been pure hell.
struggling with either all or some of those health problems, and 39 percent characterize the health care or treatment they have received as inadequate. Furthermore, a quarter of respondents reported that they now have to travel further to receive care than they did prior to Sandy.
Additionally, among families with children, 40 percent report that their children’s school performance has suffered because of the difficulties their family has faced since the storm.
Survey Response
At the time of this survey, over four years after Sandy, more than 70 percent of respondents reported that they had developed new physical or mental health problems or a worsening of pre- existing conditions since Sandy.
Mental health problems were the most commonly reported conditions but the reports also included increased risks of physical health problems.
Seventy-six percent of respondents indicate that they or a family member are still
NINETEEN PERCENT of respondents reported a new or increased dependence on alcohol or drugs. They also reported new or worsening health conditions:
67% Depression 75% Anxiety
44% PTSD 11% Asthma
4% Heart Attack 2% Stroke
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