Post-disaster food insecurity: Hurricane Maria as a case study

Background

Food insecurity is traditionally defined as a chronic condition linked to insufficient income, but in post-disaster contexts the condition may differ significantly, often with sudden onset and temporary nature. There is no specific definition for post-disaster food insecurity, making accurate data collection and development of effective interventions difficult.

Methods

To explore this issue, we performed a pilot survey study (n = 22) in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria to evaluate food insecurity status, duration, and causes.

Results

Over half of respondents self-reported experiencing food insecurity following Hurricane Maria. In general, food insecure respondents experienced more specific food group shortages that lasted longer than food secure respondents. The duration of food shortages significantly influenced participants' perceptions of food insecurity. The primary causes of food insecurity were identified as grocery store closures, a lack of food in stores, or other reasons not listed in the survey. These findings support what is known about the post-disaster setting with supply chain issues being a prominent mechanism of food insecurity as well as there being multiple mechanisms difficult to describe due to the complexity of the situation.

Conclusions

Results highlight the need for refined definitions and assessments of post-disaster food insecurity that account for the temporal aspects of food shortages and the complexity of post-disaster settings. As climate change exacerbates the frequency and severity of natural disasters, addressing the nuances of post-disaster food insecurity is increasingly urgent to mitigate associated health risks.