Qualitative Data Collection 1-Year Post Disaster Provided Insight Into Unique Concerns of Affected Community Residents During Long-Term Recovery – Illinois, July 2022

The fire was a major disaster in the community, burning for 4 d, destroying the entire facility, and prompting both a 1-mile evacuation order and 3-mile masking advisory. 3,4 To assess the progress of long-term community recovery in 2022, ATSDR conducted one of the first follow-up ACE investigations with a qualitative component; a semi-structured interview was developed to collect data from a convenience sample of residents most impacted by the fire. Because qualitative data illuminate the true needs and sentiments of a community following a disaster, 5–7 our goal was to identify common themes or topics within the affected community, which could then be used by local authorities to guide continued recovery efforts. Methods We designed a semi-structured interview intended to elicit responses related to mental health and individual perceptions about the previous year’s fire response (Table 1). Research suggests that effective communication can help mitigate mental health distress following a disaster, 9–11 yet public health messaging is only as effective as its ability to be understood.