Enduring Impacts of the November 2021 Red Hill Fuel Spill: Health, Social, Economic, and Trust Implications

This report presents findings from a follow-up survey conducted in July 2023—about 20 months after the Red Hill water contamination—with 174 people who had participated in earlier CDC/ATSDR studies. The study examines how the disaster affected participants’ health, daily life, finances, and trust in government agencies. Results indicate ongoing challenges, including physical and mental health impacts, disrupted social networks, and financial hardship. Many respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the Navy’s response and reported lasting declines in trust. While the sample size limits generalizability, these findings provide insight into the longer-term well-being impacts among those affected and highlight opportunities to improve future disaster response.