Healthcare

Child Hurricane Evacuees in 'Urgent' Need of Care, Report Says, The Henry Kaiser Family Foundation, April. 18, 2006

http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/print_report.cfm?DR_ID=36682&dr_cat=3
This article summarizes a number of recently published studies detailing Katrina’s impact on the medical needs of children and the lack of adequate medical resources for the uninsured.

Work Group on Disasters, Psychosocial Issues for Children and Families in Disasters: A guide for the Primary Care Physician, American Academy of Pediatrics

mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/SMA95-3022/default.asp
This online booklet provides doctors with information regarding disasters so they might better diagnose and treat their patients.

Lori Peek and Alice Fothergill, Reconstructing Childhood: An Exploratory Study of Children in Hurricane Katrina, Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado, Apr. 2006

http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/research/qr/qr186/qr186.html
“Hurricane Katrina was one of the most devastating disasters in the history of the United States.  In this report, we examine children’s experiences in the aftermath of the catastrophe.  Data was gathered through participant observation, focus groups, informal interviews, and in-depth formal interviews with parents, grandparents, day care service providers, school administrators, elementary school teachers, mental health service providers, religious leaders, and evacuee shelter coordinators in Louisiana.  This research describes the experiences of children and their families in the days and weeks following the storm, discusses what was done on behalf of children to reduce their vulnerability, and illustrates various things that children did for themselves and for others to lessen the impacts of the disaster.”

David Abramson, Richard Garfield, and Irwin Redlener, The Recovery Divide: Poverty and the Widening Gap Among Mississippi Children and Families Affected by Hurricane Katrina, National Center for Disaster Preparedness & The Children’s Health Fund, Feb. 2, 2007

http://www.ncdp.mailman.columbia.edu
This study finds the following: the working poor were most vulnerable to Katrina; children have experienced persistent emotional stress; parents and caregivers have reported exceedingly high rates of mental health distress and disability; the rates of uninsured children in Mississippi have drastically increased; and children are becoming more disengaged from school as evidenced by rates of absenteeism.

Prepared by David Abramson and Richard Garfield, On the Edge: Children and Families Displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Face a Looming Medical and Mental Health Crisis, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, National Center for Disaster Preparedness and Operation Assist, Apr. 2006

http://www.ncdp.mailman.columbia.edu/program_special.htm
Survey of Hurricane Katrina survivors living in FEMA housing regarding medical and mental health.

Mollyann Brodie, PhD, Erin Weltzien, Drew Altman, PhD, Robert J. Blendon, PhD, John Benson, MA, Experiences of Hurricane Katrina Evacuees in Houston Shelters: Implications for Future Planning, American Journal of Public Health, Aug. 2006, Vol 96, No. 8, p. 1402-1408

The authors conducted a survey of 680 evacuees living in two Houston shelters after Hurricane Katrina in order to explore how the public health community can promote the recovery of Hurricane Katrina victims and protect evacuees in future disasters.  Many evacuees suffered physical and emotional stress during the storm and its aftermath as a result of not having adequate food and water.   In comparison to New Orleans and Louisiana residents overall, disproportionate numbers of this group were African American, had low incomes, and no health insurance coverage.  Many had chronic health conditions and relied heavily on the New Orleans public hospital system, which was destroyed in the storm.  The results of the survey highlight the need for better plans for emergency communication and evacuation of low-income and disabled citizens in future disasters and shed light on choices facing policymakers in planning for the long-term healthcare needs of vulnerable populations.