THE PHYSICAL HEALTH IMPACTS OF POST-DISASTER DISPLACEMENT: A Study of the Older Adult Victims of Hurricane Katrina

Although disasters such as Hurricane Katrina displace millions of people from their homes each year, the medical community knows very little about the long-term impact of such events on the health of populations. This book sets out to assess the long-term effects of prolonged, post-Hurricane Katrina displacement on the physical health and service use of a vulnerable population of older adults. Tracking a cohort of 25,000 individuals 12 months after one of the worst storms in U.S. history, the book describes the trauma of displacement as well as the effects of age and chronic illness on the victim experience. The research and policy recommendations contained throughout the book will be of interest to first responders, public health practitioners, and medical care providers serving in disaster zones.

Lori Uscher-Pines completed her doctoral degree in Health Policy and Management at Johns Hopkins University in 2008 and serves as a post-doctoral fellow with PACER: National Center for the Study of Preparedness and Catastrophic Event Response.