Lessons Learned From Chicago's Emergency Response to Mass Evacuations Caused by Hurricane Katrina

Bibliographic Data

ID11030888
AuthorsDita Broz (0000-0003-3493-4920, At the time of the study, Dita Broz, Darlene Pelzel, Victoria W. Persky, and Ronald C. Hershow were with the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago. Elise C. Levin is with the Division of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago. Amy P. Mucha is with the Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago. William Wong is with the...), Elise C Levin (At the time of the study, Dita Broz, Darlene Pelzel, Victoria W. Persky, and Ronald C. Hershow were with the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago. Elise C. Levin is with the Division of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago. Amy P. Mucha is with the Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago. William Wong is with the...), Elise Levin (Chicago Department of Public Health), Amy Pelka Mucha (Chicago Department of Public Health), Darlene Pelzel (At the time of the study, Dita Broz, Darlene Pelzel, Victoria W. Persky, and Ronald C. Hershow were with the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago. Elise C. Levin is with the Division of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago. Amy P. Mucha is with the Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago. William Wong is with the...), William Chi-Wai Wong (0000-0003-2540-4055, Chicago Department of Public Health), William Wong (0000-0003-1267-9527, At the time of the study, Dita Broz, Darlene Pelzel, Victoria W. Persky, and Ronald C. Hershow were with the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago. Elise C. Levin is with the Division of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago. Amy P. Mucha is with the Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago. William Wong is with the...), Victoria Persky (0000-0003-2685-5931, Chicago Department of Public Health), Victoria W Persky (At the time of the study, Dita Broz, Darlene Pelzel, Victoria W. Persky, and Ronald C. Hershow were with the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago. Elise C. Levin is with the Division of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago. Amy P. Mucha is with the Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago. William Wong is with the...), Ronald C Hershow (0000-0003-2996-798X, At the time of the study, Dita Broz, Darlene Pelzel, Victoria W. Persky, and Ronald C. Hershow were with the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago. Elise C. Levin is with the Division of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago. Amy P. Mucha is with the Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago. William Wong is with the...)
Year2009
Volume99
Issue8
Pages1496-1504
Publication date2009-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
PublisherAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.2007.126680
PMID19197088
PMCIDPMC2707481
OpenAlexW2145510480
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited14

Objectives. We analyzed the response of the Chicago Department of Public Health with respect to its effectiveness in providing health care to Hurricane Katrina evacuees arriving in the city. Methods. Between September 12 and October 21, 2005, we conducted a real-time qualitative assessment of a medical unit in Chicago's Hurricane Victim Welcome and Relief Center. A semistructured guide was used to interview 33 emergency responders in an effort to identify key operational successes and failures. Results. The medical unit functioned at a relatively high level, primarily as a result of the flexibility, creativity, and dedication of its staff and the presence of strong leadership. Chronic health care services and prescription refills were the most commonly mentioned services provided, and collaboration with a national pharmacy proved instrumental in reconstructing medication histories. The lack of a comprehensive and well-communicated emergency response plan resulted in several preventable inefficiencies. Conclusions. Our findings highlight the need for improved planning for care of evacuee populations after a major emergency event and the importance of ensuring continuity of care for the most vulnerable. We provide an emergency response preparedness checklist for local public health departments

Checklist · Disaster medicine · Emergency management · Health care · Medical emergency · Poison control · Political science · Preparedness · Public health · Suicide prevention · Unit (ring theory) · Disaster Management and Resilience · Disaster Response and Management · Facility Location and Emergency Management · Medicine · Nursing · Pharmacy · Psychology