Volume 38 · Number 2
FEBRUARY 2008

Psychiatric Disorders among Transported Hurricane Evacuees: Acute-phase Findings in a Large Receiving Shelter Site

By Carol S. North, MD, MPE; Richard V. King, PhD; Raymond L. Fowler, MD, FACEP; Peter Polatin, MD, MPH; Rebecca P. Smith, MD; H. Alan LaGrone, MD, PhD; David Tyler, MD; G. Luke Larkin, MD, MS, MSPH; Paul E. Pepe, MD, MPH

Hurricane Katrina made landfall across coastal Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama on August 29, 2005. One of the strongest storms to strike the U.S. coast in the past 100 years, it achieved wind speeds of 100 to 140 mph. Before moving on, the storm dropped rainfall exceeding an inch per hour for several hours with immediate accumulations of 8 to 10 inches or more. Rising water levels in nearby lakes resulted in breaches of levees and flood walls. Situated below lake levels, the city of New Orleans and nearby municipalities were flooded with water as deep as 20 feet in some places. Approximately 80% of the city of New Orleans became submerged, and more than 1,500 people perished in the storm. In addition, tens of thousands were left homeless.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Carol S. North, MD, MPE, is from the Departments of Psychiatry and Surgery/Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health and Hospital System, Dallas, Texas. Richard V. King, PhD, is from the Departments of Surgery/Emergency Medicine and Schools of Allied Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health and Hospital System. Raymond L. Fowler, MD, FACEP, is from the Department of Surgery/Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health and Hospital System. Peter Polatin, MD, MPH, is from the Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health and Hospital, and the Rehabilitation and Research Center for Torture Victims, International Division, Copenhagen, Denmark. Rebecca P. Smith, MD, is from the Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and Disaster Psychiatry Outreach, New York, New York. H. Alan LaGrone, MD, PhD, is from the Department of Psychiatry, Behavioral Health, and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Sciences Center, Fort Worth, Texas. David Tyler, MD, is from the Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and the Parkland Health and Hospital System. G. Luke Larkin, MD, MS, MSPH, is from the Department of Surgery/Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health and Hospital System, and the Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut. Paul E. Pepe, MD, MPH, is from the Departments of Surgery/Emergency Medicine, Medicine, Pediatrics, and Schools of Allied Health and Public Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and the Parkland Health and Hospital System.

Address correspondence to: Carol S. North, MD, MPE, Nancy and Ray L. Hunt Chair in Crisis Psychiatry. Director-Program in Trauma and Disaster, Dallas VAMC, 4500 S. Lancaster Rd., Dallas, TX 75216; fax 214-648-5376; or e-mail: carol.north@utsouthwestern.edu.

Dr. North, Dr. King, Dr. Fowler, Dr. Polatin, Dr. Smith, Dr. LaGrone, Dr. Tyler, Dr. Larkin, and Dr. Pepe have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

1. Discuss unique considerations for planning mental health interventions following large-scale catastrophes resulting in mass evacuations from metropolitan areas.
2. Identify the types of psychiatric disorders and other presenting problems to mental health responders following large-scale catastrophes resulting in mass evacuations from metropolitan areas.
3. List the types of psychotropic medications most likely to be needed by clinicians responding to the mental health issues of evacuees.