Houston's Medical Disaster Response to Hurricane Katrina: Part 2: Transitioning From Emergency Evacuee Care to Community Health Care

• Published in: Annals of emergency medicine Vol. 53; no. 4; pp. 515 - 527
• Main Authors: Hamilton, Douglas R., MD, PhD, MSc Eng, Gavagan, Thomas, MD, Smart, Kieran, MD, Weller, Nancy, BSN, DrPH, Upton, Lori A., RN, BSN, MS, Havron, Douglas A., RN, BSN, MS, Fishkind, Avrim, MD, Persse, David, MD, Shank, Paul, MBA, Shah, Umair A., MD, MPH, Mattox, Kenneth, MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.04.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Clinical death. Palliative care. Organ gift and preservation; Community Health Services - organization & administration; Disaster Planning; Emergency; Emergency Medical Services - organization & administration; Humans; Intensive care medicine; Medical sciences; Patient Transfer; Relief Work - organization & administration; Texas; Triage; Texas; Disaster; Intensive care; Emergency; Resuscitation
• ISSN: 0196-0644; 1097-6760
• DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2008.10.024

After Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005, thousands of ill and injured evacuees were transported to Houston, TX. Houston's regional disaster plan was quickly implemented, leading to the activation of the Regional Hospital Preparedness Council's Catastrophic Medical Operations Center and the rapid construction of a 65-examination-room medical facility within the Reliant Center. A plan for triage of arriving evacuees was quickly developed and the Astrodome/Reliant Center Complex mega-shelter was created. Herein, we discuss major elements of the regional disaster response, including regional coordination, triage and emergency medical service transfers into the region's medical centers, medical care in population shelters, and community health challenges.