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A Review of Hurricane Disaster Planning for the Elderly
Author(s) -
McCann David GC
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
world medical and health policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.326
H-Index - 11
ISSN - 1948-4682
DOI - 10.2202/1948-4682.1144
Subject(s) - hurricane katrina , emergency management , disaster planning , gerontology , medical emergency , medicine , suicide prevention , environmental planning , poison control , natural disaster , geography , political science , meteorology , law
Frail elderly people are particularly vulnerable during hurricanes. Of the 1,330 people known to have perished along the Gulf Coast as a result of Hurricane Katrina, 71% of those in Louisiana were older than 60 years, 47% were older than 75 years, and at least 68 died in nursing homes. Unfortunately, community disaster planning frequently fails to allow for the needs of the frail elderly before, during, and after hurricanes. This paper discusses the particular vulnerabilities of the frail elderly, especially those with chronic diseases, those in residential care facilities, and those who are dialysis‐dependent. The importance of the Incident Management System (IMS) is discussed, and those who care for the frail elderly in long‐term care facilities must understand and use IMS in dealing with hurricane‐related disasters. Recommendations are made that will improve hurricane disaster planning for the frail elderly. From a policy viewpoint, it is critical that the elderly, especially those with chronic diseases, be included in disaster planning at the federal, state, and local levels to ensure that a repeat of the Hurricane Katrina debacle does not occur.