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From Hurricane Katrina to Hurricane Ike – and Beyond:
The National Center for Disaster Preparedness Responds to Public Health Crises
Contacts:
Irwin Redlener, MD
President/Co-Founder, The Children’s Health Fund
Director, National Center for Disaster Preparedness, Columbia
University
Mailman School of Public Health
(O) 212-535-9707
Gabrielle Schang
VP, External Affairs, The Children’s Health Fund
(O) (212) 535-9203
To request a copy of the complete survey and findings,
please email Alison Greene
agreene@chfund.org
Operation Assist Moves Into Action
In collaboration with the Children’s Health Fund, the National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, under the mantle of Operation Assist, is keeping a close eye on the evolving situation in the Gulf.
Our mobile medical clinics and teams of health care professionals are uniquely qualified for rapid response in crisis health care situations, especially when victims include large numbers of underserved children.
Over the last several years, we have also conducted many large field research studies tracking affected populations. Prior to Hurricane Ike, our research teams were in the process of assessing the long-term impact of Hurricane Katrina on children and families. NCDP researchers are now resuming their study with additional questions about how Hurricanes Gustav and Ike have impacted residents in the Gulf states.
The Past Three Years
The National Center for Disaster Preparedness has conducted children and family health (CAFH) surveys in both Mississippi and Louisiana, to determine the degree of Hurricane Katrina’s impact. Findings have shown that over 1 in 3 children in Mississippi suffered from behavioral or emotional problems after the hurricane, and 13% of Louisiana parents felt unable to cope with their families’ day-to-day existence.
Staff have also worked to increase public awareness of post-Katrina health care issues through editorials in major newspapers, television and print coverage to bring attention to the plight of Gulf Coast residents.
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