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Information regarding Hurricane Katrina

We would like to express our support and concern for the victims and survivors of Hurricane Katrina. This disaster, which has affected millions of people in the states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, is unprecedented in recent U.S. history with respect to property damage. The death toll is unknown, as is the numbered of injured, but both are likely to be large. Hundreds of thousands of people have sustained major damage or destruction of their homes, and it has been estimated that it will take months or even years to restore normalcy to many of the affected communities. Particularly in the city of New Orleans, there has been a massive failure in providing survivors with basic necessities such as food, water, shelter, and physical safety.

The pictures of physical devastation, anarchy, and suffering among survivors are disturbing and heartbreaking to us all. As traumatic stress experts, we feel as angry, disturbed, and helpless as most people do while we see this continuing catastrophe unfold. However, we believe that our role as experts includes attempting to transcend these emotions by providing accurate information to help the public, policy makers, and healthcare professionals understand what is happening and how to assist in the emotional recovery process. Therefore, we have put together a list of important considerations and helpful and informative links. These may be helpful to all health care providers because it outlines what a good initial mental health response should be.

• From the American Psychological Association:
  The American Psychological Association's Disaster Response Network Fact Sheet
  APA Help Center: Articles and Information about Disasters & Terrorism
• From the National Center for PTSD:
  Information on Katrina and Dealing with Severe Natural Disasters
• From the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies:
  ISTSS Home Page: Response to Hurricane Katrina and Its Aftermath
  ISTSS Educational Material Addressing Response to Natural Disaster
  Statement of Support and Concern for Survivors of Hurricane Katrina
• From the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress:
  Hurricane Disaster Care Resources
• The Disaster Research Education and Mentoring Center:
  DREM Home Page
• The Research Education in Disaster Mental Health:
  REDMH Home Page
• 60,000 Disaster Victims Speak:
  60,000 Disaster Victims Speak: Part I. An Empirical Review of the Empirical Literature, 1981-2001.  (Requires the free Adobe® Reader to view)
  60,000 Disaster Victims Speak: Part II. Summary and Implications of the Disaster Mental Health Research.   
• Expert Consensus Guidelines for PTSD:
  Expert Consensus Guidelines Series: Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder 
• From the National Institute of Mental Health:
  Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disaster 
• From the American Psychiatric Association:
  American Psychiatric Association Disaster Psychiatry Plan of Action: When Disaster Strikes
  Disaster Psychiatry Handouts
• From the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):
  Tips for Talking to Children After a Disaster: A Guide for Parents and Teachers

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