Hurricane Katrina. Health, Medicine, Nursing Essay

Hurricane Katrina
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Hurricane Katrina
A summary of the crisis event
Hurricane Katrina refers to a category 5 hurricane that led to catastrophic damage, especially in the city of New Orleans and the areas around on August 29, 2005. The disaster claimed more than 1200 lives. The engineering flaws in the levees led to subsequent flooding hence precipitating a majority of the deaths (Congleton, 2006). The storm surge made Katrina the most destructive and costliest natural disaster in the history of the U.S. It became the deadliest hurricane since the Okeechobee Hurricane that took place in 1928. The disaster led to the evacuation of people to the neighboring states. The New Orleans’ population was redistributed mainly across the southern U.S. The evacuees were distributed across Arkansas, Texas, Arizona, Utah, and West Virginia. In Arkansas, the evacuees saw an increase of 2.5% in the population of Arkansas during the period. The disaster necessitated the need for various healthcare agencies and other organizations to come together. Working together was critical in enhancing the health outcomes of the victims.
Public health issues created by the event
With any natural disaster comes concerns for human health. Hurricane Katrina led to flooding in the larger portion of the city (Rhodes et al., 2010). This led to wading or standing in floodwater. The flooding left little livable space, hence individuals had to stand in flooding water. Additionally, drinking tap water in the affected areas was challenging. As water flooded most of the city, it destroyed clean water systems. This meant that little clean drinking water was available. It also increased the risk of swallowing floodwater. Taking the flooding water was harmful and could lead to water-borne diseases due to its contamination. Further, people were breathing smoke or fumes. Inhaling the smoke or fumes exposed the people to air-borne diseases. Also, the water destroyed infrastructure. This increased the probability of stepping on nails and other sharp objects. These objects caused injuries and other diseases like tetanus. Lastly, the event prevented individuals with chronic diseases from accessing immediate medical attention. People with illnesses like asthma, blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, epilepsy, hepatitis, and depression needed immediate attention but because of the flooding, it was challenging.
Healthcare agencies and stakeholders involved
Mitigating the health issues brought about by Hurricane Katrina required a multi-agency approach due to the gravity of the issue. It was not possible for a single agency to deal with the issue. Hence, agencies and other stakeholders had to collaborate to improve the health outcomes of the people affected. The Arkansas National Guard start by mobilizing the Western Arkansas Reserve Valley Medical Corps (MRC). MRC was involved in the triaging of the evacuees at Fort Chaffee. At the same time, MRC ensured the evacuees received medical exams, food, and drinks before moving them to their next destinations. The Division of Health (DOH) collaborated with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) dispatched teams that ensured proper sanitation and also conduc...