Infrastructure BreakdownPublic health/Medical/hospital systemsAddress changePersonnel changeReduced capacity Breakdown in communicationDisconnected phone lines/fax/emailsDisruption of postal servicesPower outageenvironmental pollutionLow water pressure
Strategies for Helping Women in Poor Communities; Resources for Coping after Natural Disasters
Antor Ndep Ola, MPH, CHES, Camille Edwards, MPH (Candidate)Meshawn Tarver, MPH, Gail Rome, Danielle Broussard, PhD and
Jeanette H. Magnus, MD, PhDTulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
Economic InsecurityLoss of Work/ Income ProvidersLoss of Homestead/ Vehicle/Loss of Material Possessions
Disruption of Social TiesDeath and/or InjuryDislocation of Family and Friends
Economic InsecurityLoss of Work/ Income ProvidersLoss of Homestead/ Vehicle/Loss of Material Possessions
Disruption of Social TiesDeath and/or InjuryDislocation of Family and Friends
Resource DeprivationStress and Associated Disorders
Effects of Disasters
References: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). (2005) Surviving
Field Stress for First Responders. (DHHS publication draft). Washington, D.C American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of
mental disorders (4th ed.-text revision). Washington, DC. World Health Organization (WHO). (2006). Gender and women’s mental
health. http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/genderwomen/en. Cutter SL. The Geography of Social Vulnerability: Race, Class, and
Catastrophe. Understanding Katrina, Perspectives from the Social Sciences, 2005. http://understandingkatrina.ssrc.org/cutter
Individual Level
Community Level
Available Resources in Post Katrina New Orleans
Coping capacityResiliencyGrassroots Leadership abilitiesNetworking abilitiesAbility to reconnect with othersAbility to build support systems
In order to succeed in a post-disaster environment, agencies
must have the following qualities:
Willingness to think and act “outside the box” Ability to engage community members in
planning and developing strategies for provision of healthcare
Willingness to take road trips just to get a working phone number, to schedule a meeting or to get an address
Ability to make use of existing partnerships and creating new networks through community meetings, academic collaborations and personal contacts
Families helping families of Louisiana; www.fhfla.orgIndividual websites e.g. Craig's listCatholic Charities of New OrleansCommon GroundCovenant HouseHispanic ApostolateFEMA Disaster Relief CentersNeighborhood organizing such as the Broadmoor Civic Association,Central City Development New Orleans East Alive FestivalLocal media: radio, television, newspaper websites such as wwltv.com , www.nola.com, www.lifesongs.com Community websites such as http://cleanno.orgKatrina KreweChris Rose’s column on www.nola.com
People who are affected by natural disaster can develop psychological disorders such as depression, chronic anxiety, and Post traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)Post disaster, it is expected that the affected population will have 54% depression 5-9% clinical PTSD 100% some degree of trauma symptoms
Women are the primary care giversThe glue of societyWomen’s health is usually a marker for a state’s economic development Women’s mental health is critical for their own recovery, and that of their families and their community
Katrina made landfall on August 29, 2005 as a category 4 storm
Storm surge and levy breaches flooded 80% of the City of New Orleans
2.5 million people affectedMore than 288,000 people left homeless
Over 1300 dead in New Orleans alone
Most costly storm to date, in US history: 34.4 Billion total; 22 Billion in LA alone
Rita made landfall on September 25, 2005 as a category 3 storm
Storm surge flooded most of South-West LA
Total cost estimated at 4.7 Billion; 2.4 Billion in LA alone
460,000 people affected
More than 76,000 left homeless
2005 Hurricanes in Louisiana
The Role of Women in Louisiana’s
Recovery
Valuable Lessons Learned
Pre hurricanes, Louisiana was deemed the worst state in US for women to live because women are vulnerable with
Reproductive Health IssuesDifferential Effect of Natural DisastersLiteracy, Access, andAbility to Navigate socio-political systems
Pre hurricanes, Louisiana was deemed the worst state in US for women to live because women are vulnerable with
Reproductive Health IssuesDifferential Effect of Natural DisastersLiteracy, Access, andAbility to Navigate socio-political systems
Because of their…
Full Gospel International and associated churchesMary Queen of Vietnam Church and associated neighborhood businessesUpper Room Bible Church and associated churchesCommunity information fairsPublic and Charter School Systems in New Orleans and surrounding areasWomen of the StormSt. Anna’s Mobile Health ClinicMusician VillageTulane Multidisciplinary Healthcare CentersTulane Xavier National Center of Excellence in Women’s HealthMary Amelia Douglas Whited Community Women Health Education CenterArea universities and colleges such as Tulane, Xavier, Dillard, LSU, Loyola, Delgado, SUNO and UNO
17th Street Canal Breach
