title: Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: evacuee healthcare efforts remote from hurricane affected areas.
abstract: Hurricanes Katrina and Rita produced the largest evacuation due to a natural disaster in United States history. Many people were evacuated or rescued from New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, resulting in a need for mass disaster shelters and medical care for months following the storms. The shelter healthcare system that was successfully developed in the Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana area was accomplished with little support from customary sources. This report is written after much discussion and introspection of community leaders involved "on the ground," who organized and provided medical services to evacuees of south Louisiana. Its purpose is to compile "lessons learned" in preparation for the next disaster recovery effort that might affect this or any other region of our country.
authors.affiliation: Willis-Knighton Health System, Northwest Louisiana Red Cross, Shreveport, LA, USA.
authors.forename: Phillip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Rozeman
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Mayeaux
mesh_terms: D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004189:Disaster Planning; D004190:Disasters; D006801:Humans; D008145:Louisiana; D012066:Relief Work / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018635:Rescue Work / Q000458:organization & administration; D014838:Volunteers