A Qualitative Analysis of Barriers, Challenges, and Successes in Meeting the Needs of Hurricane Katrina Evacuee Families

Abstract

Hurricane Katrina caused many individuals to evacuate to towns and cities throughout the United States. Psychological First Aid (PFA) is a treatment program designed to help clinicians and other disaster relief workers address the needs of adults, youth, and families immediately following disasters. We conducted focus groups with disaster relief and evacuee service providers in the Kansas City Metro Area as an exploratory study to identify their perceptions of the needs of evacuees. Participants identified a number of mental health needs, as well as displacement-related challenges, including loss of social support, material loss, unemployment, and other stressful life events that were secondary to the hurricane. Many of these needs are consistent with principles presented in the PFA manual. We also found that service providers faced unique challenges when attempting to assist evacuees. We discuss implications of these findings for treatment programs and provide suggestions for addressing barriers to care.

Something Old and Something New: Future Directions in Vocational Research With People of Color in the United States

“…In the long term, vocational psychologists should address underlying forms of social, political, and economic marginalization that increase vulnerability to disasters among people of color, particularly those who are low-income, immigrants, and disenfranchised within the U.S. political system, such as Puerto Ricans. Vocational psychologists can assess access to and perceptions of government support among people of color in communities highly vulnerable to disaster, such as low-lying coastal and island communities, as well as the cultural sensitivity (Legerski et al, 2012) and effectiveness of government programs in assisting in the recovery process (Lyons, 2011). Research can also focus on the work experiences of temporary workers, who are often persons of color and immigrants, who move into these devastated communities to help in the rebuilding process (i.e., Latinx in New Orleans).…”

Securing blue wealth: The need for a special sustainable development goal for the ocean and coasts

“…and storm surges caused by climate change and a rise in sea-level with its associated biophysical and socio-economic consequences impose significant pressures on the coastal zone, especially on low-lying coastal areas, deltas, and small islands [39], [40], [41], [42]. Moreover, severe natural disasters such as the hurricanes Katrina in 2005 and Sandy in 2012 not only directly endanger life and limb but can also cause psychological traumas and displacement-related social problems [43]. In addition, loss of, and damage to, valuable ecosystems like mangroves, tidelands, or marshes also lead to a reduction of natural coastal protection and may increase the vulnerability of coasts to erosion.…”

An Ethical framework to access organisation's decision making processes

“…Although policies, regulations, and protocols are issued and placed in emergency offices and local governments, immediate decisions when addressing the unique impacts of the disaster are still expected (Ashgar & Churilov, 2008;Cox, 2012). However, since these decisions can be reflected in services support programs (Bovbjerg, 2007), evacuation (Legerski et al, 2012, and curtaining certain communities, which will have great impacts on the community's ability to recover (Storr & Stefanie, 2012), this study has found that decisions during the Katrina disaster were reactive, unpredictable, and lacked consistency (Schneider, 2005). Therefore, it is safe to advocate that all decisions related to disaster planning, response, and recovery be ethical and moral.…”

“…Within emergency management, frustration can be viewed as a challenge to communication, which may cause difficulties when implementing services and activities (Legerski et al, 2012). As members of the organisation consider setting plans for an emergency response, a lack of information on how other organisations react and prepare activities may, to a great extent, delay the agency from developing its plans.…”

“…A review of disaster experiences in recent history has indicated that the adequacy of laws and the performance of established organisations when addressing the impact of disasters were not successful in ensuring safety and reimbursing survivors for their protection and the fulfilment of their essential needs (Legerski, Vernberg & Noland, 2012). It is important to recognise that the establishment and implementation of policies, regulations and programs to address disaster planning and recovery are, to a significant degree, influenced by the integrity and accuracy of decisions and practices maintained and supervised by specific officials (Danielsson & Alm 2012).…”