Five Years Later: Resiliency Among Older Adult Survivors of Hurricane Katrina

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the resilience of older adult survivors of Hurricane Katrina in light of their traumatic experiences and multiple losses. Ten Mississippi Gulf Coast residents who have survived Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath were interviewed. The participants were 65 years old or older. Their responses were audiotaped and transcribed. The transcripts were analyzed using phenomenological methodology and NVivo 2.5 software. Three major themes emerged. Participants described finding personal gratification, realizing their ability to cope, and developing a new interest in life through their novel experiences.

Health Impact of Climate Change in Older People: An Integrative Review and Implications for Nursing

“…In contrast to the stereotypes of frailty, older people were reported to be resilient or demonstrate characteristics of resilience after a flooding experience (Brockie & Miller, ; Cohen et al., ; Hrostowski & Rehner, ; Nitschke et al., ; Sirey et al., ). They reported “a new sense of commitment and belonging to their communities, interest and appreciation of life, and a rediscovery of their abilities to make valuable contributions” (Hrostowski & Rehner, , p. 343). Community resilience was reported to be higher in those 61 to 75 years of age compared to their younger counterparts (Cohen et al., ).…”

“…Forty percent of studies mentioned certain determinants of resilient capacity. At the individual level, this includes personal disaster preparedness (Kang, ), coping strategies (Bei et al., ), personal strength (Hrostowski & Rehner, ), perceived positive impact after flood (Sirey et al., ), and (personal heat) protective behaviors (Abrahamson et al, ; Loughnan et al., ; Nitschke et al., ). At the family and community level, social support (Brockie & Miller, ; Sirey et al., ) and connectedness (Nitschke et al., ) were reported.…”

“…Three of the four studies were qualitative and examined the resilience experienced after a flood. In contrast to the stereotypes of frailty, older people were reported to be resilient or demonstrate characteristics of resilience after a flooding experience (Brockie & Miller, 2017;Cohen et al, 2016;Hrostowski & Rehner, 2012;Nitschke et al, 2013;Sirey et al, 2017). They reported "a new sense of commitment and belonging to their communities, interest and appreciation of life, and a rediscovery of their abilities to make valuable contributions" (Hrostowski & Rehner, 2012, p. 343).…”

‘The trauma of the cyclone has changed us forever’: self-reliance, vulnerability and resilience among older Australians in cyclone-prone areas

“…Critically, although most of these older adults typically cope well with day-to-day situations, the experience of a natural disaster may push them over their coping threshold (Tuohy and Stephens 2015). To date, however, only a handful of studies have explored older people's hurricane, or cyclone, disaster experience (Hrostowski and Rehner 2012). Research in the USA identified that retiree migration into a high-amenity hurricane-prone coastline had led to an increasing number of older people being at risk.…”

Working After a Tornado: A Survey of Hospital Personnel in Joplin, Missouri

“…It is vital for healthcare system managers to understand factors that could influence healthcare workers' resilience to disasters and to help mitigate those factors causing the most distress so that surge capacity can be maximized. [17][18][19] In Spring 2011, a powerful Enhanced Fujita (EF) 5 tornado swept through the city of Joplin, Missouri, destroying a section of the city up to a mile wide, killing 158 people, and injuring more than 1,000 others. 20 In addition, the tornado hit directly one of the city's major hospitals, resulting in 6 fatalities and the need for a complete hospital evacuation.…”