New Study Confirms the Elderly Were Most Likely to
Die in Katrina Three Years Ago Today
Drowning was the major cause of death and people 75
years old and older were the most likely victims
Aug.
29, 2008 As a new storm, Gustav, points its nose at the Louisiana
coast, a study was released yesterday showing that it was people age 75
and older who were most likely to die when Hurricane Katrina hit on this
date - August 29 in 2005. The researchers call for more attention in
future storms on protecting this vulnerable elderly population.
Drowning was the major cause of death and people
75 years old and older were the most affected population, says the
study by Dr. Joan Brunkard and Gonza Namulanda of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, along with Dr. Raoult Ratard with the
Louisiana Office of Public Health
Hurricane Katrina struck the U.S. Gulf Coast on
August 29, 2005, causing unprecedented damage to numerous communities in
Louisiana and Mississippi. It was the deadliest hurricane to strike the
Gulf Coast since 1928.
● The study found 971Katrina-related
deaths in Louisiana and 15 deaths among Katrinaevacuees in
other states.
● Drowning (40%), injury and trauma
(25%), and heart conditions (11%) were the major causes of deathamong Louisiana victims.
● Forty-nine percent of victims were
people 75 years old and older.
● Fifty-three percent of victimswere
men; 51% were black; and 42% were white.
● In Orleans Parish,the mortality
rate among blacks was 1.7 to 4 times higher thanthat among
whites for all people 18 years old and older.
● People75 years old and older were
significantly more likely to bestorm victims.
Futuredisaster preparedness efforts
must focus on evacuating and caringfor vulnerable
populations, including those in hospitals, long-termcare
facilities, and personal residences, conclude the researchers.
Improving mortalityreporting
timeliness will enable response teams to provide appropriate
interventions to these populations and to prepare and implementpreventive measures before the next disaster.
Sharon
Morang's 70-year-old father Robert was found dead of a heart
attack in his apartment with the doors barricaded by furniture.
This story and many others are well reported NPR radio.
Click here to links to Katrina coverage. (Photo by Frank
Morris)
The study was published online and will appear in
the October print edition of the journal Disaster Medicine and Public
Health Preparedness.
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