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Abstract #152434

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Judy Temple, MSSW, Jimmy Blanton, MPAff, David Lynch, MA, and Gary Rutenberg, PhD. Strategic Decision Support, Texas Health and Human Services Commission, P.O. Box 13247, Austin, TX 78711-3247, (512) 424-6853, judith.temple@hhsc.state.tx.us

Purpose: In May 2006, the State of Texas collaborated with the Gallup Organization to survey Katrina evacuees in Texas. As one of the largest needs assessments ever conducted on a group of displaced U.S. citizens, the survey collected valuable data to assist in the planning and budgeting of Texas health and human services over the next few critical years.

Methods: Gallup completed telephone interviews with a random sample of 6,415 evacuee households selected from FEMA's emergency relief database. The survey included questions related to: housing, employment, mental and physical health, disability, insurance, and health and human service needs.

Results: The survey found that eight months after the storm an estimated 251,000 evacuees remained in Texas. Low income, uninsured families headed by African-American women comprised a disproportionate share of the evacuee population. As a group, respondents reported a sharp decline in physical and mental health status. Thirty-seven percent rated their physical health as poor or fair (compared to 20% pre-hurricane) and 40% reported their mental health as poor or fair (compared to 15% pre-hurricane). Twenty-four percent reported that someone in their household had a physical or mental disability that limited their daily functioning.

Conclusion: Significant challenges remain for the evacuees and the institutions supporting their recovery. Initially, evacuees appear to have prioritized basic necessities, such as shelter and emergency medical attention. While this strategy stabilized their living conditions in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, the survey results will help Texas target the evacuees' longer-term economic and healthcare needs.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify post-hurricane changes in the Katrina evacuees’ health and economic status and their use of social services.
• Discuss the evacuees’ plans to remain in Texas or leave the state and how these plans may impact Texas’ health and human service system.
• Describe the methods Texas used to assess short, medium, and long-term needs of the Katrina population.

Keywords: Disasters, Needs Assessment

Related Web page: www.theeagle.com/stories/081206/texas_20060812035.php

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

• Audio (mp3) recording
• Slides (pdf) or Handout