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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Nicholas Mosca, DDS, Jim Craig, BS, Arthur Sharp, BS, JD, Joseph Young, DMD, and K. Mills McNeill, MD, PhD. Mississippi Department of Health, 570 East Woodrow Wilson, Jackson, MS 39215, 601-576-7500, Nicholas.Mosca@msdh.state.ms.us

On August 28, 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused devastation across 90,000 square miles from Alabama to Louisiana, destroying tens of thousands of homes and closing thousands of businesses along the Mississippi coastline. Initial assessment revealed that eighty-five dental practices were partially or completely destroyed in the affected areas. During the disaster relief response, the state health department assured that emergency dental care was available for victims in affected communities through its Emergency Management Assistant Compact (EMAC) agreement. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) supported these temporary emergency dental operations, and facilities, equipment, supplies and dental staff were obtained through collaborations with the U.S. Public Health Service, dental corporations, private volunteer dentists, and national and local dental organizations. This presentation will summarize the steps performed to deliver dental care in communities devastated by natural disaster, review data collected from patients during the dental response, and provide ‘lessons-learned' during the implementation of this health response.

Learning Objectives:

• At the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to
• 1. Describe how temporary dental care services can be organized and implemented during an immediate disaster relief response.
• 2. Discuss ways to reduce barriers and enhance opportunities to provide access to dental care after a natural disaster occurs.

Keywords: Disasters, Health Care Access

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered