Citation

Hamilton DR, Gavagan TF, Smart KT, Upton LA, Havron DA, Weller NF, Shah UA, Fishkind A, Persse D, Shank P, Mattox K. Ann. Emerg. Med. 2009; 53(4): 505-514.

Affiliation

Department of Family and Community Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, American College of Emergency Physicians, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.annemergmed.2008.10.014

PMID

19135760

Abstract

After Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005, thousands of ill and injured evacuees were transported to Houston, TX. Houston's regional disaster plan was quickly implemented, leading to the activation of the Regional Hospital Preparedness Council's Catastrophic Medical Operations Center and the rapid construction of a 65-examination-room medical facility within the Reliant Center. A plan for triage of arriving evacuees was quickly developed and the Astrodome/Reliant Center Complex mega-shelter was created. Herein, we discuss major elements of the regional disaster response, including regional coordination, triage and emergency medical service transfers into the region's medical centers, medical care in population shelters, and community health challenges.

Language: en