A Review of Hurricane Disaster Planning for the Elderly

• Published date: 01 March 2011
• Author: David GC McCann
• Date: 01 March 2011
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.2202/1948-4682.1144

Volume 3, Issue 1 • 2011 • Article 2

A Review of Hurricane Disaster Planning for the Elderly

David GC McCann, McMaster University School of Medicine

McCann, David GC (2011) "A Review of Hurricane Disaster Planning for the Elderly," World

Medical & Health Policy: Vol. 3: Iss. 1, Article 2.

http://www.psocommons.org/wmhp/vol3/iss1/art2

DOI: 10.2202/1948-4682.1144

©2011 Policy Studies Organization

A Review of Hurricane Disaster Planning for

the Elderly

David GC McCann, McMaster University School of Medicine

Abstract

Frail elderly people are particularly vulnerable during hurricanes. Of the 1,330 people known

to have perished along the Gulf Coast as a result of Hurricane Katrina, 71% of those in Louisiana

were older than 60 years, 47% were older than 75 years, and at least 68 died in nursing homes.

Unfortunately, community disaster planning frequently fails to allow for the needs of the frail

elderly before, during, and after hurricanes. This paper discusses the particular vulnerabilities of

the frail elderly, especially those with chronic diseases, those in residential care facilities, and

those who are dialysis-dependent. The importance of the Incident Management System (IMS) is

discussed, and those who care for the frail elderly in long-term care facilities must understand and

use IMS in dealing with hurricane-related disasters. Recommendations are made that will improve

hurricane disaster planning for the frail elderly. From a policy viewpoint, it is critical that the

elderly, especially those with chronic diseases, be included in disaster planning at the federal,

state, and local levels to ensure that a repeat of the Hurricane Katrina debacle does not occur.

KEYWORDS: disaster planning, frail elderly, hurricanes, residential care facilities, nursing

homes, dialysis, evacuation planning, Incident Management System

Author Notes: Conflicts of interest: None declared. Corresponding author: David GC McCann

BSc, MD, MPH, CCFP, FAASFP. Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine,

McMaster University, 1475 Upper Ottawa Street, Hamilton, ON L8W 3J6, Canada. Phone: (905)

575-1300 Fax: (905) 575-1539. Email: mccann@mcmaster.ca Website:

www.fammedmcmaster.ca