Nearly three-quarters of Hurricane Katrina-related deaths in the New Orleans area were people ages 60 or older. In a qualitative study of older adult survivors of Hurricane Katrina, researchers at Oklahoma State and Louisiana State Universities examined how they have coped and responded to the disaster.
The historic storm not only uncovered a general lack of preparedness for large-scale urban disasters in America, but it also reinforced the fact that older adults are significantly more vulnerable to them than others. Since 2005, considerable research has been done to outline the needs of older adults during disasters. Recent population-based estimates indicate that nearly 13 million older adults, 50 or older, require evacuation assistance in the event of a disaster and that nearly half of them would need assistance by someone other than a family member. Specifically, the need to secure transportation, preparing to leave the home, and securing personal belongings and pets are older adults’ top priorities.
During Hurricane Katrina, both health and psychological barriers prevented many older adults from evacuating the city. Nearly one-third of the older adults in the New Orleans metropolitan area had a physical disability. Efficient plans were not in place to assist them during the disaster. The biggest stressor was not being able to handle daily routine hassles. In the aftermath, finding basic resources and confronting obstacles to rebuilding their lives were primary concerns (e.g., food, shelter, lack of utilities, etc.). About a quarter of the older adults interviewed lived in overcrowded shelters, experienced poor sleeping conditions, and had difficulties coping both physically and mentally. Similar numbers reported significantly reduced income as a result of the hurricane.
Older adults often employed different methods to cope with the enormous pressures that disaster-related displacement entails. The researchers found four psychological strategies among their hurricane survivor sample. First, older adults consciously attempted to foster a positive attitude. Attempting to focus less on their loss, they were thankful to have made it through the hurricane alive. This level of thanks depended upon the level of loss the older adult experienced. Older adults who lost everything (i.e., home, family members, etc.) were left with nothing but their life to be thankful for, while others were able to be thankful that their homes were untouched and their families were safe. Second, the stressful circumstances forced the survivors to modify their views regarding their personal circumstances. Many moved from a state of shock to a renewed focus on accepting the situation and attempting to rebuild what they could. This allowed them to stay busy enough not to reminisce about their losses. They stayed active with friends, family, neighbors, and aid workers. Finally, many of the older adult survivors experienced a renewed sense of spirituality after the disaster. They coped by participating in religious activities and infusing their discussions of the hurricane-rebuilding process with religious symbolism.
Disaster planning needs to account for the needs of disaster victims to rebuild their lives physically, socially, and psychologically. Helping victims cope with daily hassles and stresses can be enhanced by ensuring that social connections are maintained during the rebuilding process. Relationships with friends and family are important for psychological and physical health and must be actively fostered by relief agencies in post-disaster situations. Furthermore, infrastructural inefficiencies must be dealt with so that daily hassles are minimized (e.g., paperwork, access to transportation, communication, adequate shelter, etc.). This would include creating emergency kits that contain food, first-aid resources, copies of identification, living wills and trusts, and insurance papers so older adults do not get caught unprepared in the bureaucratic maze of disaster response organizations.
Source: Henderson, T., Roberto, K., Yoshinori, K. 2010. Older adults’ responses to Hurricane Katrina. Journal of Applied Gerontology 29(1): 48-69.
