10 Years After Hurricane Katrina: Are You Better Prepared for Disaster?

Dr. Nicole Lurie, HHS Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, reminds us that every disaster can impact health and that we are more resilient when we plan effectively. Plan with the people you care about and talk about ways that you can communicate and reconnect if you are separated in a disaster. Make a plan and test it to make sure that it works. Gather some essential items - and don't forget health-related items like your prescriptions and a copy of your electronic health record. Being prepared for an emergency helps you and your community bounce back when disaster strikes. Learn More >>

Remembering the NDMS Response to Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina was the largest, longest and most complex response that NDMS has ever undertaken. Over the course of the response, 1,700 NDMS team members worked tirelessly to protect health, save lives, and provide closure for families through the respectful treatment of human remains. This photo retrospective shows how these brave men and women came together to provide urgently needed medical care in the community, at the airport, in hospitals, and in other place where help was needed. View the Album >>

Ten Years After Hurricane Katrina: Progress and Challenges Remain For US Emergency Preparedness

In the ten years since Hurricane Katrina, progress in health care and public health emergency preparedness has been made to support a more timely, seamless, and holistic responses to disasters, but there is more that must be done. Building sustained preparedness into the day-to-day decisions that enhance health care, public health, and emergency management must become the cultural norm. Learn More >>

DMAT responder cares for patient following Hurricane Sandy

Ten Years after Katrina: Perspectives on Resilience

Rachel Kaul, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Senior Policy Analyst with the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, recalls the trauma that Hurricane Katrina caused and discusses the import role that mental and behavioral heath plays in promoting community resilience. Learn More >>

Better Protecting Our Furry (or Feathered) Friends During Disasters. Lessons Learned from Katrina

Hurricane Katrina impacted health of many residents in the Gulf states – and not just the human residents. When the hurricane struck, many people realized that they didn’t have an effective plan for themselves or the animals in their care. Learn how we are better able to protect pets and service animals during disasters and find out what you can do to keep the pets in your life safe. Learn More >>