Older Adult Katrina Survivors: I d I Rather Die Than Evacuate!

Transcription

1 Older Adult Katrina Survivors: I d I Rather Die Than Evacuate! Joanne C. Langan,, PhD, RN, CNE langanjc@slu.edu Emergency Management Summit September 14, 2011

2 Background Older Adults = 15% of Gulf Coast Population Prior to Hurricanes Katrina & Rita Older Adults = 75% of those killed 383 Seniors Died at Home (trapped/drowned) 64 Died in Hospital; 59 Died in Nursing Home

3 Where a House Once Stood

4 What is Left

5 Firehouse Damage

6 Looters Shot

7 Objective To determine barriers and facilitators to home evacuation What do older adults consider when deciding to evacuate or shelter in place during natural disasters? What strategies can we use to encourage evacuation prior to disasters?

8 Design Exploratory Pilot Study Descriptive Design

9 Methodology Older Adult Disaster Evacuation Assessment (modified Paper and Pencil (modified Rosenkoetter tool) 49 items; last section open-ended ended Content Validity

10 Methodology n = 224 older adults residing on Mississippi Gulf Coast Ages 65 Descriptive and Chi Square Statistics

11 5 Data Collection Sites 3 Churches 2 Senior Centers

12 Incentive: : $10 Wal-Mart Gift Card

13 Results Group 1: Chose to evacuate prior to Katrina (55.8%) Group 2: Chose to shelter in place prior to Katrina (44.2%)* * Of greatest concern

14 Findings Risks or Deterrents Heavy traffic Lack of water, food No toilets along escape route Running out of gasoline Not enough motels, lodging

15 Findings Earnings of < $20,000 were 2.5 X more likely to evacuate than those with a greater income (OR=2.56, 95%CI: 1.33, 4.89)

16 Findings Predictors of willingness to evacuate during disasters. Perception that storm will not be so bad Influenced by County officials advice Fear of injury Help with damage preparation Had no pets Transportation NOT a strong predictor

17 Findings Older adults with previous disaster experience would be more willing to evacuate with future natural disasters. If told to evacuate in the future 88.1% would evacuate 11.9% would not evacuate

18 Exploring Why do older adults not evacuate or not want to evacuate in the future?

19 Traffic as Deterrent Leave early as the thought of bumper-to to-bumper traffic keeps people from leaving. I I fear the heavy traffic in evacuation more than the storm. I I would only leave my home as a last resort, as I would not want to drive in the awful traffic.

20 Traffic I I didn t t plan to leave initially, but on Sunday heard about the category 5. I made motel reservations, preparations to leave & at 4pm went to freeway. Traffic was at a standstill so I went back home

21 Desire to Protect Property as Deterrent We stayed during Katrina lower half of house flooded/we lived in upper half of house & I m I m glad we stayed because it would have been impossible to get back home we rebuilt right away

22 Past Experience I I went to a shelter for Hurricane Camille. I was only 6 blocks from home and was in fear driving to my house wondering what I would find. The house is 22 feet above sea, had minor damage. I decided I would never leave the house again.

23 Special Needs Our greatest difficulty would be getting our disabled daughter out in a timely manner & being able to take necessary paperwork, medicines, & personal care items along.

24 Hospital as Non-Shelter I I stayed with my husband because because [he] was bedridden and the hospital would not accept him, even though his doctor said to take him there. They told me my husband would need to sit in his wheelchair for 24 hours in the hallway.

25 Reliance on Own Predictions Lived in area long enough that I can decide the path of hurricane as good as the weatherman I I feel I am in an area that should not have to evacuate.

26 Returning to Damage After so many years and storms, I tend to not be inclined to leave coming back to all the damage is worse than the thought of leaving.

27 Lack of Media Credibility Can t t trust TV all storms made to be bad they lose credibility

28 I d d Rather Die Next time, If I go down in a flood, so be it. It is just too much work to leave, waiting to be able to return, then face the mold and stench when you are finally let back in. I d d rather die than evacuate!

29 Recommendations Teach health care providers about alternate care sites for patients prior to disasters Give accurate information about impending storms Offer assistance with preparations to leave homes Transportation

30 Recommendations Affordable motel rates Digital information along evacuation routes Shelter vacancies Food & water Gasoline Distance to next toilet facility