Public Health and Healthcare

Healthcare facilities were hard hit by hurricanes Rita and Katrina.  Hospitals flooded, supplies were ruined, and many healthcare workers themselves lost their homes.  The rebuilding of southern Louisiana’s healthcare network will be a large task, but a task that is absolutely vital for the wellbeing of Louisiana’s residents. 

Healthcare facilities in southern Louisiana must rebuild to adequately meet the needs of all returning residents.  Primary care facilities will be the basis of the rebuilt system, with adequate available specialists to meet specific needs.  Education and preventative medicine will also play a large part in the region’s healthcare system.  As rebuilding occurs, consideration for public health should be a primary concern.  People should have access to healthcare facilities, and neighborhoods should be rebuilt following public health guidelines.

This sector was written with specific input from the Louisiana Recovery Authority and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  The sector includes:

• Public health recovery priorities
• An overview of the disaster’s impact on healthcare facilities
• A pre-storm baseline of healthcare capacity in southern Louisiana