Disaster Responses: Is the US Really Prepared?: Lessons from Anthrax, Tsunamis, and Hurricanes.

Past Disaster Responses TPJ has highlighted prior KP responses to disasters: natural—the December 2003 tsunami (Fall 2005;9(4):69-82), and man-made—the 2002 anthrax poisoning (Winter 2002; 6(1):56-61). Each situation is similar in public health challenges, yet each has its own unique challenges. The response to Hurricane Katrina was no different. Though similar to our responses in Sri Lanka and Bande Aceh, personal testimonies demonstrate the many unique challenges the Katrina disaster presented to the KP teams mobilized to Houston and New Orleans—the most significant of which was poor logistical support.