Hurricane Katrina: Health Resources for Recovery Efforts

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Updated October 6, 2005

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Grant Opportunities for States  Additional Funding Through HHS  Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Medical Reserve Corp (MRC) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

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In the days following Katrina’s landfall, HHS provided:

• Waivers to a number of states, including Texas, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama and Idaho, to make it easier for eligible evacuees to receive services through the state’s Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP), and to make states whole for their generosity.
• Uncompensated care pools to Texas, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama and Idaho to help compensate physicians, hospitals and other health care providers who provide needed medical treatment to evacuees who do not currently have health insurance and are ineligible for Medicaid or SCHIP.
• $2.3 million in accelerated grants to establish 26 new health center sites in states impacted by Hurricane Katrina.
• $15 million in emergency funding to assist Head Start and Early Head Start grantees in providing services to children and families displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
• $600,000 in emergency grants to Louisiana, Alabama, Texas and Mississippi to insure that mental health assessment and crisis counseling are available in areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina.
• $750,000 in disaster relief funds to Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi to reestablish the service capacity of state and local entities that deliver services to the aging and elderly.
• Free vaccines through the federally-run Vaccines for Children program to all children from birth to 18 years old displaced by Hurricane Katrina, regardless of whether they are staying at shelters, hotels, or with family and friends and regardless of previous health insurance coverage status.
• $27.25 million in emergency energy assistance to Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Additional information on the HHS web page provides a wide range of material addressing issues from health and safety to how to request assistance for evacuees and disaster victims. Federal agencies within the department have also provided guidance on issues specific to their mission as well as any assistance available through their particular agency. 

Grant Opportunities for States

Additional Funding Through HHS

On September 30th, Secretary Leavitt announced that additional awards had been granted to support minority individuals, families, and children affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. The grants will support greater access to health and behavioral health care services, assistance through faith-based and community organizations, and enhanced communications through minority media outlets. The National Institute of Health’s (NIH) National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD) will play a large role in the relief efforts.

Specifically, the grants will include:

• $5,000,000 to the HHS/NIH/NCMHD health disparities centers of excellence in the Gulf Coast and surrounding states to support innovative approaches to relief activities, including culturally relevant mental health services, bringing electronic health records to mobile units and other such activities;
• $4,782,746 to State Offices of Minority Health to support efforts to improve the health and well-being of racial/ethnic minorities in particular those affected by Hurricane Katrina;
• $599,940 in supplemental funding for six State Offices of Minority Health greatly impacted by Katrina (AL, AR, LA, MS, TN and TX);
• $300,000 to support a Katrina Relief Network formed by the National Black Nurses Association, National Association of Black Social Workers and the Association of Black Psychiatrists;
• $210,000 to the Interdenominational Theological Center to support their “Caring for the City” Emotional Support Center Program, providing counseling services through churches;
• $225,000 to the National Urban League to assist local affiliates with supporting ongoing relief efforts;
• $200,000 to National Council of La Raza to reduce cultural and linguistic barriers among Hispanic evacuees;
• $196,000 to the National Medical Association to support the relief activities of physicians affected by Hurricane Katrina;
• $150,000 to the Asian Pacific Islander Health Forum to reduce cultural and linguistic barriers among Vietnamese evacuees; and
• $500,000 to support our Closing the Gap on Infant Mortality partnership with the March of Dimes to provide services to pregnant women and families with infants residing in the Baton Rouge area.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

Use of Former (Shuttered) Hospitals, a new report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), offers some important, timely information for emergency responders and public health officials charged with opening shuttered hospitals to respond to the crisis created by Hurricane Katrina and other disasters. The report includes a surge capacity toolkit and a variety of checklists to guide planners.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The FDA has developed health and safety information for residents of affected areas concerning food, drugs, medical devices, biological products and animal health. Specific guidance has been developed for individuals concerning drug use and safety in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  They have also provided information to diabetics regarding insulin storage and switching products out of necessity safely.

Guidance on additional subjects may be accessed at: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/hurricane.html.

Medical Reserve Corp (MRC)

In addition to providing information, the U.S. Surgeon General has mobilized the MRC members consisting of multidisciplinary healthcare professionals to serve in the affected areas for an assignment of 14 days or longer. Individuals must be healthy and able to operate under field conditions, working 12 hour shifts. Communities can apply for assistance through their local MRC unit leader, of which there are 307 across the country.     

Alabama	Black Belt MRC - Macon and Bullock County, AL Bldg 9 2400 Hospital Road Tuskegee, AL 36083 Mervin Ishmael Griffin 205-934-9512 migriffin@uabmc.edu	PROJECT H.E.L.P. USA - Birmingham, AL Bruno-Smithfield Community Health Center 421 8TH AVENUE NORTH Birmingham, AL 35204 Dr.Thomas Ellison 205.251.7587 HEARTSAVR@HOTMAIL.COM
Louisiana	Ascension Parish Medical Reserve Corps 828 S. Irma Blvd Bldg. 3 Gonzales, LA 70737 Leslie Norman (225)647-8540 lnorman@steh.com City of Baton Rouge, Parish of East Baton Rouge 3773 Harding Blvd. Baton Rouge, LA 70807 JoAnne Moreau (225) 389-2100 jmoreau@brgov.com	Institute for Human Services and Public Policy One University Place Shreveport, LA 71115 Michael Torma (318) 795-4245 michael.torma@christushealth.org
Mississippi	Gulfport / Harrison County 12020 Intraplex Parkway Gulfport, MS 39503 Thomas Blakeney (228)897-7000 thomas_blakeney@amr-ems.com Lee County Medical Reserve Corps 830 S. Gloster Street Tupelo, MS 38801 Dr. Kathy Aycock (662) 401-0644 medrescorp@nmhs.net	Medical Battalion, Mississippi State Guard 117 W. Jefferson Avenue Greenwood, MS 38930 Anita Batman (622) 455-9507 abatman@prodigy.net

They are also in the process of additional recruitment for additional personnel who will be considered temporary unpaid federal employees. Although these individuals will not receive salary, travel and perdiem will be paid.  

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Disaster Technical Assistance Center

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