Factors influencing the decision to evacuate or shelter in place: Follow-up of Hurricane Katrina

Joanne C. Langan, PhD, RN, CNE; Kara M. Christopher, MS, MPH

doi:10.5055/jem.2012.0097

Authors

Joanne C. Langan, PhD, RN, CNE
Kara M. Christopher, MS, MPH

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jem.2012.0097

Keywords:

elderly, emergency preparedness, home evacuation, vulnerable population, hurricanes

Abstract

Most of the fatalities experienced during Hurricane Katrina involved adults of more than 65 years old. Most of these deaths occurred due to a failure to evacuate their homes.
Objective: To determine barriers and facilitators for evacuation.
Design/participants: A paper-and-pencil survey was conducted to a convenience sample of 224 older adults.
Setting: Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Main outcome measures: Deterrents and facilitators for home evacuation and strategies to encourage evacuation during disasters.
Measurements: Descriptive and χ2 statistics were used to analyze the data.
Results: A major reason for sheltering in place was lack of trust of information provided by the media and county officials. Those who were likely to evacuate feared for their safety and had no pets. Interestingly, the only statistically significant (p = 0.004) characteristic of participants was household annual income. Those who earned less than $20,000 were 2.5 times more likely to evacuate than those with a higher income (odds ratio = 2.56, 95% confidence interval: 1.33, 4.89). Those who made more than $20,000 did not differ in their evacuation decision; they were just as likely to evacuate as they were to shelter in place.
Conclusions: Emergency managers and disaster planners must recognize common facilitators and deterrents for evacuation, as well as suggested strategies to increase citizens’ willingness to evacuate. Strategies include receiving accurate information about impending storms, assistance with preparations to leave homes, transportation, affordable motel rates, and information along evacuation routes about shelter vacancies, food, water, gasoline, and toilet facilities.

Author Biographies

Joanne C. Langan, PhD, RN, CNE

Associate Professor, Saint Louis University School of Nursing, St. Louis, Missouri.

Kara M. Christopher, MS, MPH

Biostatistician, Saint Louis University Cancer Center, St. Louis, Missouri.

References

Federal Emergency Management Agency: Louisiana Recovery Efforts Five Years After Katrina and Rita. Available at http://www.fema.gov/pdf/media/2010/rebuilding-lives/louisiana-katrina-5th.pdf. Accessed October 19, 2011.

Federal Emergency Management Agency: Rebuilding Lives, Revitalizing Communities: Five Years After Katrina & Rita.Available at http://www.fema.gov/media/2010/rebuilding-lives/mississippi.shtm. Accessed February 2, 2012.

Federal Emergency Management Agency: Texas Recovery Efforts Five Years After Katrina-Rita. Available at http://www.fema.gov/pdf/media/2010/rebuilding-lives/texas-katrina-5th.pdf. Accessed October 19, 2011.

Federal Emergency Management Agency: Florida Recovery Efforts Five Years After Katrina and Wilma. Available at http://www.fema.gov/pdf/media/2010/rebuilding-lives/florida-katrina-5th.pdf. Accessed October 19, 2011.

Federal Emergency Management Agency: Alabama Recovery Efforts Five Years After Katrina. Available at http://www.fema.gov/pdf/media/2010/rebuilding-lives/alabama-katrina-5th.pdf. Accessed October 19, 2011.

He W, Sengupta M, Velkoff VA, et al.: 65+ in the United States: 2005. Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging, and US Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, US Census Bureau, 2005. Available at http://www.census.gov/prod/2006pubs/p23-209.pdf. Accessed June 1, 2011.

The White House: The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned. Washington, DC: The White House, 2006. Available at http://library.stmarytx.edu/acadlib/edocs/katrinawh.pdf. Accessed February 2, 2012.

Off G: A look at the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Scripps News. February 20, 2008. Available at http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/30868. Accessed February 2, 2012.

Brunkar J, Namulanda G, Ratard R: Hurricane Katrina deaths, Louisiana, 2005. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2008; 2(4): 215-223.

Lamb KV, O’Brien C, Fenza PJ: Elders at risk during disasters. Home Healthc Nurse [online]. 2008; 26(1): 30-38.

Rhoads J, Clayman A: Learning from Katrina: Preparing longterm care facilities for disasters. Geriatr Nurs. 2008; 29(4): 253-258.

McGuire LC, Ford ES, Okoro CA: Natural disasters and older U.S. adults with disabilities: Implications for evacuation. Disasters. 2007; 31(1): 49-56.

Aldrich N, Benson WF: Disaster preparedness and the chronic disease needs of vulnerable older adults. Prev Chronic Dis. 2008; 5(1): 1-7.

Fernandez LS, Byard D, Lin C, et al.: Frail elderly as disaster victims: Emergency management strategies. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2002; 17(2): 67-74.

Lach HW, Langan JC, James DC: Disaster planning: Are gerontological nurses prepared? J Gerontol Nurs. 2005; 31(11): 21-27.

Ragan P, Schulte J, Nelson SJ, et al.: Mortality surveillance 2004 to 2005 Florida hurricane-related deaths. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2008; 29(2): 148-153.

Rosenkoetter MM, Covan EK, Bunting S, et al.: Disaster evacuation: An exploratory study of older men and women in Georgia and North Carolina. J Gerontol Nurs. 2007; 33(12): 46-54.

Henderson TL, Roberto KA, Kamo Y: Older adults’ responses to Hurricane Katrina: Daily hassles and coping strategies. J Appl Gerontol. 2010; 29(1): 48-69.

Rosenkoetter MM, Covan EK, Cobb BK, et al.: Perceptions of older adults regarding evacuation in the event of a natural disaster. Public Health Nurs. 2007; 24(2): 160-168.

Campbell J: On belonging and belongings: Older adults, Katrina, and lessons learned. Generations. 2007-2008; Winter: 75-78.

US Bureau of the Census: Census of Population: 2010. Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Available at http://ci.ocean-springs.ms.us/demographics/. Accessed June 1, 2011.

US Bureau of the Census: Biloxi, Mississippi: 2010.Available at http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/28/2806220.html. Accessed June 1, 2011.

Lynn MR: Determination and quantification of content validity. Nurs Res. 1986; 35(6): 382-385.

Birkett DP: Bereavement and grief: What is normal in disasters and emergencies? In Toner JA, Mierswa TM, Howe JL (eds.): Geriatric Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Preparedness. New York, NY: Springer, 2010: 297-313.

Langan JC, James DC: Preparing Nurses for Disaster Management. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2005.

Wuest J: Grounded theory: The method. In Munhall PL (ed.): Nursing Research. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2012: 225-256.

Sattler DN: Repeated exposure to hurricanes and willingness to evacuate: Implications from the Hurricane Floyd experience. In Maiolo J, Whitehead J, McGee M, King L, Johnson J, Stone H (eds.). Facing Our Future. East Carolina University: Coastal Carolina Press, 2001: 69-76.

A1 Portable Toilets: How many portable toilets do I need? 2011. Available at http://www.a1portatoilet.com/unitsneeded.shtml. Accessed June 1, 2011.