Disabilities and Disaster Health Service Use After Hurricanes Ike and Katrina

We studied barriers to services and supports faced by disabled or diabetic Katrina survivors before and after the storm. Access to health and other services continued as a major source of stress, but most difficult was the disconnection from family, previous neighborhood social network, and friends. Service and support needs overall seem to be similar following catastrophic disasters, but people with disabilities and diabetes encountered unique challenges in social support and medical services.