Health District Assisting Katrina Evacuees

La Marque – The Galveston County Health District is offering assistance to those impacted by Hurricane Katrina that may be sheltering in Galveston County. Working with many community partners, including Red Cross and UTMB, the District hopes to assist evacuees with their health and social needs.

District Community Health Nurses have been providing services as needed in area shelters. The nurses will also be working closely with UTMB and 4C’s clinics to make sure evacuees needing medical attention can be seen on a priority basis. Galveston County Health District 4C’s clinics are located in Galveston, 4700 Broadway, and in Texas City, 2000 Texas Avenue.  For more information on the clinics call (409) 938-2234 or (281) 309-0255.

The District’s WIC (Women, Infants, Children) program is also serving neighboring community members from Louisiana. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has established some guidelines that allow services to be offered to those in need.   For more information WIC participants displaced from Louisiana can call (281) 337-7606 or (409) 763 – 7227.

The Galveston County Health District’s immunization program will be working closely with schools in the area to make sure children entering classes are adequately immunized.  On Tuesday, August 30, 2005, DSHS announced that immunization requirements for attending school or child-care facilities in Texas were being temporarily waived for children displaced by the hurricane. Students who will be staying with family members, friends, or others in Texas will be given a provisional enrollment.

Local parents should not expect their children to face an increased health risk due to incoming students from areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina.  School Immunization requirements in the states of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi are very similar to those in Texas.

Additionally the Health District is currently following DSHS recommended immunization guidelines for others that may be coming from areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina.  Officials stress the importance of bringing all evacuees up to date on their tetanus immunization, and children up to date on all routine childhood vaccinations.

As the local depot for vaccines received from DSHS, the Galveston County Health District is expected to receive a shipment that can be distributed to community medical providers who will assist in vaccinating evacuees.  Medical providers may call the Health District at (409) 938-2244 for information about vaccine supplies.  Additional resources to assist Katrina evacuees can be found on the District’s web site at www.gchd.org/bt/katrina.htm.

While officials agree there is a minimal risk of disease outbreak, epidemiologists urge medical providers to be diligent in reporting any suspected diseases to the Health District.  Dr. Dana Beckham the District’s Chief Epidemiologist says, “Thorough disease reporting can be a great asset in determining the medical needs of the evacuees.  The sooner an infectious disease is identified, the sooner it can be medically addressed.”

Beckham said the primary illness threat from exposure to floodwater is tetanus, which is not spread person-to-person.  Acute diarrheal illness may also occur in post-disaster situations where access to electricity, clean water, and sanitary facilities are limited says Beckham. Symptoms of the diarrheal illnesses usually occur within five days of exposure. None of the illnesses typically associated with floods is considered airborne, she said.

The District also has extensive information on planning and dealing with the consequences of an emergency such as Hurricane Katrina.  These resources can be found at www.gchd.org/pages/ech/emergency.htm.

“We realize that if the situation was reversed, our friends and family in Louisiana would offer the same help,” says Dr. Mark Guidry, Galveston County Health Authority.  “We hope that by offering these services, we can help families begin the process of putting their lives back together.” 

For More Information Contact:
Kurt Koopmann
Public Information Officer
Galveston County Health District
(409) 938-2211
kkoopman@gchd.org