Post-Katrina Stabilization of the LSU/Ochsner Psychiatry Residency Program: Caveats for Disaster Preparedness

Objective: The Louisiana Health Science Center/Ochsner Hospital psychiatric residency was displaced in August 2005 by Hurricane Katrina to multiple state hospitals and clinics throughout Louisiana. The program encountered many difficulties and learned many lessons about disaster preparedness.

Methods: The LSU/Ochsner Residency Director at the time of Hurricane Katrina chronicles challenges in reestablishing educational program infrastructure in the face of a disaster.

Results: Seven caveats of disaster preparedness and program reestablishment are outlined.

Conclusion: No program can be completely prepared for the unpredictable nature of a sudden disaster, which disrupts an entire residency program years in the making. However, an analysis of the LSU Health Science Center psychiatric residency reveals seven caveats which may help other residency programs in case of a future disaster.