Gulf Coast Grassroots Health Survey Releases Initial Findings

The survey is a grassroots effort led by Katrina survivors Kurt and Lee Ann Billings with the assistance of Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN). It is endorsed by the following organizations: Sierra Club Delta Chapter, The Chemical Sensitivity Foundation, and The National Coalition for the Homeless. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) September 19, 2008 - Newly released data from a grassroots Katrina and Rita health survey reveals that over 70% of the 277 survey respondents remain ill from hurricane exposures, regardless of race, gender, or source of exposure. Respondents reported having had either no change in their conditions or reported that their symptoms have slightly or dramatically worsened. A higher number—over 75% —of children remain ill.

“Children are a higher risk group than adults because their immune systems, brains, and lungs are still developing,” according to Jack Thrasher, PhD, who is an immunotoxicologist assisting with the health survey. Although the survey responses for children are somewhat low as of yet, the survey team is concerned that the initial findings may reflect a larger scale pattern. Children need to be looked at in greater numbers because if these high percentage rates of children remaining ill are reflected on a larger scale, there is reason to be alarmed. Dr. Thrasher states “I am deeply concerned about the children and we must find ways to reach out into the community to further assess this situation.”

Initial findings indicate that 48.4% of respondents reported becoming sick from the FEMA trailers, mobile homes or park models in which they lived while 68.4% of respondents attributed their ill health to other exposures such as sewage, sediment, flood waters, mold, etc., regardless of whether or not they lived in FEMA-provided housing.

The Katrina and Rita health survey will remain open for an extended period of time to give schools, parent organizations (such as the PTA), community groups, and special-needs groups ample time to input data into the online health survey, which is available in both English and Spanish at www.partnerspublishing.org. The survey is a grassroots effort led by Katrina survivors Kurt and Lee Ann Billings with the assistance of Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN). It is endorsed by the following organizations: Sierra Club Delta Chapter, The Chemical Sensitivity Foundation, and The National Coalition for the Homeless.

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