People With Mental Illnesses Discriminated Against During Katrina Evacuation

People with have mental illnesses who were evacuated last year from Gulf Coast areas after hurricanes Katrina and Rita were often banned from shelters, segregated within shelters if admitted or institutionalized against their will, the National Council on Disability concluded in a report released (http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/news/2006/r06-514.htm) last week. The report was particularly critical of the shelter policies of the American Red Cross, officials from which disputed the council's findings, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which barred people with mental illnesses from FEMA trailers due to unfounded concerns that they posed a danger. The council concluded that there needs to be “sweeping” changes in how people with psychiatric disabilities are treated during emergency situations. (Intelihealth (http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/333/8014/480357.html)/The Associated Press, 7/13/06)