Hurricane Katrina response and guidance for health-care providers, relief workers, and shelter operators.

Hurricane Katrina struck the coastal areas of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi on August 29, 2005, causing substantial numbers of deaths among both humans and animals, infrastructure damage, and flooding. Affected areas continue to experience shortages of essential services, including electricity, potable water, food, and fuel; damage to health-care and public health systems; and disrupted communications. CDC/ATSDR, local and state health departments, other federal agencies, and other partners are supporting public health and medical-care functions for persons in affected areas and those displaced as a result of the hurricane.