HURRICANE-ANDREW - PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AMONG SHELTER VICTIMS

This study examined psychological distress and functioning among Hurri cane Andrew victims who lost their homes and were living in shelters. Four and one-half weeks after Hurricane Andrew struck southern Florida , 89 (45 males, 44 females) Blacks, Hispanics, and Whites completed a questionnaire. The questionnaire asked for information about psycholog ical and psychophysiological symptoms, use of mental health services, coping responses, and extent of preparation for the storm. The finding s suggest that loss of home and property were related to distress and depression. About one-quarter of the sample were moderately depressed. Over one-third of the sample reported experiencing psychological and psychophysiological distress. Approximately one-half of the subjects d id not take the hurricane warnings seriously. White subjects began pre paring earlier for the storm, and evacuated their homes more frequentl y than did Black subjects. Implications of the findings and future res earch directions are discussed.