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Witness To DisasterPREFACE: The Gulf Coast hurricanes in fall 2005 stand as unprecedented disasters in American life. Not only were the storms a body blow to the health of millions living in the affected areas, they effectively tore the roof off the health care systems of southern Louisiana and Mississippi, providing frequently unflattering views of local medical care. Horrible as they were, the storms brought out the best in many people—generosity, stoicism, heroism. In the health sector, many were called on to respond as patients, as providers, and as public officials. From elsewhere in the country, many health professionals volunteered their assistance, coming to the area to help in the wake of the storms. Most of these experiences made no headlines, but we thought that Narrative Matters might offer an opportunity for some of these people to tell their stories. Patients, local clinicians, state officials, and volunteers from around the country responded to our call for submissions. The following commentaries in this special edition of Narrative Matters represent the most compelling of these writings. In an effort to include as many voices as possible, we are publishing some essays in full and excerpting others. Taken as a whole, these thoughtful, sometimes troubling, always stirring commentaries fulfill an important human function. They serve as witness to the Gulf events—as witness to the disaster.
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