USF economist Troy Quast found that older, diabetic individuals affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita had a 40 percent higher one-month mortality rate than those living in unaffected counties. The affected individuals also had a 6 percent higher mortality rate 10 years later.

“Generally, the difference in mortality between the affected and unaffected groups dissipated over time,” says Quast. “However, we found that this trend did not apply to those in the affected group who moved to a different county after the hurricanes.” Those who moved sustained higher mortality rates for reasons that still need to be determined.

• Troy Quast