Compounding in crisis: the aftermath of hurricane katrina

Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall on August 25, 2005, was probably the most costly natural disaster that has occurred in the US. The storm struck southeastern Louisiana as a category 3 hurricane with sustained wind speeds of 125 mph. Storm surge, strong winds, and torrential rain caused extensive destruction in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, and 80% of New Orleans was flooded when breaks developed in the levee system surroundng the city. In the aftermath of Katrina, Louisiana pharmacists played a key role in aiding the recovery of evacuees and those who could not escape the areas of devastation. In this article, the collaboration and contributions of two compounding pharmacists (one of whom was also a victim of the hurricane) are described, a formulation for the treatment of a local malady is provided, and advice for disaster preparedness is presented.