Table 1.

Strategies to find participants after a disaster – listed in chronological order. Figures relate to participants found at 1 year post hurricane. Pre-disaster 193 patients were randomized

Search Strategy	Number found	Comment
Staff visits to multiple shelters	2	Unproductive and emotionally draining
Calls to home/cell phone numbers (from diabetes supplier contact list)	30	Phone service disabled in area but multiple contacts made outside of New Orleans area
Newspaper advertisements	31	Very expensive
Radio advertising	0	Local radio program remained operational throughout storm and aftermath but unsuccessful in locating patients
Internet sites on how to find local physicians	1	Limited internet access for patients
Internet “people-finder” sites	0	Contact information available but out of date
Initial mailing	28	Very successful
Subsequent mailing	44	Multiple mailings. Low yield but relatively inexpensive
Subsequent phone calls	38	Possible only after cell services resumed. Multiple phone call attemptsRelatively inexpensive
Flyers to FEMA trailer parks (dropped at each trailer)	0	Time consuming a
Participant contacting coordinating center	13	Infrequent but may reflect lack of phone/internet access immediately after the storm
Total number contacted	187