More than a year ago, Hurricane Katrina provided yet another dramatic reminder that the health and well-being of human beings is cradled in -and threatened by - the larger landscape. The importance of science in understanding the linkages between health and the environment is evident not only in the story of this fragile coastline, but also in the immediate decisions that needed to be made in the response to the disaster, that still need to be made for long-term recovery, and that are needed to protect people against harm in the Gulf Coast and elsewhere against the inevitable future storms. This session will explain the complex interrelationships between ecosystem dynamics and human actions that set the stage; describe the health consequences of the disaster; highlight ways science helped inform response decisions with respect to toxics, pathogens and other risks; and provide an opportunity to discuss the role of science as decision makers look forward both in New Orleans, in the region and in other landscapes where people face similar risks.