This paper analyses the impact on health and psychological wellbeing as a result of a disaster, paying particular attention to the wellbeing of adults. Previous findings have failed to identify whether stressful life events can trigger the development of illness and emotional wellbeing disorders. The aim of this study is to therefore re-test this hypothesis, using the 1983 Hurricane Alicia as the stressful life event, to see if this has an impact on the health and psychological wellbeing of older adults. The data suggested that there are significant gender differences with regards to the adjustment process post disaster, as well as no similar pattern of adjustment.