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Preparedness
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Poll:
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Natural or man-made hazards that affect a community occur in many forms. Natural hazards include tornadoes, floods, wildfires, and inclement weather, while man-made hazards include industrial accidents and terrorism. All disasters create dynamic, changing environments. While it is virtually impossible to anticipate every possible disaster, it is extremely important that the agency staff, emergency responders, and board of health prepare responses to as many imagined events as possible. Should an event occur, each participant will have a clearly defined role in the response. For local board of health members, this means that not only are they responsible for ensuring the creation of a response plan, but that they also know their roles and are informed about various public health threats to their communities.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released the 2012 National Preparedness Report. The report focuses on five mission areas: prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery. The report identifies areas of progress and opportunities of improvement.
Laws Regarding Isolation and Quarantine
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has materials that are related to the authority and exercise of quarantine and isolation in U.S. jurisdictions. These materials contain federal, state, and local laws regarding isolation and quarantine. View these laws. CDC has also listed the legal authorities for isolation and quarantine, the difference between isolation and quarantine, communicable diseases that are authorized for isolation and quarantine by the federal government. View this material.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released a report, Public Health Preparedness: 2011 State-by-State Update on Laboratory Capabilities and Response Readiness Planning, which gives a state by state analysis of laboratory capabilities and response readiness planning. This report is an update to the CDC’s 2010 state preparedness report. The report shows that public health departments have made progress in building and strengthening their preparedness and response capabilities, and laboratories have increased their capabilities of rapid detection and characterization of health threats.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed The National Strategic Plan for Public Health Preparedness and Response. The plan is a guide for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the entire public health system, and its stakeholders to secure the health of the nation and attain the plan’s collective 2020 vision of "people’s health protected – public health secured".
The National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), Division of Emergency and Environmental Health Services (EEHS) has released the Public Health Emergency Response Guide for State, Local, and Tribal Public Health Directors - Version 2.0. This guide addresses the need for guidance and information for public health professionals to assist them in rapidly establishing priorities and undertaking necessary actions during the response to an emergency or disaster.
The Department of Health and Human Services has released a report, From Hospitals to Healthcare Coalitions: Transforming Health Preparedness and Response in our Communities, which gives a state by state analysis of the Hospital Preparedness Program. The report states that an increasing number of hospitals are meeting important performance measures, and that healthcare coalitions should continue to be utilized in communities to improve preparedness.
The ninth annual Ready or Not? Protecting the Public from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism report from Trust for America’s Health is now available. The report finds public health preparedness at risk due to federal and state budget cuts.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has released a report on alternate care facilities. Disaster Alternate Care Facilities: Selection and Operations explains how to select and operate alternate care facilities, or locations that can be quickly equipped to replace health care services when hospitals or other care sites are inoperable or overwhelmed. The report includes information on a template to develop an operations manual, staffing recommendations, and equipment and supply options. The report also supports two web-based tools that provide user-customized plans to implement topics discussed in the report. Click to access the report or the web tools.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) releases report on state surge capacity. The GAO’s report includes a review of 20 state's surge capacity, and found that all states reported some challenges in planning for surge capacity. Very few states had developed guidelines for altered standards of car during an emergency. The GAO recommends that the federal government can provide guidance and assistance related to surge capacity to ensure consistency across states. Access the report.
Rand Corporation Releases Report on Public Health Preparedness and Response to Chemical and Radiological Incidents. The Rand Corporation has released a report that investigates in depth the public health preparedness in regards to chemical and radiological incidents. The report includes a framework for public health roles alongside emergency preparedness and response activities and identifies areas at local health departments where further development may be necessary. Access the report.
ASPR Strategic Plan for 2011-2015
The Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) has published its strategic plan and will update it periodically to reflect actions, measures, and progress toward its goals. ASPR is leader in preparing the nation and its communities to respond to and recover from public health and medical disasters and emergencies.
The CDC has recently updated resources for disaster preparedness for schools.
The CDC has released resources for emergency preparedness for older adults, including a new guide, Identifying Vulnerable Older Adults and Legal Options for Increasing Their Protection during All-Hazards Emergencies: A Cross-Sector Guide for States and Communities.
Why Social Media Is Important to Public Health
Report Finds Preparedness for Bioterror and Health Emergencies Eroding in States Across the Country
CDC Has Released New Guidance for Importation of Human Remains into the United States for Interment
Public Health Foundation & TRAIN offer new free online course
Public Health Emergency Training: Crisis Intervention During Disaster provides an overview of crisis intervention and helps learners identify reactions to trauma and take appropriate and effective action to assist individuals in crisis.
Click for more information or to register.
North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness- Training Web Site
This innovative site offers free, Internet-based trainings that cover an array of public health preparedness topics, such as bioterrorism, disease surveillance, mental health issues, and management and leadership.
http://nccphp.sph.unc.edu/training/
CDC Epidemiological Case Studies
These interactive exercises were developed to teach epidemiological principles and practices. Based on real-life outbreaks and public health problems, these exercises require students to apply critical thinking skills to problems confronted by public health practitioners at the local, state, and national level everyday.
www2a.cdc.gov/epicasestudies/download_case.htm
FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness
The Center for Domestic Preparedness provides training for emergency response providers from state, local, and tribal governments and, when appropriate, the federal government, foreign governments, and private entities. This facility provides all-hazards training in a variety of areas, including pandemic planning and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) weapons. http://cdp.dhs.gov/
NALBOH Preparedness Pages
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Mark Your Calendars! 
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August 14-16, 2013: 21st Annual NALBOH Annual Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. Visit our Conference Page!
For questions or more information about NALBOH's emergency preparedness program, please contact Carrie Hribar.
Page updated 9/18/2012.
© Copyright 2012, NALBOH