Public Health Emergency Response Guide V 2.0

http://emergency.cdc.gov/planning/responseguide.asp

Public Health Emergency Response Guide for State, Local, and Tribal Public Health Directors - Version 2.0

Download the entire Response Guide (print on 8.5" x 11" paper)

English  Version 2.0 (210 KB/65 pages)
Spanish  Version 2.0 (282 KB/65 pages)

OR

Download the 8.5" x 11" templates available in the back of the guide

State, local, and tribal health departments play an extremely important role in all-hazards emergency preparedness and response. Public health professionals within these departments should have immediate access to guidance and information that will assist them in rapidly establishing priorities and undertaking necessary actions during the response to an emergency or disaster. The National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), Division of Emergency and Environmental Health Services (EEHS) has developed an all-hazards public health emergency response guide to address this need.

The Public Health Emergency Response Guide for State, Local, and Tribal Public Health Directors is an all-hazards reference tool for health professionals who are responsible for initiating the public health response during the first 24 hours (i.e., the acute phase) of an emergency or disaster. It provides useful information on the activation and integration of a jurisdiction’s public health system into the existing emergency response structure during the acute phase of an incident. It also contains guidance that is applicable to specific types of incidents, such as floods, earthquakes, and acts of terrorism.

The guide is not a substitute for emergency preparedness activities and is not intended to replace existing emergency operations plans, procedures, or guidelines within a jurisdiction’s health department. It is consistent with the doctrine, concepts, principles, terminology, and organizational processes in the National Response Framework (NRF) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS).

Guide users are encouraged to submit feedback on the effectiveness and utility of the guide in incidents, exercises, training and education programs, and other ways in which the guide is being used. To obtain a copy*, submit feedback, or for more information on the Public Health Emergency Response Guide for State, Local, and Tribal Public Health Directors, please contact Martin A. Kalis at (770) 488-4568 or pherg@cdc.gov.

*Copies of Version 1.0 of the guide are currently available. Limited numbers of copies of Version 2.0 of the guide will soon be available.

Webinar: Demystifying the Lender Q&A Webinars

Demystifying the Lender Q&A Webinars Webinars conducted by the National Flood Insurance Program October 30, 20129:00 - 11:00 am MDT/ 10:00 am - Noon CDT REGISTER October 30, 2012 1:00 - 3:00 pm MDT/ 2:00 - 4:00 pm CDT REGISTER WHAT YOU WILL LEARNDemystifying the Lender Q&A provides a revealing look at all the topics in the Interagency Questions and Answers Regarding Flood Insurance as published in the July 2009 and October 2011 Federal Registers. Topics will include: Designated Loans Insurable Value Amount of Flood Insurance Flood Zone Discrepancies Residential Condominiums Force Placement Construction Loans and Much More   REGISTRATION INFORMATION To register, please use the links above.     Please do not reply to this email. If you have general questions regarding NFIP Training, please write to nfiptraininginfo@h2opartnersusa.com or view the NFIP schedule. Sign-Up for NFIP Lender Training Bulletins The National Flood Insurance Program is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). National Flood Insurance Program Training | www.nfipiservice.com/training nfiptraininginfo@h2opartnersusa.com | (800) 427-4661

Pet Sheltering and Pet Evacuation

Pet Evacuation, Pet Friendly Emergency Shelters, Disaster Preparedness for Pets

National Hurricane Center
Check National Hurricane Center updates.

FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency): Information for Pet Owners
If you evacuate your home, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS BEHIND! Pets most likely cannot survive on their own; and if by some remote chance they do, you may not be able to find them when you return. The federal government now officially supports including pets in disaster plans. In 2000 The HSUS and FEMA signed an historic partnership agreement to encourage and assist people who want to safeguard their pets in a natural disaster. Since FEMA came on board, it’s become easier to find a shelter that will accept your pets. But don’t assume any shelter you go to will allow you to keep your dog or cat with you. Before disaster hits, reach out to local officials—work with them to confirm that you will be allowed to evacuate with your pets and that cohabitated shelters [ones that take people and their pets] will be available in your area.

The Humane Society of America: Disaster Preparedness for Pets
The key to survival during a disaster, crisis or emergency is to be as prepared as possible before the storm hits. Take the time to make a plan and assemble an emergency kit for you and your pet and you will greatly increase your pet's chances of survival.

Pets and Disaster: Be Prepared
Red Cross disaster shelters cannot accept pets because of states' health and safety regulations and other considerations. Service animals who assist people with disabilities are the only animals allowed in Red Cross shelters. It may be difficult, if not impossible, to find shelter for your animals in the midst of a disaster, so plan ahead. 

DO NOT WAIT UNTIL DISASTER STRIKES TO DO YOUR RESEARCH.

* The best option is to get a friend or relative outside the evacuation area to take your pets, and preferably you, too. If that's not possible, try locating a pet friendly motel or one that waives animal prohibitions during evacuations.

• * Prepare a list of boarding facilities and veterinarians who could shelter animals in an emergency; include 24-hour phone numbers.
• * You may not be home when the evacuation order comes; find out if a trusted neighbor would be willing to take your pets and meet you at a prearranged location.

WHAT IS PET FRIENDLY EVACUATION SHELTERING?

Pet-friendly evacuation sheltering can be planned and executed in a multitude of ways. In some communities, the human evacuation shelter is within the same room, facility, or campus as accommodations for pets. This allows the animals' owners to have a large role in caring for the pet. In other communities, the human shelter and pet shelter may be in separate locations. In this case, evacuees are told where to bring their pets, while they will be staying at a shelter for people.

If you will need to go to a pet friendly shelter during an evacuation, make sure you have the following items ready to go for your pet: a leash and collar, a crate, a two-week supply of food and water, your pets' vaccination records, medications, and written instructions for feeding and administering medication. If your favorite four-legged friend is feline, be sure you bring kitty-litter and an appropriate container, too.

The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS Act) of 2006 requires local and state emergency preparedness authorities to include in their evacuation plans how they will accommodate household pets and service animals in the event of a major disaster. Local and state authorities must submit these plans in order to qualify for grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Currently, not all communities offer pet friendly emergency/evacuation shelters.

TO FIND OUT IF THERE IS A PET FRIENDLY SHELTER IN YOUR AREA, CALL YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE OR LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER.

Select a state
Alabama	Alaska	Arizona
Arkansas	California	Colorado
Connecticut	Delaware	Dist. of Columbia
Florida	Georgia	Hawaii
Idaho	Illinois	Indiana
Iowa	Kansas	Kentucky
Louisiana	Maine	Maryland
Massachusetts	Michigan	Minnesota
Mississippi	Missouri	Montana
Nebraska	Nevada	New Hampshire
New Jersey	New Mexico	New York
North Carolina	North Dakota	Ohio
Oklahoma	Oregon	Pennsylvania
Rhode Island	South Carolina	South Dakota
Tennessee	Texas	Utah
Vermont	Virginia	Washington
West Virginia	Wisconsin	Wyoming

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Domestic Violence Awareness Month evolved from the first Day of Unity observed in October, 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The intent was to connect battered women’s advocates across the nation who were working to end violence against women and their children. The Day of Unity soon became a special week when a range of activities were conducted at the local, state, and national levels.

These activities were as varied and diverse as the program sponsors but had common themes: mourning those who have died because of domestic violence, celebrating those who have survived, and connecting those who work to end violence.

In October 1987, the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed. That same year the first national toll-free hotline was begun. In 1989 the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month Commemorative Legislation was passed by the U.S. Congress. Such legislation has passed every year since with NCADV providing key leadership in this effort.

In October 1994 NCADV, in conjunction with Ms. Magazine, created the "Remember My Name" project, a national registry to increase public awareness of domestic violence deaths. Since then, NCADV has been collecting information on women who have been killed by an intimate partner and produces a poster each October for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, listing the names of those documented in that year.

The Day of Unity is celebrated the first Monday in October. NCADV hopes that events in communities and regions across the fifty states will culminate in a powerful statement celebrating the strength of battered women and their children.

Disasters: Human and other waste disposal during an emergency

Whenever potential drinking and waste water interruptions occur always consider waste management for your family, immediate neighbors, the elderly, apartment\condo complexes, and functional need individuals in your community.

Communities MUST work together and plan for the proper disposal of human and other solid waste material.  Additional water, sanitation, and other equipment for the proper disposal of these materials must be considered.

For our local water and waste management utilities need\must consider adding these considerations to their press releases, and plans for notifications to the community, and just a 'boiling water' notification.

Remember always be safe, be prepared.

Charles D. Sharp

Charles D. Sharp
Chief Executive
Black Emergency Managers Association   
bEMA
2027 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. S.E.
Washington, D.C.  20020

Waste Disposal During an Emergency In industrialized societies most of us take our sewage disposal for granted. We simply flush the toilet and forget about it. But the modern sewage and water treatment facilities that we take for granted today are largely responsible for the increased life spans that we enjoy, and have done more to prevent death and disease than all the doctors, drugs, and hospitals in the world combined! Throughout history, many millions of people have died from diseases such as cholera and dysentery, acquired from water contaminated by human waste. Even today, according to the World Health Organization, water borne diseases are responsible for the deaths of 4,000 children every day! Water contaminated by fecal matter is the single largest cause of disease in the world, and is killing over 4 million people each year with diarrhea and intestinal parasites. We also take our garbage collection services for granted, until our garbage collectors go on strike and in a matter of days our streets are filled with waste. Many of the great plagues that have struck humankind have been the result of poor sanitation. The Bubonic Plague, or Black Death, which spread from China through Europe during the Middle Ages, was transmitted to humans by fleas which were carried by rodents. The accumulation of garbage in the streets, and the resulting proliferation of rats, contributed largely to the deaths caused by the Black Death. The Black Death wiped out one third of the population of Europe! I hope by now you understand why this topic is important enough to give some serious thought. What will you do when your sewage backs up because your local municipality can no longer provide the service? What will you do with your garbage when it begins to pile up in the street? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average American disposes of 4.6 pounds of garbage every day!
Composting Toilets A Composting Toilet, such as the C-Head pictured on the right, is probably the easiest, most efficient and environmentally responsible method for "off-the-grid" disposal of both solid and liquid human waste. See the C-Head web site for details on this amazing invention. Check out the BoonJon System designed for camping and "off-the-grid" living.
Other Methods of Sewage Disposal What if you don't have a composting toilet? If your home is equipped with a good septic tank you will not have to rely on the municipal system for your sewage disposal. Consider yourself lucky. Try to keep toilet paper use to a minimum to prevent your system from clogging up. If you run out of toilet paper and can't buy more, you will probably be using any kind of paper that you can find. Whether you use a septic tank or a municipal system, don't flush it down the toilet! You will surely clog the system. I recommend that you burn or bury your improvised toilet paper instead. This may be inconvenient, but I assure you it will be better than having your system back up, in which case you will be burying more than your paper! In 1979, I was a college student on summer break hitchhiking across Europe. I spent some time as a guest on a vegetarian commune located in a old castle in rural Southern France. When I went to the basement to use the bathroom I saw the familiar squat toilets that were common in France, but there was no toilet paper to be found anywhere. There was however a convenient water spigot located next to each toilet. When I asked for the toilet paper I was told that they didn't use it but washed themselves with water instead. They claimed that not only was this much better for the septic system, it was also more hygienic. So for the two weeks that I stayed on the commune I did "as the Romans do." That was not a practice that I continued after leaving the commune, but it did show me that people can get along just fine without toilet paper when they have to (as long as there is plenty of water for washing.) By the way, I don't recommend recycling that water! Even if your sewer system continues to work after an emergency, if your municipal water is interrupted you will have to flush your toilet by pouring a bucket of water down it. If water is in short supply, don't try to flush the toilet after each use. You will want to flush it after defecation I'm sure, but several people can urinate in the toilet before it has to be flushed. You can recycle your "gray water" by using it to flush your toilet. As we saw earlier, "gray water" is water that has already been used at least once for washing—the water you just bathed with or used to wash your dishes for example. It is called "gray water" because the residual dirt and soap give it a grayish appearance. What will you do if your sewer or septic system backs up? After cleaning up the mess, you will have to bury your waste. Remember that many deadly diseases are spread by water that has been contaminated by human waste, so make sure that you do not contaminate any water supply. (You will probably have neighbors who will not be as thoughtful, so you will have to be careful about the water you drink, as we discussed in the chapter on water.) Discourage people from defecating near any water source used by people or animals, or in fields where crops are grown. One way to dispose of your waste is to build an outhouse or latrine. The familiar outhouse building with the crescent moon on the door is for privacy and is therefore optional. The only thing that is really needed is a deep pit in which you can dispose of your waste. A hundred years ago it was common for people to keep a "slop jar" with a securely fitting lid beside their beds for nighttime use when the weather was too cold to venture outdoors. The next morning someone would empty the slop jars into the outhouse pit. If you prefer you too can "go" in a pot inside your house and then carry the waste to your latrine for disposal.
Slop jars like this one were familiar household objects before the days of indoor toilets.
A camping toilet like one of these may also be used for waste disposal. The older type made of metal (on the left) and the newer type made of plastic both contain removable buckets for carrying the waste to the latrine.
Construction of a Latrine Latrines should be situated and constructed so as to minimize the risk of groundwater contamination. There should be at least 50 feet (15 meters) between your latrine and any water source, such as a well, stream or lake. If you have a well, locate the latrine on lower ground or "downhill" from it if possible. It should also be located where it will not be flooded by storm water, which could contaminate any local water supply. The top of the latrine should be raised or built up at least 6 inches (.15 meters) above ground level to prevent rainwater from entering the pit. It should have a tight-fitting lid so insects and animals can not enter it. Mosquitos will breed in the pit if water accumulates at the bottom. If insects can not be kept out the excreta should be covered with 4 inches (.1 meter) of soil every two or three days. Your pit should be 5 feet (1.5 meters) deep. Holes for outhouses with a superstructure over them are normally dug about 3.5 feet (1 meter) square. If your latrine is simply a hole in the ground you may not want to make it that wide but you should try to make it deep. Keep it covered with a board that completely covers the pit and is sturdy enough for someone to walk on. By all means do whatever is necessary to insure that people and animals do not fall into the pit. When the pit fills up, simply dig another one close by and move your latrine or outhouse to the new pit. Use the dirt from the new hole to fill in the old one making a mound on top because it will settle as the waste decomposes. From time to time you will need to add additional dirt as the old pit settles. Be careful to avoid underground utility lines when digging your latrines. (Your local utility companies will show you where they are located on your property. All you have to do is call them and request this free service.)
Garbage Remember these three "R"s of garbage management: 1) Reduce 2) Reuse 3) Recycle
Reduce The most desirable option for garbage management is to reduce the amount you produce. If you eat everything on your plate you will obviously have less to throw out. But what about the packaging? You can't eat a cardboard box. The problem will be partially solved by choosing foods with less packaging. The more a food is processed the more packaging it seems to require. Fresh and natural foods generally have little if any packaging. So not only is it healthier for you to choose foods with minimal processing, it is healthier for the environment as well. Choose natural, whole foods whenever possible. If anything remains after the fresh food is consumed it can be fed to animals or composted. It seems like half the trash I throw out is junk mail. Hopefully, during an emergency, when the garbage collection services are temporarily interrupted, the junk mail will be interrupted as well. If not, we could all end up buried in junk mail! If you want to reduce the junk mail that you receive you can contact the Direct Marketing Association's (DMA) Mail Preference Service at their web site at: http://www.dmachoice.org. There is a $1 fee but I have heard that the service is very effective at reducing your junk mail. Just consider the small fee a contribution to help protect the environment. If you are tired of receiving credit card offers in the mail the three national credit bureaus offer a toll-free number that you can call to opt-out of credit offers. Call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) for more information. In the section on food storage I mentioned that my favorite method for long-term storage is canned food. If you can your own foods there will be no problem with waste disposal, because you will reuse your glass jars. But what about the canned foods that you buy from the store? If your community provides a recycling service you should certainly recycle your cans rather than throw them in the trash. But what will you do during a prolonged emergency when these types of services are interrupted? Unfortunately I have not found a perfect solution to this problem. If you consume store-bought canned foods you are going to produce some garbage. I believe however that the benefits of using canned foods for your emergency stash far outweigh this inconvenience, so canned foods remain my preferred method of food storage.
Reuse What is the difference between reusing and recycling? I will answer that question with an example: After you drink a bottle of water, if you throw the empty bottle in the recycle bin you are obviously recycling. But a far better option would be to refill the bottle, perhaps using water from your own water filter. A lot of energy is required to crush and melt old bottles to convert them into new bottles. But very little is required to reuse a plastic or glass bottle. You simply wash it out and reuse it!
Recycle Recycling is the least desirable of the three R's but it is far better than simply throwing your trash away—wasting natural resources and contributing to land fill problems. I have already mentioned ways that we can recycle our food waste. Many parts of the foods that we can't eat can be fed to animals to fatten them up, providing us with a good source of protein. The plant wastes that our animals can't consume can be composted, providing rich nutrients that are returned to the soil, reducing our dependence on chemical fertilizers
What to Do with the Rest of Your Garbage? With no newspapers and junk mail, and with less packaging from processed foods, you will have much less to dispose of, and you should be able to use the three R's mentioned above to take care of most of what remains. But there will no doubt be some small amount of garbage that you will have to get rid of. That is where the "two B's of garbage disposal" come into play: Burn it or Bury it!
Some trash that can not be reused or recycled can be burned, possibly providing energy that can be used for warmth or cooking. The use of covered enclosures like this chimenia are preferable to burning in the open because they reduce the risk of wildfires. Some municipalities will allow outdoor burning only in covered enclosures like this one. Outdoor burning should be avoided when conditions are very dry and/or windy due to the risk of wildfires.

Summit: Oct 31-Nov 2, 2012. Science of Eliminating Health Disparities

 

2012 Science of Eliminating Health Disparities Summit

Plan Ahead: Tips for a Successful Summit! The 2012 Science of Eliminating Health Disparities Summit Is Going Green! This year we will not provide program books at the Summit. Click here to visit the Program Agenda and view other key materials on the Summit website.   We strongly encourage everyone to review the Program Agenda prior to arriving at the Summit, as there will be over 100 sessions offered to participants over the course of three days.   Internet Will Not Be Provided in the Conference Area at the 2012 Science of Eliminating Health Disparities Summit. 2012 Science of Eliminating Health Disparities Summit Check-In:  Check-In will be available in the Potomac Foyer.  Check-In will be open on Wednesday, Oct 31 from 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm, on Thursday, November 1 from 7:00 am to 6:00pm, and on Friday, November 2 from 7:00 am to 3:45 pm. The Summit will officially commence at 8:00 am on Thursday, November 1 and conclude at 6:00 pm on Friday, November 2.   If special accommodations (ADA) were requested via Concurrent Session Registration, please visit the Information Booth in the Potomac Foyer for more information.  Food and Beverage: Due to Federal regulations, complimentary food or beverage will not be provided. Concessions will be offered at the hotel throughout the conference in Exhibit Hall E.  Breakfast, lunch, and beverage items will be available for purchase. Additionally, The Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center is located in National Harbor, MD and is within walking distance to over 30 restaurants.    Parking: Parking is available on site for $22/day. Cash or credit card payment is accepted. There are public parking lots within walking distance to the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center; the average daily rate is $11/day.   Getting to the Summit:  There are several transportation options available to Summit participants: -        Public Transportation:  For bus schedules, route maps and current pricing, please visit the WMATA website for information. -        Shuttle Information: The Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center provides a daily shuttle from downtown DC every 90 minutes.  The shuttle picks up at the Old Post Office (1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW) and Union Station (H Street and 2nd Street NE) from 9:00 am – 7:30pm.  The cost is $13 one-way, or $20 roundtrip.  Please click here for more information and to make reservations.  -        Driving:  The Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center is accessible by car. -        Water Taxi: Water taxis depart regularly from the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center and go to Old Town Alexandria, Georgetown, and Mount Vernon.  Trips are on average $16/roundtrip.  Click here for more information.  Hotel/Travel: The 2012 Summit on the Science of Eliminating Health Disparities is being held at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center.  The physical address is: Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center 201 Waterfront Street National Harbor, MD 20745 Telephone: 301-965-2000 The hotel is situated within a 15 minute drive from Reagan National Airport, and within 45 minutes of Baltimore Washington and Dulles International Airports.  Please visit the Directions and Transportation page of the hotel website for detailed location information.  We Need Your Input! Your input is especially important to us, so please be sure to fill out your evaluation upon receipt. Evaluations will be distributed electronically at the end of the 2012 Science of Eliminating Health Disparities Summit.

Quick Links Summit Homepage Contact Us Contact Information Questions and Correspondence 2012summit@mail.nih.gov For the period October 31 – November 2nd Joan Kim (240) 395-0549 jkim@thehillgroup.com

Webinar: 11/07/2012. Engaging Families in Community Service and Preparedness

Wednesday, November 7th
3:00 p.m. EDT

Plan ahead and be prepared for National Family Volunteer Day on November 17^th  by joining the FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Division and Ready.gov for a FREE Webinar on Wednesday, November 7.  National Family Volunteer Day is held the Saturday before Thanksgiving and kicks off National Family Week. National Family Volunteer Day was created to mobilize family members within the community and is a great opportunity to get families involved in service, including projects and activities that help communities to prepare for disasters. Our guest speakers will discuss ways that you can capitalize on this event and engage families in your community, and encourage those who haven’t yet made a family service-day commitment to do something that will help prepare their community for disasters. Helping others provides opportunities for family members to be role models and brings them closer together, while also making a difference in their communities.

Speakers from the Hands On Network and Serve Alabama will share their own service initiatives and efforts to engage the public in volunteer opportunities and service projects.

Register/Log in 

Register if this is your first time joining the Community Preparedness Webinar Series.

Log in if you have already registered for this webinar, have registered for a previous webinar or if you're a HSIN.gov user.

If you have questions regarding this event, please contact citizencorps@dhs.gov.