Emergency Preparedness and Response

What's New

  • Public Health Matters Blog - 3 Reasons Why Handwashing Should Matter to You10/15/2018, 5:00:00 PMMost of us are familiar with the parental-like voice in the back of our minds that helps guide our decision-making-asking us questions like, "Have you called your grandmother lately?" For many that voice serves as a gentle, yet constant reminder to wash our hands.
  • Public Health Matters Blog - Protecting our Future: Emergency Preparedness and Children's Mental Health10/9/2018, 5:00:00 PMAmong the many lessons learned during the 2017 Hurricane season, we recognized that addressing children's mental and behavioral health needs is a major concern in hurricane-affected areas. CDC's At Risk Task Force (ARTF) was established in 2017 to ensure identification and prioritization of the mental and physical health needs of at-risk populations, including children. ARTF's first Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activation was on Aug. 31, 2017, in response to Hurricane Harvey, the first of three consecutive hurricanes to hit the United States and its territories in a five-week period. ARTF's mission was to address the needs of at-risk populations in affected areas throughout the response and recovery phases.
  • Health Alert Network (HAN) No. 415 - Hurricane Florence-Clinical Guidance For Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning9/16/2018, 9:45:00 PMThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reminding clinicians seeing patients from the areas affected by Hurricane Florence to maintain a high index of suspicion for CO poisoning. Other people who may be exposed to the same CO source may need to be identified and assessed.
  • Public Health Matters Blog - Personal Protective Actions You Can Take in a Flu Pandemic9/10/2018, 5:00:00 PMEvery fall and winter the United States experiences epidemics of seasonal influenza (flu). Sometimes a flu pandemic occurs due to a new flu virus that spreads and causes illnesses around the world. We cannot predict when a flu pandemic will occur, but over the past 100 years, we have documented four flu pandemics resulting in close to 1 million deaths in the United States alone.
  • Health Alert Network (HAN) No. 414 - Advice to Clinicians about Leptospirosis in U.S. Travelers Returning from Northern Israel9/7/2018, 9:45:00 PMThe Israeli Ministry of Health is reporting an outbreak of leptospirosis in persons with exposure to natural water sources in the Golan Heights region of northern Israel after July 1, 2018. As of September 6, 2018, three persons with leptospirosis who traveled to Israel have been identified in the United States, with additional suspected cases reported and under investigation. Early symptoms of leptospirosis include fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, conjunctival suffusion (conjunctival redness without exudates), jaundice, and sometimes a rash. Clinicians should consider leptospirosis as a diagnosis in any patient who develops an acute febrile illness within 4 weeks of travel to one of the areas in northern Israel listed below since July 1, 2018.
  • Public Health Matters Blog - The Power of Preparedness: Prepare Your Health9/4/2018, 5:00:00 PMThe devastating hurricanes of 2017 reminded us how important it is to prepare for disasters. These potentially life-threatening situations have real impacts on personal and public health. During Hurricane Irma, existing medical conditions and power outages increased the likelihood of death. Being prepared with supplies and an Emergency Action Plan can help you protect the health of your family until help arrives. September is National Preparedness Month (#NatlPrep), and the perfect time of year to remind people of The Power of Preparedness. This year's call-to-action of Prepare Your Health (#PrepYourHealth) and four weekly themes highlight the roles that individuals, state and local public health, and CDC play in creating community health resilience. It takes everyone "pulling in the same direction" to create families, communities, and a nation that can withstand, adapt to, and recover from personal and public health emergencies. The first week focuses on personal preparedness, and the importance of nonperishable food, safe water, basic supplies, and the personal items you need to protect your health until help arrives.
  • Public Health Matters Blog - Kentucky Takes a Novel Approach to Fight the Opioid Crisis8/28/2018, 5:00:00 PMThe opioid overdose epidemic is a public health emergency. The state of Kentucky has the third highest rate of drug overdose in the country. The FindHelpNowKY.org website bridges a gap between Kentucky residents and timely access to substance use treatment facilities and services. It provides near real-time available openings at local area substance use disorder (SUD) facilities.
  • Public Health Matters Blog - Arizona's ERIC Program Works to Improve Access to Emergency Information8/15/2018, 5:00:00 PMVicki Bond is not surprised at how hot, but at how cold the temperatures can get out on a wildfire. "I've worked on responses to more wildfires in freezing temperatures than in extreme heat," she says. Coincidentally, making sure people aren't left out in the cold in an emergency is why she has so much experience with the weather. Bond works for the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA) as a licensed American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter and deployment coordinator for the Emergency Response Interpreters Credentialing (ERIC) program. She helps prepare licensed ASL interpreters and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) captioners to deploy for emergencies throughout the state. ERIC interpreters and captioners work alongside communicators to interpret and transcribe information presented at community meetings and media briefings, on websites and social media, and in evacuation shelters for people who are deaf and hard of hearing. "The goal of the ERIC program," said Bond, "is to ensure deaf and hard of hearing community members have access to critical information during emergencies and disasters in the State of Arizona." People in Arizona are at risk from a variety of hazards, including extreme heat, floods, and wildfire. More than 1,500 wildfires occur in Arizona each year.
  • Public Health Matters Blog - Preventing Prescription Opioid Overdoses in New York State8/8/2018, 5:00:00 PMLike many states, New York is suffering from the consequences of the opioid overdose epidemic. There has been a dramatic increase in the number of overdoses due to both prescription and illicit drug use in recent years. Overdoses are killing people of all races and ages. The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) is coordinating statewide prevention interventions to save lives and prevent opioid overdoses.
  • Public Health Matters Blog - 10 Health Literacy Tips for Reporting Data7/23/2018, 5:00:00 PMWe live in a complex world. Just as humans have left an impact on the environment, the environment also leaves an impact on us. Being exposed to certain physical and social environmental factors, like chemicals in the water, secondhand smoke, or poverty, can affect our health.
  • Health Alert Network (HAN) No. 413 - Rising Numbers of Deaths Involving Fentanyl and Fentanyl Analogs, Including Carfentanil, and Increased Usage and Mixing with Non-opioids7/11/2018, 9:00:00 PMThis Health Alert Network (HAN) Update is to alert public health departments, health care professionals, first responders, and medical examiners and coroners to important new developments in the evolving opioid overdose epidemic, which increasingly involves illicitly manufactured fentanyl and an array of potent fentanyl analogs (i.e., compounds that are chemically related to fentanyl). It is the second update to the original health advisory, HAN 384, issued October 26, 2015, which alerted the public to the increase in unintentional overdose fatalities involving fentanyl in multiple states, primarily driven by illicitly manufactured fentanyl. The first update to this health advisory was released on August 25, 2016 (HAN 395), describing the sharp increase in the availability of counterfeit pills containing varying amounts of fentanyl and fentanyl analogs, the continued increase of overdose deaths involving fentanyl across a growing number of states, and the widening array of fentanyl analogs being mixed with heroin or sold as heroin.
  • Public Health Matters Blog - Using Trauma-Informed Care to Guide Emergency Preparedness and Response7/9/2018, 5:00:00 PMExposure to a traumatic event or set of circumstances can negatively affect a person's mental, physical, social, emotional or spiritual well-being for a long time after the initial incident. We know that not all individuals respond to trauma in the same way and we know that individuals with a history of trauma, especially childhood trauma, are more likely to experience psychological distress and are at increased risk for the development of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with future exposure to trauma.
  • Health Alert Network (HAN) No. 412 - Outbreak of Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) Infections among Persons Who Use Drugs and Persons Experiencing Homelessness6/11/2018, 4:00:00 PMThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state health departments are investigating hepatitis A outbreaks in multiple states among persons reporting drug use and/or homelessness and their contacts. This Health Alert Network (HAN) Advisory alerts public health departments, healthcare facilities, and programs providing services to affected populations about these outbreaks of hepatitis A infections and provides guidance to assist in identifying and preventing new infections.
  • Health Alert Network (HAN) No. 411 - Update - CDC Recommendations for Managing and Reporting Shigella Infections with Possible Reduced Susceptibility to Ciprofloxacin6/7/2018, 3:00:00 PMThis Health Alert Network (HAN) Update provides current recommendations on management and reporting of Shigella infections that have been treated with ciprofloxacin or azithromycin and resulted in possible clinical treatment failure. This is a follow-up to HAN 401: CDC Recommendations for Diagnosing and Managing Shigella Strains with Possible Reduced Susceptibility to Ciprofloxacin (https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/han00401.asp).
  • Public Health Matters Blog - 5 Communication Lessons Learned from Hurricane Maria6/4/2018, 8:00:00 AMWhen Category 4 Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico, CDC assembled a team of experienced communicators who were flexible, bilingual, and culturally sensitive communicators. This group of experts prepared to deploy to Puerto Rico on short notice to support the communication needs of the Puerto Rico Health Department. I was asked to lead content development, and as a native Puerto Rican I did not hesitate to go home and help in any way I could.
  • Health Alert Network (HAN) No. 410 - Outbreak of Life-threatening Coagulopathy Associated with Synthetic Cannabinoids Use5/25/2018, 7:30:00 PMThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is providing information on: 1) the current status of a multistate outbreak of coagulopathy from exposure to synthetic cannabinoid products containing a vitamin K-dependent antagonist agent, such as brodifacoum; 2) signs and symptoms of presenting patients from this outbreak and which patients are at risk; 3) laboratory testing options that are available to help identify and classify cases; 4) available resources that may help clinicians make decisions; and 5) to whom to report possible cases.
  • EPIC Insider - May 17, 2018: Family Communication Plans5/17/2018, 6:00:00 PMFamily Communication Plans
  • CDC Emergency Partners is now EPIC!5/8/2018, 9:43:00 PMCDC's Emergency Partners has recently undergone some exciting changes and as our priorities have evolved, so has our name. We are EPIC- Emergency Partners Information Connection (https://emergency.cdc.gov/epic). Our new name reflects our goal of sharing information with and through partners to help people stay safer and healthier during a public health emergency. We hope you'll enjoy the new look of our newsletters and join us for upcoming webinars, including our webinar on May 22, Travelers' Health, Summer, 2018 (https://emergency.cdc.gov/epic/learn/index.asp).
  • Public Health Matters Blog - 4 Tips to Stay Healthy Around Your Pet5/7/2018, 5:00:00 PMPets, whether covered in fur, feathers, or scales, are an important part of our lives-most American households own at least one pet. Many people see their pet as a member of the family that brings joy and amusement to their life. But did you know that having a pet can even help improve your health? Having a pet can decrease your blood pressure, cholesterol, triglyceride levels, and feelings of loneliness. Pets can also encourage you to be active and get outside, and provide opportunities to socialize.
  • Travelers' Health Webinar on May 22 at 1 PM ET5/4/2018, 11:39:00 PMPlease join us online on May 22, 2018, at 1 PM ET for a webinar on traveler safety. CDC's Division of Global Migration and Quarantine is joining the CDC EPIC team to explain how to prepare for the summer travel season, including diseases to look out for in different parts of the world, suggested vaccinations, and other health considerations.
  • CERC Webinar TODAY at 2PM ET5/1/2018, 5:00:00 PMDon't keep this great resource to yourself! Please share it with your colleagues and networks. If you would like more information on Emergency Preparedness and Response, visit CDC's Emergency Preparedness & Response website: https://emergency.cdc.gov/
  • CERC Webinar TOMORROW at 2PM EST4/30/2018, 8:35:00 PMJoin us on May 1, 2018, 2:00-3:00 PM EST for the "Introduction to CERC" webinar.
  • Public Health Matters Blog - Raising Awareness to Prevent Prescription Opioid Overdoses4/30/2018, 5:00:00 PMIn 2016, 115 Americans died every day from an opioid overdose - that is more than 42,000 drug overdose deaths that involved an opioid including prescription opioids, heroin, and/or illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Prescription opioids (like hydrocodone, oxycodone, and morphine) are prescribed by doctors to treat moderate to severe pain, but have serious risks and side effects.
  • Public Health Matters Blog - Moving the Dial on Preparedness: CDC's 2018 National Snapshot4/16/2018, 5:00:00 PMEvery year, CDC's Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response publishes the Public Health Preparedness and Response National Snapshot, an annual report that highlights the work of CDC and our partners. No matter the type, size, or cause of a public health emergency, we must work together to respond to the best of our ability.
  • Public Health Matters Blog - Evaluating Communication Campaigns4/2/2018, 5:00:00 PMHealth communication and marketing campaigns that promote positive behavior change are a cornerstone of public health and behavioral science. Designing and implementing quality campaigns on a tight budget and in an urgent timeframe is a challenge that most health communication professionals share. Research and evaluation are critical for a successful campaign. CDC is using leading research and evaluation methods to develop quality campaigns, while keeping costs low and sticking to tight timelines.
  • Public Health Matters Blog - Assessing Community Needs in Real-time3/27/2018, 3:57:00 AMWhat if there was a way to evaluate the needs of a community after a natural disaster? Or understand a community's attitudes and beliefs about a specific public health behavior? Enter CASPER: Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response, a tool for health departments and public health professionals to assess community needs in real-time.
  • Public Health Matters Blog - 7 Ways to 'Be Gutsy' this March!3/19/2018, 1:00:00 PMLet's face it: your colon isn't exactly a dinner party topic. It takes a lot of guts to bring up colorectal cancer-to your parents, your spouse, your doctor, your friends. Don't be afraid to pipe up about the second-leading cancer killer of both men and women, because it's proven that simple steps save lives.
  • Public Health Matters Blog - Shouting in the Dark: Emergency Communication in USVI After Irma and Maria3/12/2018, 1:00:00 PMCommunication experts often say, "When you're communicating during an emergency, always think about what you'd say to your mom. What information would she need the most? How would you explain it to her? What would you need to know for sure before you told her? And just how far would you go to reach her?" When Hurricanes Irma and Maria hit the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) in September 2017, this wasn't just advice for Nykole Tyson. Nykole is the USVI Department of Health's (DOH's) Director of Public Relations. She serves as the DOH spokesperson and emergency communicator. Like all of USVI's responders and government officials, she is a survivor who was impacted by the storms. Nykole's home had water and roof damage and she was without water or power for four months. "I caught rain water in barrels and used solar lights sent to me by friends living stateside," Nykole said. She lived on a cot in her office in the DOH for several weeks between and after both storms. . The storms destroyed most of the territory's communication infrastructure, making both personal and mass communication nearly impossible. Nykole was unable to reach her own family for four days after the second hurricane. However, within hours of both storms, she was on the radio talking to her community about how to stay safe, find shelter, and stay strong. Nykole wasn't just talking to the public, she was talking to her neighbors, her community, her family, and even her mom.
  • Public Health Matters Blog - Tackling eHealth Literacy3/5/2018, 1:00:00 PMAs I waited in the exam room on a recent visit to my doctor's office, I noticed there was a large wall display with an interactive screen. It resembled a smartphone and I could use the touchscreen to scroll and learn about various conditions, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's, and colon health. Each menu included signs and symptoms of illness, and information on diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. The designs were bright, jargon was kept to a minimum and defined when used, and navigating was simple for routine smartphone users. The display also included short videos supporting the on-screen text. "Great!" I thought, "But what about patients who don't have strong English skills or those who don't feel confident engaging with the display? How do they get the information if they don't directly ask for it?"
  • Upcoming COCA Call: March 13, 2018: Coordinating Clinical and Public Health Responses to Opioid Overdoses Treated in Emergency Departments3/1/2018, 1:00:00 PMThe nonmedical use of prescription opioids and illicit opioids causes significant morbidity in the United States. The latest data indicate that rates of overdoses treated in emergency departments are rising across all regions and require a coordinated response between public health, clinicians, public safety, and community organizations. During this COCA call, clinicians will learn about the increases in opioid-related morbidity and steps clinicians can take in advancing protocols to reverse these trends.

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