General Preparedness

Being prepared to respond to emergency and terrorism events requires an understanding of how the state, federal, and local entities work together during an event. All responses occur locally and end locally, but understanding the roles of local, state, and federal partners is essential to an effective response.

This section provides resources on general preparedness.

CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response – how to prepare, plan, and respond to public health emergencies:

• Public Health Emergency Response Guide for State, Local, and Tribal Public Health Directors

CDC Epidemic Information Exchange (Epi-X) – secure communications tool used by various public health agencies to access and share preliminary surveillance information

CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) – transmits health alerts, advisories, and updates to health agencies at every level of government

CDC National Strategic Plan for Public Health Preparedness and Response [PDF - 359 KB] – guide for CDC, the entire public health system, and stakeholders to attain the vision of "people’s health protected – public health secured"

CDC Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response (OPHPR) Publications and Resources – resources and reports on issues related to public health preparedness and response

CDC Public Health Preparedness Capabilities: National Standards for State and Local Planning – guide to help state and local jurisdictions organize their work, prioritize, and decide which capabilities they have the resources to build or sustain

CDC Supports Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) – facilitates and supports efforts to provide education, awareness and training on EMAC to local, state and federal public health professionals

Emergency Responder Health Monitoring and Surveillance (ERHMS) – guidelines for protecting emergency responders over a full range of emergency types and settings

Environmental Health Training in Emergency Response (EHTER) - Awareness Level – course to address a range of environmental health topics commonly faced in disaster response

Preparedness and Emergency Response Learning Centers (PERLC) – provides core competency-based training to state, local, and tribal public health authorities

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Links to information from outside CDC

American Public Health Association (APHA)

• Recommended Core Competencies for Local Environmental Health Practitioners [PDF - 313 KB] – provides broadly accepted guidelines and recommendations to local public health leaders for the core competencies needed by local environmental health practitioners working in local health departments (LHDs) to strengthen their capacities to anticipate, recognize, and respond to environmental health challenges

American Red Cross – how to prepare for and respond to a variety of disaster types

California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health (CCDEH)

• Disaster Field Manual for Environmental Health Specialists – field guide to help environmental health professionals respond to a variety of environmental issues in disasters
• Environmental Health Disaster Preparedness Model Planning Guide – tool for aiding environmental health management in the development of disaster response plans

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

• Public Health Emergency – information about public health and medical emergency support

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

• National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) – plan outlining how government and private sector participants can work together to manage risks and improve security and resilience
• Presidential Policy Directive (PPD) – 8: National Preparedness – executive order to strengthen U.S. security and resilience by systematically preparing for threats posing the greatest risk
• Ready.gov – emergency preparedness guidance for the public

Disaster Preparation and Recovery (National Library of Medicine) – information about disaster and emergency preparedness and response grouped in related categories

Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) – interstate mutual aid agreement allowing states to share personnel, equipment and resources during emergencies

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Preparedness and Training

• Are You Ready? An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness – basic advice to prepare for and respond to both natural and manmade disasters
• Emergency Management Institute (EMI) – training courses for environmental health professionals
• Managing the Emergency Consequences of Terrorist Incidents – Interim Guidelines [PDF - 541 KB] – aid for state and local emergency planners in developing and maintaining a Terrorist Incident Appendix (TIA) to an Emergency Operations Plan
• National Response Framework – mechanism to coordinate federal assistance and resources with state and local governments during a major disaster or emergency
• State and Local Guide 101: Guide for All-Hazard Emergency Operations Planning [PDF - 605 KB] – guide for state and local emergency managers to develop and maintain a viable all-hazards Emergency Operations Plan

Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) – national network of volunteers, organized locally to improve the health and safety of their communities

National Health Security Preparedness Index (NHSPI) – snapshot of nationwide security capabilities

National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO):

• NACCHO Responds to Bioterrorism – links, resources, and tools to help local health departments prepare for and respond to any type of emergency

Public Health Emergency: Leading a Nation Prepared (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) – cross-governmental portal to obtain information from all U.S. federal agencies and their state and local partners involved in a public health emergency, medical disaster, or public health aspects of a natural or manmade disaster

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Ready or Not? Protecting the Public from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism – report provides a snapshot of our nation's public health emergency preparedness

Sphere Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response – voluntary initiative that brings a wide range of humanitarian agencies together to improve the quality of humanitarian assistance to their constituents, donors and affected populations

The Twin Cities Metro Advanced Practice Center – tools and resources for preparedness that can be used by public health departments nationwide, including

• Disaster Strikes – Environmental Health Responds: Stories from the Field – case studies of 22 environmental health professionals across the country to learn how they dealt with actual emergencies in their communities
• Emergency Preparedness and Response Fundamentals & Putting Principles into Practice – online training to build skills needed by environmental health professionals to operate in different emergency situations
• Environmental Health Emergency Response Guide [PDF - 670 KB] – provides quick access to information needed in the event of an illness outbreak emergency, a natural disaster, a deliberate act of terrorism, or an industrial- or transportation-related accident, and lists and describes potential roles for environmental health professionals during an emergency or disaster

World Health Organization (WHO)

• Environmental Health in Emergencies and Disasters: A Practical Guide
  • Chapter 2 - The Nature of Emergencies and Disasters [PDF - 476 KB]
  • Chapter 3 - Predisaster Activities [PDF - 214 KB]
  • Chapter 4 - Emergency Response [PDF - 256 KB]
  • Chapter 5 - Recovery and Sustainable Development [PDF - 186 KB]

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