Emergency Preparedness
Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone severely affected by Hurricane Sandy. Here are a few federal links that may prove useful. From the Food and Drug Administration, a link to keeping food and water safe in the aftermath of power outages - http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodDefense/Emergencies/FloodsHurricanesPowerOutages/default.htm.
ASDF; an ongoing blog from FEMA -- http://www.fema.gov/blog; and the CDC’s Emergency Preparedness and Response page -- http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (http://emergency.cdc.gov) has a great number of publications on Emergency Preparedness
Hurricanes
http://www.ready.gov/hurricanes
Hurricane Preparedness: Make a Plan
http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/plan.asp
Hurricane by American Red Cross
http://apps.usa.gov/hurricane-by-american-red-cross.shtml
Family Communication Tips
Guidance for Integrating Culturally Diverse Communities into Planning for and Responding to Emergencies: A Toolkit by The Texas Health Institute Please click here for a useful Toolkit
The latest public health preparedness report from Trust for America’s Health and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Ready or Not? Protecting the Public from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism. The report includes a state-by-state analysis of progress in preparing the nation to respond to a disaster, as well as recommendations for the federal government to modernizing our ability to prepare and respond. This report is available on our website, www.healthyamericans.org.
MISSISSIPPI GULF OIL SPILL HEALTH GUIDANCE and INFORMATION
Click here for information http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/23,9689,195.html
American Red Cross Releases Fact Sheet on Coping and Emotional Well Being Related to the H1N1 Influenza Outbreak - Click here for full details
Important Information Update Concerning MS-V Satellite Phones
SkyTerra formerly known as Mobile satellite Ventures has issued. Critical frequency modifications must be made to each of your current MSAT equipment devices to ensure you are ready for transition. click here for full details http://www.skyterra.com/about/transition-incentive-plan.cfm
H1N1 Fluenza Preparedness Funding Opportunity for States
$90 million available through the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) to support pan flu healthcare preparedness for states. Many of you have likely already learned of this but there is $90 million available through the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) to support pan flu healthcare preparedness for states. As with HPP funds, these dollars will flow through State Departments of Health and are intended for hospitals, health centers, and other healthcare facilities to promote preparedness and increase capacity to respond to a large scale pan flu outbreak. This is a golden opportunity to pursue funding and/or supplies for health centers in your state to meet the needs of vulnerable and underserved populations during an influenza pandemic. The application from each state is due to ASPR on July 24, 2009. In response to this very short turn-around time, NACHC has scheduled a WebEx for PCA Emergency Management Coordinators to review the guidance and share ideas about how PCAs and CHCs fit into this funding. We have invited a representative from ASPR Hospital Preparedness Program to join us – they were unable to commit but did indicate that they would try to make it.
Source: Mollie Melbourne, MPH, MEP Director of Emergency Management, National Association of Community Health Centers. Posted July 15, 2009
Primary Care Office Pandemic Plan Template available from CDC. " The template provides a good outline for putting together a basic plan-- this may be a great start if your health center doesn't currently have a pan flu plan." – Mollie Melbourne, Health Center Emergency Management