ADVANCEMENT OF THE PRACTITIONER
SPOTLIGHT ON NEHA RESOURCES: EMERGENCY AND DISASTER READINESS
Environmental Public Health Emergency Pre- paredness and Response Capability Framework In 2022, we established a community of practice to guide the development and review of environmental public health disaster readiness resources. With the support of the community of prac- tice, we began the process of developing a list of core capabilities and functions necessary for eectively responding to environmen- tal public health threats during emergencies and disasters. The draft Environmental Public Health Emergency Prepared- ness and Response Capability Framework was developed to help state, tribal, local, and territorial jurisdictions better assess and strengthen their readiness to address core public health issues in disasters. As a guidance resource, the framework supports pub- lic health agencies in formally integrating environmental public health into their emergency preparedness, response, and recovery planning and coordination activities within the health agency. It also serves to more clearly define the roles and responsibilities of cross-sector partner organizations, further strengthening emer- gency management across the public health system. The framework is divided into 15 functional areas, with cor- responding tasks that provide a tactical-level explanation of each function that serves to protect against health threats in the envi- ronment. The functional areas include: 1. Identify environmental public health risks for the aected pop- ulation and design plans for mitigation 2. Coordinate environmental public health response and resources 3. Assure the safety and integrity of water systems 4. Assure the safety and integrity of solid waste and debris man- agement systems 5. Assure the safety and integrity of wastewater systems 6. Assure the safety of emergency shelters 7. Assure the integrity of food supply and delivery systems 8. Assure the safety and integrity of buildings 9. Assure the safety of indoor and outdoor air 10. Provide vector surveillance and control 11. Provide environmental public health support to hazardous material management 12. Provide environmental public health support to radiological management 13. Assure the safety of recreational water 14. Conduct open water monitoring 15. Assure eective environmental sampling Explore the framework at www.neha.org/epr-framework.
National Preparedness Month is held every September to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies and disasters. These events can happen at any time, highlighting the importance of being ready to respond at a moment’s notice. Environmental public health is an essential component of disaster readiness. We partner with state, tribal, local, territorial, and national environmental public health organizations to iden- tify needs and develop tools to assist you in preparing for and responding to natural and human-made emergencies and disas- ters. You can find all of our readiness resources at www.neha.org/ readiness. The following are just a few of the resources we have available to help you. Wildfire Response Guide for Environmental Health Professionals
Now more than ever environ- mental public health profession- als are on the front lines of wild- fire response and recovery. We understand that even with plenty of all-hazard planning, the reality of the environmental health response to a wildfire can be daunting. These reasons are why we created a wildfire guide just for our profession: the Wildfire Response Guide for Environmen- tal Public Health Professionals.
The guide is intended for environmental public health profes- sionals responding to a wildfire as part of an immediate response or recovery process. It provides information needed in the event of a wildfire within a jurisdiction, with potential considerations and roles for environmental public health professionals. Furthermore, the guide outlines steps that can be taken before, during, and after a wildfire event. Several guidance documents and weblinks are provided for review prior to a wildfire occurring. The guide also includes: • Response and recovery objectives for each environmental health area • Template messages • Sample forms that can be used to meet objectives • Recommended guidance documents • Suggestions for cross-sector partnerships and policies Check out the guide today at www.neha.org/epr-wildfire-resources.
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Volume 88 • Number 2
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