Hurricane Response Guide for Environmental Public Health Professionals
Best Practices Issuing Advisories Initiating an Advisory Identify the situation and collect facts. Notify your drinking water primacy agency. Identify the geographic boundaries. Decide to issue an advisory. Notify your internal staff and external partners. Preparing an Advisory Contact experts to answer key questions needed for specific messaging. Develop, format, and translate the message. Approve the advisory. Identify the spokespersons. Assign communication responsibilities. Distributing an Advisory Inform elected officials, public officials, and key partners. Implement your communication platforms. Use your communication network to expand the distribution of the advisory. Work with the media. Ending an Advisory Use water quality criteria and consult with water systems and health officials to assess and to make a decision. Coordinate with partners to develop and deliver clear lifting messages using established communication channels. Clearly state reasons for lifting the Advisory based on specific water quality results. Issue End of Advisory notice using the same communication methods, media partners, and outlets used to distribute the advisory. Issue guidance for post-advisory activities (e.g., flushing guidance).
Boil Water Advisory
Do Not Drink Advisory The water is or could be contaminated with harmful chemicals or toxins.
Do Not Use Advisory
The water has or could have pathogens in it to make you sick. Recommended for pathogens only. Chemical contaminants will not be removed and may concentrate when boiling.
The water is or could be contaminated with pathogens, harmful chemicals, toxins, or radioactive materials.
Recommended Actions Before Returning to Normal Operations For community and private water systems where EPH professionals have a role and responsibility, they should: 1. Inspect, flush, and disinfect the system 2. Verify water quality 3. Communicate to the public
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