Hurricane Response Guide for Environmental Public Health Professionals
Part 3: Back from the Field Upon returning from a hurricane response, EPH personnel should prioritize several key tasks to ensure the safety of their team and effectively share crucial information. First, they should properly dispose of any single-use or damaged personal protective equipment (PPE) according to local regulations. Then, they should thoroughly clean and sanitize any reusable PPE that may have been exposed to hazardous materials (HAZMAT) during the response, following established decontamination protocols for each specific type of PPE used. Next, the team should conduct an EPH-specific hot wash 8 within 24–48 hours of returning from the field. During this debriefing, team members should share their notes and any relevant documentation collected during the response; identify areas for improvement in the team’s response procedures, communication, and coordination; and brainstorm potential solutions for future responses. The information collected during this meeting should be documented in a structured format, such as a standardized after-action report template, and shared with the broader response team and relevant leadership within the organization. The team should then compile a comprehensive list of EPH issues or concerns encountered during the response, prioritizing them based on their potential impact on public health and safety. A detailed report should be prepared, outlining the identified issues, their locations, and any immediate actions taken in the field, along with recommendations for further investigation, mitigation, or remediation of the identified EPH concerns. If the Incident Command System (ICS) structure is still in place, this information should be shared with the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) via your liaison or ESF #8 representatives. If the ICS structure has been demobilized, coordinate with your organization’s leadership to determine the appropriate channels for sharing this information with relevant authorities. The team should provide a clear and concise summary of the most critical issues that require immediate attention or action, offer to provide additional information or clarification as needed to support decision-making processes, and collaborate with appropriate authorities to develop a plan for addressing the identified EPH issues and allocating necessary resources. Finally, team members should prioritize self-care and seek mental health support if needed, as hurricane response work can be physically and emotionally taxing. The team leader or designated staff member should provide information on available resources , such as employee assistance programs or local mental health services. A supportive team environment where members feel comfortable discussing their experiences and seeking help should be fostered.
8 A hot wash is an immediate post-operation debriefing for all participants to share experiences and identify issues.
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