ADVANCEMENT OF THE PRACTICE
Open Access
DIRECT FROM CDC ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Disaster Response and Recovery Tools Can Help You Prepare for Emergencies
Elaine Curtiss, MEd
Pamela Wigington
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Editor’s Note: The National Environmental Health Association strives to provide up-to-date and relevant information on environmental health and to build partnerships in the profession. In pursuit of these goals, we feature this column on environmental health services from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in every issue of the Journal . In these columns, authors from CDC’s Water, Food, and Environmental Health Services Branch, as well as guest authors, will share tools, resources, and guidance for environmental health practitioners. The conclusions in these columns are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of CDC. Elaine Curtiss and Pamela Wigington work at the National Center of Environmental Health within CDC.
EHTER modules review shelter assessments, food safety, vector control, and much more. Communication Is Important to Help Prevent Disease and Danger During a Disaster Knowing how to communicate during a high- stress event such as a disaster requires sharp skills and poise under pressure. The CDC Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) curriculum and training (https:// emergency.cdc.gov/cerc/) are available online, via webinar, or in person. The trainings are based on lessons learned during public health emergencies, evidence-based practices from the fields of risk and crisis communica- tion, and psychology. ommu61+);1o6 $r)1616/ 0;;8: emer/e6+@+,+/o=+er+;r)1616/ 16,e?):8 • 6=1ro6me6;)l e)l;0 "e:8o6:e )6, "e+o=er@ >>>+,+/o= e6=1ro6me6;)l0e)l;0re:8o6:e)6, re+o=er@808)bou;16,e?0;ml • "),1);1o6 mer/e6+1e: >>>+,+ /o=r),1);1o6emer/e6+1e:808 ;r)1616/16,e?0;ml • N);ur)l 1:):;er: )6, #e=ere 'e);0er >>>+,+/o=6);ur)l ,1:):;er:16,e?0;ml • 6=1ro6me6;)l e)l;0 $r)1616/ 16 mer/e6+@ "e:8o6:e >>>+,+ /o=e6=1ro6me6;)l0e)l;0re:8o6:e )6,re+o=er@808e0;er16,e?0;ml • r1:1: )6, mer/e6+@ "1:3
A fter extreme weather events, it can be challenging to carry out core functions of environmental health services, such as safeguarding drinking wa- ter, controlling disease-causing vectors, con- ducting food safety inspections, and ensuring safe and healthy building environments. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) oers tools and resources for envi- ronmental health professionals to use after a natural disaster to help protect their commu- nities from diseases and health risks. Di erent Disasters Require Di erent Preparation and Resources The needs of communities impacted by a wildfire might dier from the needs of communities impacted by a flood or hurri- cane. The CDC Natural Disasters and Severe Weather webpage (www.cdc.gov/natural- disasters/index.html) provides information
and resources for the public about health and safety concerns for specific disasters. Envi- ronmental health specialists can also use these resources to educate their local com- munities through social media, community outreach, and other health education eorts to prepare them for disasters. Trained Responders Are Key to a Quick Recovery When Disasters Happen Time is of the essence during an emergency. A responder who knows what to do can help a community recover more quickly than one who does not. The 10 modules in our Envi- ronmental Health Training in Emergency Response (EHTER) course (www.cdc.gov/ environmental-health-response-and-recov- ery/php/ehter/index.html) focus on key envi- ronmental health issues and challenges for emergency response during disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, or wildfires. The
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Volume 87 • Number 3
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