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Ready Now!

Cars driving on a highway are stuck in traffic because of a snow storm.

A rare winter storm in 2008 buried Portland, Oregon under more than a foot of snow, leaving the city gridlocked. Like many others around the city, Nickole Cheron was stuck in her home for eight days. But for Nickole—who was born with spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic disease that weakens the body’s muscles over time—the Read More >

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Categories natural disasters, preparedness, Preparedness Month
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How to Be Smart (About Preparedness)

Dramatic sky in contrast with the afternoon sun on a November afternoon in Limburg, the Netherlands

Emergencies are everywhere: from floods to flu, tornadoes to terrorists… How do you prepare for all of it? Trying to prepare for every possibility can seem impossible. But you can be smart about preparing for the emergencies and situations you are most likely to experience. Start by looking around at where you live, the people Read More >

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Categories General, preparedness, Preparedness Month
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Recognizing the Vital Work of Our Nation’s Public Servants

Greg Burel receiving SAMMIE award.

In April 2015, an Ohio doctor made an urgent call to CDC concerning a possible life-threatening botulism outbreak that posed a risk to as many as 50 people who had attended a church potluck dinner. Within hours, CDC, the Ohio Department of Health, and a local hospital had determined that botulism antitoxin was needed to Read More >

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Categories preparedness, Preparedness Month
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Fred the Preparedness Dog—Tails from Kansas

Fred witnesses the governor of Kansas signing a proclamation naming September "National Preparedness Month"

It all started when Fred jumped into the bathtub. It was one of those warm, Kansas summer days, back in 2013. Fred the German Shepherd had just joined our family, and my wife eagerly captured all his adorable dog-moments with her camera. So when Fred hopped into the tub, she quickly snapped a photo and Read More >

Posted on by Michael McNulty, Director of Homeland Security Operations, Kansas Department of Health and Environment1 Comment
Categories natural disasters, preparedness, Preparedness Month, prevention
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West Nile to Zika: How One Virus Helped New York City Prepare for Another

New York City larviciding helicopter

No one told the Aedes mosquito that New York is the city that never sleeps. The type of mosquito that can spread Zika virus (Zika) is most active during the early morning, day, and early evening. But New York is teeming with people during most of this time, meaning that our scientists had to find Read More >

Posted on by Mario Merlino, Assistant Commissioner, Pest Control and Veterinary Services, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene2 Comments
Categories Disease Investigation, Disease Outbreak, preparedness, Preparedness Month, Vectorborne
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When Preparation Meets Opportunity: Cameroon Gets a Jump on Outbreak Response

Buea-Regional-Hospital-at-the-foot-of-Mt-Cameroon

When Dr. Aristide Abah stepped off the plane that brought him from Atlanta back to his home in Cameroon, there was no time to waste. An outbreak of H5N1 flu threatened the country, and it was up to Dr. Abah to lead the response. Fortunately, he was prepared. Read More >

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Categories Disease Outbreak, Flu, preparedness, Preparedness Month, response, Zoonotic Disease
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