Natural Disasters | | Blogs

The Power of Preparedness: Prepare Your Health

Group of people kneeling around a CPR dummy.

The devastating hurricanes of 2017 reminded us how important it is to prepare for disasters. These potentially life-threatening situations have real impacts on personal and public health. During Hurricane Irma, existing medical conditions and power outages increased the likelihood of death. Being prepared with supplies and an Emergency Action Plan can help you protect the Read More >

September 4, 2018 by Leave a comment

General, Injury, Natural Disasters, Preparedness, Public Health, Response

#NatlPrep, #prepyourhealth, emergency, health, national preparedness month, paperwork, personal needs, power sources, practical skills, preparedness, prescription medication

Arizona’s ERIC Program Works to Improve Access to Emergency Information

Vicki Bond is not surprised at how hot, but at how cold the temperatures can get out on a wildfire. “I’ve worked on responses to more wildfires in freezing temperatures than in extreme heat,” she says. Coincidentally, making sure people aren’t left out in the cold in an emergency is why she has so much Read More >

August 15, 2018 by Leave a comment

General, Natural Disasters, Public Health, Response

American Sign Language, arizona, ASL, CART, crisis and emergency risk communication, public information, wildfire

Using Trauma-Informed Care to Guide Emergency Preparedness and Response

Image of the destruction left behind by Hurricane Irma

Exposure to a traumatic event or set of circumstances can negatively affect a person’s mental, physical, social, emotional or spiritual well-being for a long time after the initial incident. We know that not all individuals respond to trauma in the same way and we know that individuals with a history of trauma, especially childhood trauma, Read More >

July 9, 2018 by Amy Wolkin, DrPH, Vulnerable Population Officer, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, CDC; and Anita Everett, MD, Chief Medical Officer, SAMSHA3 Comments

General, mental health, Natural Disasters, Public Health, Response

emergency responders, mental health, psychological trauma, trauma, trauma-informed care

5 Communication Lessons Learned from Hurricane Maria

CDC staff members distribute health communication materials at a community event in Cataño, Puerto Rico.

When Category 4 Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico, CDC assembled a team of experienced communicators who were flexible, bilingual, and culturally sensitive communicators. This group of experts prepared to deploy to Puerto Rico on short notice to support the communication needs of the Puerto Rico Health Department. I was asked to lead content Read More >

June 4, 2018 by Ashley Andujar, MHSA, Health Communication Specialist, Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases1 Comment

Foodborne, Natural Disasters, Preparedness, Public Health, Response, Waterborne

communication, emergency risk communication, Hurricane, Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico

Shouting in the Dark: Emergency Communication in USVI After Irma and Maria

Nykole Tyson, Director of Public Relations for the US Virgin Islands Department of Health, speaking into a radio microphone.

Communication experts often say, “When you’re communicating during an emergency, always think about what you’d say to your mom. What information would she need the most? How would you explain it to her? What would you need to know for sure before you told her? And just how far would you go to reach her?” Read More >

March 12, 2018 by Blog Administrator2 Comments

Natural Disasters, Preparedness, Response

communication, emergency risk communication, Hurricane, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Maria, US Virgin Islands, USVI

After the Storm: Helping Kids Cope

A boy and his mother wait to cross the street on their way to school.

Changing schools is hard for any kid. Imagine picking up without any notice and moving to a new school in a brand new place with a different climate, culture, and maybe even a different primary language. Harder still is the thought of moving because your home and community have been devastated by a major hurricane. Read More >

February 12, 2018 by Caitlyn Lutfy, Health Communication Specialist, Emergency Risk Communications Branch1 Comment

Natural Disasters, Public Health, Response

after the storm, bullying, children, flood, Hurricane, mental health, mold, school

Public Health Matters Blog

Category: Natural Disasters