Category: preparedness

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 >

Posted on by 5 CommentsTags , , , , , , , , , , ,

5 Communication Lessons Learned from Hurricane Maria

  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 Read More >

Posted on by Ashley Andujar, MHSA, Health Communication Specialist, Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases2 CommentsTags , , , , , , ,

Moving the Dial on Preparedness: CDC’s 2018 National Snapshot

Photo of a flooded apartment complex and office building during Hurricane Harvey.

Every year, CDC’s Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response publishes the Public Health Preparedness and Response National Snapshot, an annual report that highlights the work of CDC and our partners. No matter the type, size, or cause of a public health emergency, we must work together to respond to the best of our ability. Read More >

Posted on by Blog AdministratorLeave a commentTags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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 >

Posted on by Blog Administrator2 CommentsTags , , , , , ,

Responding to Emergencies One Behavior at a Time

A group of Ebola response volunteers in Nigeria.

To improve the health and safety of people in the United States and around the world, we have to influence and change behaviors. It can be difficult to try new things, or stop old things as behaviors range from simple to complex, but one way to consider behavior change is to think of any change Read More >

Posted on by Dr. Stephen Redd, Director, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response11 CommentsTags , , , , , , , ,

Four Health and Safety Tips for Mass Gatherings

A crowd of people at Mauerpark in Berlin, Germany.

There is strength in numbers – both in public health and in public safety. The more people who take action to protect themselves, the better prepared a community is for an emergency. Communities take different forms. At a mass gathering like the Super Bowl, the Olympics, or in a public place like the airport, the Read More >

Posted on by Ethan Riley, Health Communications Specialist, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and Taylor Price, Campaign Manager, "If You See Something, Say Something®" Campaign, U.S. Department of Homeland Security4 CommentsTags , , , , , , , , , ,