response | Blogs

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 >

April 16, 2018 by Blog AdministratorLeave a comment

preparedness, response

Federal Select Agents Program, Hurricane, Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Maria, medical countermeasures, National Snapshot, opioid epidemic, opioid overdose, opioids, PHEP, public health, Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program, recovery, select agents and toxins, State and Local Readiness

Assessing Community Needs in Real-time

Group photo of a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) Team in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

What if there was a way to evaluate the needs of a community after a natural disaster? Or understand a community’s attitudes and beliefs about a specific public health behavior? Enter CASPER: Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response, a tool for health departments and public health professionals to assess community needs in real-time. What Read More >

March 26, 2018 by Amy Helene Schnall, Epidemiologist, Disaster Epidemiology and Response Team, National Center for Environmental Health3 Comments

Communication Research and Evaluation Series, response

CASPER, Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response, community needs assessment, data collection, needs assessment, public health, recovery, response

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

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 >

February 26, 2018 by Dr. Stephen Redd, Director, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response11 Comments

Communication Research and Evaluation Series, preparedness, prevention, response

behavior, behavior change, behavioral science, ebola, epidemiology, polio, public health, social norms, Zika

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, response

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

Educating Children After Hurricane Maria

In September 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria roared through the Caribbean just 12 days apart. The schools on St. Croix and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) did not re-open until October 24. Teachers talked about how many of the books and materials in their classrooms were moldy and how teachers and staff Read More >

January 17, 2018 by Malaika Washington, Lead Health Education Specialist, Division of Adolescent and School Health3 Comments