Category: response

Do 1 Thing: Family Communication Plan

By Cate Shockey This blog is part of a series, covering a preparedness topic each month from the Do 1 Thing Program . Join us this month as we discuss family communication plans. For Do 1 Thing this month, it was time to sit down and create a family communication plan. The point is to Read More >

Posted on by Blog AdministratorLeave a comment

Animal Rescue: Caring for Animals During Emergencies

Working with TF 1 USAR dogs at Disaster City

In 2008, Hurricane Ike devastated the upper Texas coast with many animals lost and many more suffering needlessly.  This storm triggered a request for the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences to form a deployable veterinary emergency team.  Read More >

Posted on by Blog Administrator1 Comment

Emergency Preparedness for Families with Special Needs

close up image of a school bus with handicap sign

By Georgina Peacock When Hurricane Katrina hit, Julie thought she was ready.  She always had an emergency kit prepared because her son Zac needs medical supplies and equipment to keep him happy and healthy. Zac has spina bifida, a major birth defect of the spine; hydrocephalus, which means he has extra fluid in and around Read More >

Posted on by Blog Administrator5 Comments

Coping with Disasters

Storm Damage - tree down in the road

Whether you live in tornado alley or in a hurricane-prone coastal region, it’s important to include emotional wellness activities in your diaster plan. Severe weather and evacuations can cause emotional distress such as anxiety, worry, and fear in both adults and children. Although no one can plan for a disaster, you can practice healthy coping Read More >

Posted on by Blog AdministratorLeave a commentTags ,

The Next Monopoly? What “Pandemic” teaches us about public health

Close up of the Pandemic board game

By Sherline Lee Even for an epidemiologist who works in public health preparedness and response, being asked to explain to the public what we do at CDC can be difficult.   Read More >

Posted on by Blog Administrator1 CommentTags , , , , , ,

From CDC to ABC: H7N9 from Hong Kong

Taking on the role of interim CDC director can be an intimidating task, but an impending pandemic can make the position exponentially more daunting. This is the situation Dr. Richard Besser faced in 2009 when he stepped into his new job. But Besser took the task head on and guided the country’s premier health agency Read More >

Posted on by Blog AdministratorLeave a commentTags