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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

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, Public Health, Response

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

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

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

Environmental Health, Natural Disasters, Public Health, Response

children, Flooding, Hurricane, Hurricane Maria, mold, Ready Wrigley, US Virgin Islands, USVI

The Power of Us

Evacuteer checking someone in during 2017 full-scale city assisted evacuation exercise.

“I am a Katrina survivor.” These were the first words out of Joan Ellen’s mouth when I spoke with her. And she was one of the lucky ones. She made it out of New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina made landfall on August 29, 2005. But not everyone was so fortunate. One of Joan Ellen’s neighbors Read More >

September 25, 2017 by Kali Rapp Roy, Executive Director, Evacuteer.orgLeave a comment

Natural Disasters, Preparedness, Preparedness Month, Response

#NatlPrep, city assisted evacuation, evacuation, Evacuspot, Evacuteer, Hurricane, mandatory evacuation, national preparedness month, NOLA, NPM2017, SHOW

Public Health Matters Blog

Category: Hurricane