Hurricane | Blogs

Prepare Your Health for Hurricane Season

Road sign pointing in the direction of a hurricane evacuation route.

Andrea. Dorian. Humberto. In all, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), of which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a member, has a list of 21 names that they will use this year to identify hurricanes during the Atlantic hurricane season. What’s in a name? A major hurricane by any name is hazardous to Read More >

May 6, 2019 by Blog Administrator1 Comment

General, natural disasters, preparedness, response

Atlantic hurricane season, Environmental Health, evacuation, Hurricane, Hurricane Preparedness Week, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, paperwork, personal health, personal health preparedness, pets, power sources, prescriptions, public health, World Meteorological Organization

After the Storm: 3 Types of Post-Disaster Poisonings to Know, Prepare For

A portable generator placed outside and in a dry area on the ground.

National Poison Prevention Week (March 17-23) was started in 1962 to encourage Americans to “learn of the dangers of accidental poisoning and to take such preventive measures as are warranted by the seriousness of the danger.” Fifty-seven years later, those threats—and probably some new ones—to personal and public health persist. They can also be prepared Read More >

March 18, 2019 by Blog Administrator1 Comment

General, natural disasters, preparedness, prevention, response

carbon monoxide, e. coli, Emergency Action Plan, Environmental Health, flood, food poisoning, Foodborne, Hurricane, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, National Poison Prevention Week, personal health, Poison Control Center, prescription medication, salmonella, Up and Away

3 Reasons Why Handwashing Should Matter to You

Unseen woman washing her hands with soap in a sink.

Most of us are familiar with the parental-like voice in the back of our minds that helps guide our decision-making—asking us questions like, “Have you called your grandmother lately?” For many that voice serves as a gentle, yet constant reminder to wash our hands. Handwashing with soap and water is one of the most important Read More >

October 15, 2018 by David M. Berendes, PhD, MSPH, Epidemiologist15 Comments

Disease Outbreak, Flu, General, natural disasters, preparedness, prevention, response

disaster, disease prevention, emergency preparedness, Environmental Health, flood, floodwater, flu, Global Handwashing Day, handwashing, Hurricane, influenza, outbreak, pandemic, personal health, Personal Preparedness, Prepare Your Health, public health, school, Waterborne

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 >

June 4, 2018 by Ashley Andujar, MHSA, Health Communication Specialist, Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases2 Comments

natural disasters, preparedness, response

communication, emergency risk communication, Foodborne, Hurricane, Hurricane Maria, public health, Puerto Rico, Waterborne

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

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