Disaster Planning: People with Chronic Disease

"Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods, tornados and wildfires, can be stressful and devastating for persons living with a chronic disease. Learn tips to help reduce the risk of illness or serious health complications in a disaster.

• Make an emergency planexternal icon and kitexternal icon. Maintain at least a three-day supply of water, food, and medicine. Consider signing up for SMART911external icon, Code Redexternal icon, or your local county registry. These services help first responders identify people who may need assistance in a disaster.
• If you -need to leave your home, know where to go (e.g., family members house, shelter) and be prepared to leave quickly. Have medicines, medical records, insurance information, and healthcare provider’s information, with you.
• Ask your doctor for an extra supply of prescribed medicines, and have a list of all prescription medicines (including name, dose, and pharmacy information). If staying in a shelter or temporary housing, tell the staff about your health problems, special needs and any medicines you are taking.
• Keep medicines, supplies, and equipment out of the heat and in a safe and waterproof location. If you use medical equipment that works with electricity, learn How to Prepare and Handle Power Outages pdf icon[PDF – 5KB]external icon.
• Check if the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP) is activated after a disaster. This free service helps residents get medicine, medical supplies, medical equipment and vaccines that were lost, stolen, or damaged due to the disaster. Call 855-793-7470 to enroll or visit the EPAP websiteexternal icon. Check RX Openexternal icon to find open pharmacies.
• Take steps to avoid getting an infection or illness. Clean up, disinfect, and wash your hands often, and stay away from moldy or dirty places. If you do not have soap and clean water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Seek immediate medical care if a wound develops redness or swelling, or if you have other signs of infection, such as fever, increasing pain, shortness of breath, confusion, disorientation or high heart rate..."
  Disaster planning

Preparedness for Expectant and New Parents

"Disasters, such as wildfires, hurricanes, and floods, can be unpredictable and devastating. Learn general tips to get prepared before a disaster and what to do in case of a disaster to help keep you and your family safe and healthy.

Get Prepared for an Emergency or Disaster

Disasters can be scary and stressful, especially if you’re expecting or have a baby. You can take the following steps now to help you prepare for an emergency and better cope if an emergency happens.

• Talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider about where you will get prenatal care or deliver your baby if your doctor’s office or hospital is closed.
• If you are close to your due date, learn the signs of labor and talk to your healthcare provider about what to do in case of an emergency.
• Be informed—check with your local emergency management agency to find out how to get emergency alerts (such as text alerts).
• Make a family communication plan[111 KB] for how you and your family will contact one another and what steps you will take in different types of situations.
• Prepare an emergency kit that includes a 3-day supply of food and water, health supplies including medications, baby care and safety supplies, electronics, and important documents, such as emergency telephone numbers.
• Plan ahead to help your baby sleep safely if you have to evacuate your home. Your baby is safest sleeping on his or her back in his or her own sleep area (e.g., a portable crib or bassinet) that does not have pillows, blankets, or toys..."
  Disaster planning

NATIONAL DISASTER RECOVERY FRAMEWORK -Draft- February 5, 2010
"The National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF) draft outlines how community 2 recovery is supported on a national level. The framework builds on scalable, 3 flexible, and adaptable coordinating structures to align key roles and 4 responsibilities, linking local, state, tribal and federal governments, the private 5 sector, and voluntary, faith-based and community organizations that play vital roles 6 in recovery. It captures resources, capabilities, and best practices for recovering 7 from disaster, recognizing that significant challenges can confront all recovery 8 efforts, from a relatively localized event to a large-scale disaster that demands 9 substantial resources. Once finalized, this Draft NDRF is intended to be the 10 companion document to the National Response Framework (NRF) issued in January 11 2008.

In September 2009, the President charged the Department of Homeland Security 14 (DHS) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish a 15 Long-Term Disaster Recovery Working Group, composed of more than 20 federal 16 departments, agencies and offices, to provide operational guidance for recovery 17 organizations, as well as to make recommendations for improving the nation’s 18 approach to disaster recovery..."

Animal Emergency and Disaster Planning Information
"
Companion Animals
Pets, information for pet owners; Disaster preparedness; Animal safety; Dog and cat CPR; Pet poison prevention; and more.

Farm Animals
Farm animal rescue; Disaster preparedness for livestock including horses; Animal health. Accidents and livestock; Poisonous plants database; Carcass disposal; and more.

Research Animals
Disaster planning for animal facilities; and more.

Zoo, Circus and Marine Animals
Disaster planning; Training modules; Guidelines for police officers responding to animal incidents; Poison and pesticide information; and more.

2008 Federal Disaster Declarations
Listing by states of:
Major Disaster Declarations.
Emergency Declarations
Fire Management Assistance Declarations.