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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Jeffrey Turell, MD, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics Master of Public Health Program, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, 216/321-5681, jturell@yahoo.com, Scott Frank, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatisitcs, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106-4945, and Chris Kippes, MS, Epidemiology and Surveillance, Cuyahoga County Board of Health, 5550 Venture Drive, Parma, OH 44130.

After 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, it is apparent that public health has a role in emergency preparedness. The Department of Homeland Security has issued directives mandating the development of preparedness plans at all levels of government. Understanding and keeping up with the directives, which are tied to Federal preparedness funding, presents a challenge. An even greater issue is the development of preparedness plans, which is left to local jurisdictions and agencies to develop.

As part of a partnership between an MPH program and a county health department, a method for emergency preparedness planning was developed at the local health department level. This method was disseminated to local health departments within the region of Northeast Ohio, a region that contains twelve local health departments. This method is currently in use at the local health department level to develop emergency preparedness plans based on the National Response Plan that comply with the National Incident Response Plan. Staff training has occurred to educate and involve all service areas of the health department in the preparedness planning process. Coordination with other health departments in the region and community partners in preparedness is emphasized. In addition, a method of making an assessment of NIMS compliance has been developed, implemented, and shared regionally. Lastly, the application of GIS mapping to preparedness planning is explored, with an example relevant to public health that emphasizes the pooling of data regionally. This model of preparedness planning has the potential for adoption by local health departments nationally.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the overarching principles and concepts of the National Response Plan and the National Incident Management System.
• Identify Public Health's role in Emergency Preparedness.
• Apply the method described for local development, implementation, and assessment of preparedness plans.
• Recognize the potential for application of GIS mapping to Emergency Preparedness.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation