Session: Disaster Preparedness and Response: A Health Planning Approach

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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

4118.0: Tuesday, November 07, 2006: 12:30 PM-2:00 PM

Oral

Disaster Preparedness and Response: A Health Planning Approach

Recent years have witnessed an explosion of interest in disaster preparedness planning along with a flurry of activity aimed at preparing the U.S. for terrorist attacks, natural disasters and other mass emergencies. Preparing for the health consequences—both public and private—of disasters has rightly been an important focus of these initiatives. Despite this heightened sensitivity to the need for disaster planning, report after report indicates a failure of those involved to address even some of the most basic issues with regard to disaster preparedness. This session has been organized around the premise that much of what is now wrong with the current approach to disaster preparedness could be addressed by the application of health planning principles. Four presenters consider both the conceptual and practical aspects of applying a health planning approach to disaster preparedness and response issues. Presentations will deal with general applications of health planning to the problem, the role of the community in preparedness planning, the mental health implications for those directly and indirectly affected, and consideration of special populations such as the disabled.

Learning Objectives: Participants will: 1.become familiar with the issues in disaster preparedness that have a planning dimension. 2.become familiar with the aspects of health planning that have application to disaster preparedness. 3.be able to approach disaster preparedness armed with a useful model.

Organizer(s):

Richard Thomas, PhD

Moderator(s):

Richard Thomas, PhD

12:30 PM

Health planning approaches to disaster preparedness: An overview