150882 Engaging county commissioners in emergency preparedness activities

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Elizabeth Ablah, PhD, MPH , Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Wichita, KS
Kurt Konda , Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Wichita, KS
Jerry Tenbrink , Local and Rural Health, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Topeka, KS
Shirley A. Orr, MHS, ARNP, CNAA , Office of Local and Rural Health, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Topeka, KS
Though classified among the 11 groups of first responders by Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 8, local government public officials seldom receive emergency preparedness (EP) training or know their roles and responsibilities in disaster events. It is also problematic to reach elected officials for training, even when they are included in training strategies.

Several emergency preparedness training opportunities were provided with various strategies to county commissioners.

With some strategies, more than 90% of participants expressed a desire for additional emergency preparedness training. Of the officials who requested additional training, at least 80% requested training in specific areas such as exercising emergency preparedness plans (94%), risk communication (85%), NIMS/ICS training (82%), and fostering and developing partnerships (80%). With another strategy, 9 participants registered, and the training was cancelled.

The team tried multiple venues with multiple strategies. Methods that successfully recruit public officials to emergency preparedness training will be provided.

Learning Objectives:
1. Discuss strategies to engage county commissioners in emergency preparedness planning. 2. Identify strengths and weaknesses of various strategies. 3. List resources to strengthen partnerships with county commissioners and other elected officials via emergency preparedness planning.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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