Equity in Emergency Response
If addressing the health needs of vulnerable populations in emergencies sometimes seems like a daunting task, never fear. Public Health—Seattle and King County has put together a powerful toolkit that can help local health departments learn to work with groups serving vulnerable communities, include at-risk people in planning, and increase preparedness. Document templates, case studies, training exercises, and a variety of other tested resources will help public health professionals get a handle on helping the entire community.
Communicating Without English in an Emergency
Emergency communication is difficult enough without grappling with language barriers, but what happens in communities with limited English skills? This webinar not only helps local leaders and nonprofits plan for this scenario, but also has a companion planning guide and template to help them put their newly found knowledge on paper. The webinar is available for download at the Emergency and Community Health Outreach (ECHO) Minnesota website, along with a plethora of other great resources for bringing preparedness to immigrant communities.
CHEMM
If your not feeling the chemistry between you and your plan to deal with chemical emergencies, CHEMM is the place to go. The Chemical Hazards Emergency Medical Management site was created by the Department of Health and Human Services to help first responders deal with chemical incidents. With numerous downloadable planning, response, and training resources for all types of responders and healthcare providers, you’re certain to feel the love for this useful site.
Disaster and Failure Events Data Repository
From the rubble of collapsed buildings, the National Institute of Standards and Technology has built a new website aimed at creating stronger structures and building codes. NIST, which has collected years of data on structural failures caused by disasters, is making its knowledge public and searchable. Now in the first phase, the repository contains six years of information gleaned from the World Trade Center site. More NIST data and that of other organizations are on the way.
The March 11, 2011, Great East Japan (Tohoku) Earthquake and Tsunami: Societal Dimensions
It’s difficult to underestimate the challenges faced by Japan after an earthquake and tsunami leveled large swaths of its coast and spawned a high-level nuclear emergency. Nearly 100 days after the disaster, the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute sent an 11-person Learning from Earthquakes reconnaissance team to examine the impacts. The report details what they learned about emergency management, casualties, emergency shelter and housing, economic impacts, debris management, and recovery planning.