Hurricane Resources

Local public health departments are directly involved in the response and recovery to Hurricane Katrina, especially in protecting the health of evacuees as they take refuge in jurisdictions throughout the nation. NACCHO supports its members by providing information to help them in their relief work, including funding sources available and evolving solutions to meeting evacuees’ health needs.

Shelter From the Storm: Local Public Health Faces Hurricane Katrina

Toward summers end in 2005, localities all over the nation were called to assist evacuees fleeing the Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. These are the stories of five local health departments who helped in big ways.

HIGHLIGHTED INFORMATION

HHS/CDC Guidance

The Department of Health and Human Services and theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention are maintaining websites with current information for addressing the needs of hurricane survivors and evacuees. We recommend that these be consulted regularly for the most current information and advice.

flood Health Disparities

NACCHO's Press Release and statement on Health Disparities in the Gulf Coast Before and After Katrina:
The Public Health Response.

Volunteering

Many health professionals are seeking ways to volunteer in the region affected by Hurricane Katrina or in areas where evacuees are being sheltered. NACCHO and ASTHO collaborated in this guidance for public employees.

Funding Sources for Hurricane Response

Health and Human Services has issued formal notice that some CDC funding streams are eligible to be used for local public health responses to Hurricane Katrina, including:

Infectious Disease
Environmental Health
Injury Prevention
Emergency Preparedness

Hurricanes: The Role of Local Public Health

What is the role of local public health agencies in a hurricane? This press release provides sources for background on this question drawing from the Florida hurricanes of 2004-5. Contact information for comment is provided.

Public Health and Public Information

The Mississippi Department of Health (MDH) in cooperation with the Consortium for Risk and Crisis Communications has developed a "message map" document to address questions MDH is receiving from the media and public.