Tips

Announcements

CALENDAR

September is National Preparedness Month

10/02-10/03 - Region VII & VIII Conference

Kansas City, KS

10/05- 10/08 - National Public Health Information Coalition Conference

San Antonio, TX

10/07 - Abstract Submission Deadline for 2009 Integrated Medical, Public Health Preparedness, and Response Training Summit

10/15- 10/17 - Region  VI Conference

El Paso, TX

10/25- 10/29 - APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

San Diego, CA

10/27- 10/31 - Fall 2008 MRC Deployment Training

Bethesda, MD

10/29- 10/31 - Technologies for Critical Incident Preparedness Conference and Exposition

Chicago, IL

LINKS

Medical Reserve Corps

MRC at NACCHO

National Preparedness Month: MRC Units Focus on Family and Personal Preparedness

Medical Reserve Corps units across the country conduct family and personal preparedness activities throughout the year.  September, recognized as National Preparedness Month, is the perfect time for your unit to expand its offerings and host special events.  Below are examples of preparedness activities that two units have recently been involved in.

The Upper Merrimack Valley (MA) MRC hosts 72-hour emergency kit parties, where attendees pre-pay for kit supplies and assemble them at a specified time and location.  Not only does this allow community members to obtain a emergency kit at a discounted price (due to bulk purchase of goods), but it also allows the Upper Merrimack Valley MRC the opportunity to pass on information about what each item is used for, general preparedness, the importance of developing family disaster plans, and to promote the MRC in general.   By the end of September, six parties will have been held with approximately 60 kits created at each site.  MRC orientation sessions are now being scheduled directly following the kit parties due to growing awareness and interest in volunteering for the local MRC.

The Mojave County (AZ) MRC, serving the 5th largest geographic county in the U.S., has split its MRC unit into three teams to serve the major population centers.   Each team attends multiple events such as fairs and school clinics in order to distribute information about family and personal preparedness.  Along with providing information sheets, brochures, and children’s activity books, the unit also presents on preparedness topics at service and civic organization meetings .

Tips

• Successful preparedness efforts will eliminate barriers to people creating kits on their own, such as a lack of time, cost, and an uncertainity about what should be included.
• When conducting presentations, be brief enough to maintain interest but don't pass up the chance for a teaching opportunity.
• When accepting money, speak to a financial or accounting representative first to make sure you have a mechanism to both send and receive payments.
• Provide information on preparedness in multiple languages
• Don't recreate the wheel. Use available preparedness resources such as those found at www.ready.gov.
• Partner with other local organizations who may be providing similar services.
• Serve as an example. All MRC volunteers should have a personal and family emergency plan in place.

Announcements

Congratulations to Recognized Units

Congratulations to the San Bernardino (CA) County Sheriff MRC unit for receiving the American Red Cross Inland Empire Chapter Humanitarian Award this summer for their assistance in the 2007 wildfires and to the Atlantic County Public Health (NJ) MRC for being recognized as a 2008 Achievement Award winner by the National Association of Counties for their MRC Go-Bags.

NACCHO Resources Available for MRC Volunteers

NACCHO's Toolbox is a central location for resources and tools developed by NACCHO, member, and partner organizations.  A MRC Toolkit containing resources that may be of interest to MRC volunteers is located within the Toolbox.  This kit includes MRC-specific information as well as many of NACCHO's public health preparedness materials. 

Public Health Preparedness Summit

Registration for the 2009 Public Health Preparedness Summit being held February 18-20 in San Diego, CA is now open.

Capacity Building Awards

The Capacity Building Award application process is now CLOSED. Applications are under review and units will receive notification about their status in December.