NACCHO’s public health preparedness portfolio includes a range of projects that influence preparedness policy with federal decision-makers and develop practical solutions that help local health departments (LHDs) build resilient communities. NACCHO supports LHDs in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies and disasters with initiatives that build sustainable capacity for emergency response, foster partnerships with health care coalitions, promote workforce expansion through trained Medical Reserve Corps volunteers, and develop innovative tools and resources.

Below is a brief list of resources to have at your fingertips across NACCHO’s range of preparedness projects. If you are attending the 2025 Preparedness Summit, be sure to stop by the NACCHO booth to learn more about these and other resources to support local health departments.

Preparedness News, Resources, and Information

• The Preparedness Brief blog shares the latest news, articles, and upcoming opportunities in local public health preparedness.
• The Preparedness Brief Digest shares the latest news, information, and resources monthly via email. Subscribe to the Preparedness Brief Digest.

Chemical Preparedness

• Chemical Preparedness Handbook for Local Health Departments: Designed to assist LHDs in developing effective public health emergency preparedness and response plans for low-probability, high-risk chemical incidents. Contains information on chemical incident planning and mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery, along with several planning checklists with recommended steps and actions for LHDs to consider to meet their community needs.
• ChemPrep Connect Virtual Community: Open to all LHD staff. Serves as a dedicated virtual community designed to empower LHDs in preparing for and responding to chemical incidents.
• Chemical Preparedness Resource Library: Toolkit that contains background information on chemical emergencies, preparedness and response guidance, trainings, templates and examples for public communications, case studies, and more.

Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)

• The Network Profile of the MRC: A report of findings from a landscape assessment of local MRC unit capabilities and capacity.
• Deployment Readiness Resources: Tools for MRC unit leaders to develop the capabilities of their MRC volunteers to support medical and public health emergency responses.
• Learn about resources and funding opportunities for MRC units.

Preparedness Infrastructure

• Cybersecurity Preparedness Fact Sheet for Local Health Departments: Provides actionable steps, strategies, and resources for LHD leaders and preparedness and IT staff to protect against cyber disruptions.
• Start-Up Guide for New Medical Countermeasures Coordinators: A listing of steps and resources to build new medical countermeasure (MCM) coordinator competency.
• The Emergency Law Inventory (ELI): A groundbreaking tool transforming how disaster response teams navigate the law. ELI compiles over 1,800 laws from all 50 states, Washington D.C., eight U.S. territories, and the federal government.
• Rural and Frontier Health Resource Library: A collection of resources to support rural and frontier health, including preparedness, administrative preparedness, and disaster management.
• Data Readiness for Operational Success: Insights from an ASPR, NACCHO, and ASTHO partnership with five state and local pilot sites for data modernization.

Preparedness Profile

• The Preparedness Profile is a nationally representative assessment that gathers information about preparedness trends and emerging issues at LHDs to inform priorities at the local, state, and national levels. Review recent and past Preparedness Profiles.

Project Public Health Ready (PPHR)

• Project Public Health Ready (PPHR) is a competency-based training and recognition program that provides nationally recognized criteria and standards for local public health preparedness. Learn about PPHR and how to get involved.

Radiation Preparedness

• Radiation Preparedness Resource Library: Evidence-based tools and resources to support effective radiation emergency preparedness and response efforts at LHDs.

Partnerships Between Maternal Child and Adolescent Health (MCAH) and Preparedness

• MCAH/Preparedness Resource Library: Tools and resources to support preparedness and response efforts for MCAH populations at local health departments.

Wastewater Monitoring

• Wastewater Monitoring Resource Library: Library containing background information on wastewater surveillance, guidance documents, communications materials, examples of dashboards, and more.
• Fostering Local Wastewater Monitoring Network (FLoW-Net) Community of Practice: A Community of Practice aiming to engage local health departments interested in wastewater monitoring, regardless of their experience level. Provides a platform for LHDs to request and offer technical assistance, share resources, and collaborate on addressing existing and emerging public health concerns. 

Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene (WASH) Emergency Preparedness

• WASH Preparedness Resource Library: Contains background information on common drinking water contaminants, templates and examples for public notification, educational materials, and more.
• Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene Emergency Preparedness Resources: Toolkit containing background resources, guides, trainings, and communication materials on WASH emergency planning and homelessness health, as well as examples of emergency preparedness plans from LHDs who have updated their plans to address the needs of people experiencing homelessness during WASH-related emergencies.
• Stories from the Field: Local Preparedness for WASH-Related Emergencies Among People Experiencing Homelessness: A compendium that provides examples of LHDs can update and exercise emergency preparedness plans, and share lessons learned and best practices gained from this process.

For questions or to learn more about NACCHO’s preparedness portfolio, please email [email protected].