In today’s evolving and dynamic threat environment, timely information sharing is critical to protecting community health and safety. One valuable but often underutilized resource for local health departments is the National Network of Fusion Centers. Fusion centers are state and locally owned information-sharing hubs that bring together public safety, emergency management, homeland security, and other partners to analyze and share threat and hazard information.
For public health preparedness planners and coordinators, fusion centers can provide situational awareness on emerging threats, planned events, severe weather, infrastructure disruptions, cybersecurity incidents, and other hazards that may affect community health and response operations. Fusion centers also support two-way information sharing, helping local jurisdictions contribute frontline observations and public health perspectives that can strengthen regional risk assessments and preparedness efforts.
Building relationships with your state’s fusion center before an incident occurs can enhance coordination during emergencies and improve access to actionable information when it matters most. NACCHO encourages LHDs to explore opportunities to engage with fusion centers and strengthen cross-sector partnerships that help communities better prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies.
Click here to learn more about collaborating with fusion centers.
Visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Fusion Centers page to learn more about fusion centers and identify your state’s center,
Additional information about the National Network of Fusion Centers and state-by-state resources is available through the National Fusion Center Association.
