Chemical Preparedness
Large-scale chemical emergencies are low-probability but high-impact events. When one does occur, action needs to be taken immediately to limit the severity of the impact on health. Local health departments (LHDs) play a key role in response.
Results from the 2022 Preparedness Profile, a nationally representative survey to gather key insights and information about preparedness trends and emerging issues at LHDs, found that nearly half (48%) of local health departments did not conduct any preparedness or response activities related to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) events in the past year. Additionally:
- 38% of LHDs conducted planning related to CBRN events; 14% of LHDs conducted drills/exercises; 3% of LHDs responded to actual emergency events.
- 16% of LHDs activities/functions related to CBRN activities in the past three years increased.
- 14% of LHDs activities activities/functions related to CBRN activities in the past three years decreased.
To better support local health departments in overcoming these challenges, NACCHO is developing and has identified several evidence-based tools and resources that local health departments may use in planning their response to chemical emergencies.
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Chemical Preparedness Handbook for Local Health Departments
The Chemical Preparedness Handbook for Local Health Departments, developed by NACCHO, in partnership with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is designed to assist local health departments in developing effective public health emergency preparedness and response plans for low-probability, high-risk chemical incidents. The handbook contains information on chemical incident planning and mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. It also contains several planning checklists with recommended steps and actions for LHDs to consider when developing preparedness plans tailored to their community.
The Chemical Preparedness Tabletop Exercise Toolkit is designed to assist local health departments (LHDs) in enhancing capability and awareness of their roles and responsibilities during chemical emergencies. The toolkit includes two facilitators' guides (one designed for larger or urban LHDs, and the other designed for smaller or rural LHDs), two Situational Manuals, five Exercise and Evaluation Guides (EEG), an After-Action Report (AAR) template, and a PowerPoint template. Local health departments are encouraged to modify the templates to fit their jurisdiction’s needs, chemical preparedness plans, and relevant structures.
Facilitator Guide
The Facilitator Guide provides guidance to assist the exercise facilitator and should not be given to exercise players. It gives the approximate timing of delivery for each element, limited talking points, and supplemental questions or issues to raise during tabletop exercise.
The Facilitator Guide is to be used in tandem with the Situation Manual. There are two facilitator guides, one for urban health departments and one for rural health departments.
Click here to download the urban guide. Click here to download the rural guide.
Situational Manual
The Situation Manual (SitMan) is intended for exercise participants. It provides participants with all the necessary tools for their roles during the chemical preparedness exercise. All exercise participants may view the SitMan. There are two SitMans, one for urban health departments and one for rural health departments.
Click here to download the urban SitMan. Click here to download the rural SitMan.
PowerPoint Templates
The PowerPoint templates can be used for projecting scenario information, agenda, and more while conducting the tabletop exercise. The templates are formatted with the NACCHO logo, but LHDs may edit and rebrand them as needed.
Click here to download the urban PowerPoint template. Click here to download the rural PowerPoint template.
Exercise and Evaluation Guides (EEG)
As part of the preparedness exercise, NACCHO focused on five of the 15 Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Capabilities: Community Preparedness, Community Recovery, Emergency Operations Coordination, Emergency Public Information and Warning, and Information Sharing.
Each exercise objective in the SitMan was aligned with one of these capabilities, which represent the essential functions needed to achieve specific public health mission areas. Using these EEGS will help streamline data collection, inform the development of the After-Action Report (AAR), and allow for a deeper analysis. Overall, using EEGs ensures a structured and meaningful assessment of public health readiness in the face of a chemical emergency.
Click here to download the Exercise and Evaluation Guide.
After Action Report (AAR)
The purpose of the AAR is to analyze the management or response to this tabletop exercise by identifying strengths to be maintained and built upon, as well as identifying potential areas of improvement where gaps in response/preparedness exist.
Press Releases
These five press release templates are designed to support Public Information Officers (PIOs) and local officials in rapidly drafting and distributing clear, actionable evacuation messaging during a chemical emergency. Developed with speed and clarity in mind, these templates help streamline communication efforts to ensure that local health departments are not starting from scratch when time is critical and resources are already stretched. Press Release Templates include:
Social Media Templates
NACCHO developed a set of editable social media templates to help local health departments quickly alert community members during a chemical emergency. These ready-to-use messages cover key actions such as sheltering in place, evacuation, and the all-clear to return home. Remember to add your health department's logo and contact information before sharing on your social platforms.
FAQ for Chemical Preparedness Planners
This FAQ is intended to be an internal document for new chemical preparedness planners at a local health department. It addresses the questions a new chemical preparedness planner may have. Questions such as, what is the purpose of chemical preparedness planning, who should be involved in chemical preparedness planning, and how can an LHD ensure that their community is ready for a chemical emergency.
Join NACCHO’s New Chemical Preparedness Virtual Community
ChemPrep Connect Virtual Community is open to all local health department staff. ChemPrep Connect is a dedicated virtual community designed to empower local health departments (LHDs) in preparing for and responding to chemical incidents. ChemPrep Connect offers LHD staff a secure platform to collaborate and discuss monthly topics with one another, share best practices and resources, seek peer advice, and raise questions to a network of public health professionals who understand the unique demands of chemical incident planning. Click here to learn more.
This toolkit contains background information on chemical emergencies, preparedness and response guidance, trainings, templates and examples for public communications, case studies, and more.
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For questions or to learn more about chemical preparedness, please email [email protected]