As the United States begins to see more wildfires, it is important for health agencies to be ready to address concerns from the public and collaborate with other state agencies to mitigate the health risks of wildfire smoke.
The theme for 2019 National Preparedness Month is "Prepared, Not Scared" with an emphasis on encouraging parents, teachers, and caregivers to teach our youth what to do when a crisis occurs, and how we all can take preparedness ...
In 2018, ASTHO participated in FEMA's National Level Exercise on hurricane preparedness.
Inclusive practices that prioritize the safety and well-being of all residents, regardless of age or ability, are essential in ensuring effective disaster preparedness and response.
In the face of a worldwide pandemic, an increase in natural disasters, and the unsettling specter of homeland security threats, it’s easy for public health and environmental officials to feel like the odds are stacked against us. But we ...
While communities transition from emergency response to long-term monitoring and recovery, the federal government and states are taking legislative action to improve emergency preparedness capabilities.
Following a hurricane, the risk of exposure to infectious disease increases due, in part, to the presence of floodwater and debris. Hurricanes may contribute to population displacement and overcrowding—further heightening risk factors for ...
Leading Health Security Efforts Through Strategic Collaboration and Innovation Margaret Nilz This blog post illustrates how health agencies' strategic plans can improve health security and emergency preparedness. Strategic planning is ...
Catherine de la Cruz-Duran, Puerto Rico's territorial health official designee, explains how the island worked after Hurricane Maria to rebuild and improve its infrastructure and processes to better recover from future natural ...
2020 has been a year of unprecedented events, and the past few months have already shown that they do not exist in a vacuum. While the country continues to respond and cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, many extreme weather events have ...
Each September marks National Preparedness Month. This year, public health emergency preparedness professionals look back on 20 years since the 9/11 attacks—the event that effectively launched the preparedness field—while actively ...
States are preparing to keep their communities safe during severe storms and low temperatures this winter.
ASTHO spoke with Karen Smith, leader of the California Department of Public Health, about the state’s incredible work in the aftermath of the 2017 wildfires, as well as steps California is taking to ensure increased preparedness and safety ...
Danny Staley (alumni-NC) discusses his role as ASTHO’s Chief of Caribbean Operations and how his time as North Carolina's state health official helped him prepare for his current position.
While COVID-19 is still present and ever-changing, public health professionals must also grapple with new challenges such as monkeypox, increasing firearm homicide, and widespread heat waves. In the wake of such emergencies, public health ...
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the landscape of we go about preparing and responding to public health threats. In collaboration with CDC, ASTHO embarked on an initiative to identify effective resources, policies, and model practices ...
Over the past twenty years, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and natural disasters have increased and, by most accounts, this trend will continue. Certain disabilities and activity limitations make it more difficult to ...
A One Health approach can give health agencies the connections they need to address climate and health.
This post features input from departments in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas to learn more about their experiences of post-hurricane environmental health issues, as well as advice and best practices for responding to these ...
ASTHO has several members from the territories and Freely Associated States—jurisdictions with unique challenges, and do not fall under the category of a state or federal district. This post is a brief look at some of the public health ...