On Dec. 3, the International Day of People with Disabilities commemorates disability rights and brings awareness to essential issues for those with disabilities by promoting the “well-being of ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
In 2018, ASTHO participated in FEMA's National Level Exercise on hurricane preparedness.
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 ...
States are preparing to keep their communities safe during severe storms and low temperatures this winter.
Health agencies play a key role in preparing for and responding to hurricanes and other severe weather events.
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 ...
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 ...
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.
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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.