Emergency Preparedness at the Local, State, and Federal Levels
Whether you live in a city, a suburb, or a rural area, you’ll want to consider what type of emergency preparedness you have in place, and how you can improve your preparations. If you aren’t prepared, you may not be able to help your family and neighbors if disaster strikes.
Health care organizations
Having a healthcare organization emergency preparedness plan in place is important for the protection of patients and staff. But, it’s not just a plan that’s written down; it’s a program that requires constant revisions and adjustments. The best healthcare organizations embed emergency preparedness into their routine operations.
One of the best ways to ensure your organization has a disaster plan in place is to review and update your existing emergency preparedness plans. This can be done by performing a risk assessment and looking at the possible problems your organization may face. In addition, it’s a good idea to consider location-specific factors. If you’re in a high-risk area, you’ll want to include measures to mitigate such threats as storms, earthquakes, tsunamis, and flooding.
In addition to having an emergency preparedness plan, you’ll need to identify and secure key resources such as medical personnel, facilities, and supplies. You’ll also want to ensure that your hospital can self-sustain for at least 72 hours. You may need to hire extra medical personnel if you get a large influx of patients in the aftermath of a disaster.
One of the most important aspects of your emergency preparedness plan is ensuring reliable communication. This will help ensure that vital information gets to the right people at the right time. It will also help prevent the spread of misinformation.
The healthcare industry has seen an uptick in violent incidents and pandemics. These events have prompted healthcare organizations to take a more active role in emergency preparedness.
Public health
Increasingly, public health and emergency preparedness are considered core concepts in public health agencies. Public health emergency preparedness involves preparing for an event that overwhelms routine capabilities. Using data from various sources, public health EOCs can help to monitor events, coordinate response partners, and maintain communication between public health and emergency management personnel.
Public health and emergency preparedness is a complex network of organizations, including healthcare providers, academia, and business. It includes surveillance, health promotion, and disaster response activities. It also includes the legal and organizational infrastructure necessary to deal with a wide range of threats.
An essential foundation of dealing with disasters is collaboration. The National Health Security Preparedness Index (NHSPI) provides a snapshot of the nation’s preparedness to deal with large-scale emergencies. It identifies geographic and socioeconomic disparities. The index also includes county-level medical staffing data.
The Public Health Preparedness (PHP) program supports the development of emergency-ready public health departments. It also supports the integration of public health departments with the emergency management system.
The HPP program also supports the development of public health surveillance systems, which monitor trends in disease and illness. It also addresses the planning of at-risk individuals. It supports the implementation of substance misuse prevention programs.
The technical resources assistance center and information exchange provide preparedness for all hazards. It also provides news updates, specific hazard descriptions, and social media links. It also includes a database of disaster medicine documents.
Nuclear power plants
During the last few years, ambitious safety upgrades have been implemented at Krsko Nuclear Power Plant. Originally based on requirements set by the US Atomic Energy Commission, these have been updated to match international standards and industry developments.
The Safety Upgrade Program (SUP) is a project aimed at improving the plant’s capabilities to prevent severe accidents. It was implemented in 2016 and is designed to improve the plant’s ability to withstand extreme external hazards.
The Periodic Safety Review (PSR) is an evaluation of the plant’s nuclear safety. It identifies weak points and provides corrective actions. It also assesses the safety culture within the organization.
A Periodic Safety Review is also a legal requirement. The rules on the operational safety of radiation and nuclear facilities outline the requirements for conducting a PSR.
The Public Communication Strategy (PCS) defines the means by which nuclear safety is communicated to the public. This includes the use of different means of communication, timely communication during a radiological accident, and other topics pertaining to nuclear safety.
The Krsko NPP has had an open relationship with the local community and industry. It has also developed a strong safety culture. It has introduced several safety improvement projects, including a new Safety Analysis Report (SAMG) for the spent fuel pool accident.
The nuclear power plant also has a website with general information, business reports, and a news center. It has also posted monthly operation reports and annual radioactivity measurement reports.
NRC oversight
Throughout the years, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has taken measures to ensure that the public is protected. This includes conducting regular inspections, developing emergency preparedness plans, and performing oversight activities. It also monitors and analyzes performance indicators and performance trends. In response to September 11, 2001, the Commission renewed its focus on emergency preparedness.
Since then, NRC has increased communication with the public and with external and internal stakeholders. It has also improved coordination with state and federal agencies. It has increased communication with the nuclear community, including the United States Department of Energy and the International Nuclear Society.
The NRC also monitors the performance of nuclear power plant operators through inspections and monitoring of performance indicators. These measures are used by NRC to assess onsite emergency preparedness and make decisions on radiological safety. NRC has also developed emergency preparedness guidelines for licensees.
NRC also conducts triennial assessments of the baseline inspection program. These assessments are conducted by qualified inspectors at nuclear plants. These inspections are carried out at multiple sites and are compared to risk-informed thresholds. The results of the assessment are available for public review. In CY 2021, 38 of 300 qualified inspectors did not have annual objectivity reviews. This was primarily due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
NRC also conducts formal investigative responses to significant operational events. This program is part of the NRC Incident Investigation Program. The program includes gathering information, analyzing the information, determining conclusions, and performing technical reviews.
Resources available at all levels of government
Fortunately, there are many resources available at all levels of government for emergency preparedness. They range from government documents to videos and training classes. Some of these resources are designed specifically for public health emergency preparedness. But these tools can also be useful for emergency preparedness at other levels of government.
The HHS Response and Recovery Resources Compendium is an online resource that offers access to hundreds of federal and state resources. It is a comprehensive, easy-to-navigate repository. It contains information about 24 topics, including a brief description of each topic and links to additional information.
The HHS emPOWER Program offers free online training to help community health agencies prepare for emergencies. Its emPOWER Map is an interactive map that incorporates information from multiple sources, helping community organizations plan ahead. This tool can also help community organizations prevent health impacts from prolonged power outages.
The Healthcare and Public Health (HPH) Risk Identification and Site Criticality (RISC) Toolkit is an objective risk assessment for public and private organizations. It provides owners/operators with nationally recognized standards-based evaluation criteria.
A number of states have local emergency management offices. These agencies provide local situational awareness and coordinate resource allocations with state emergency management officials during a statewide emergency. They also establish forums for collaboration.
The National Governors Association (NGA) has partnered with the Center for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The NGA Center offers a workshop on strengthening state preparedness and responding to disasters. Its objectives include designing promising practices and supporting state implementation of promising policies.
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