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This article was downloaded by: [University of Sydney]On: 25 August 2013, At: 10:04Publisher: RoutledgeInforma Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registeredoffice: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK
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Disaster and Emergency Preparedness: AWebliographyMary Virginia Taylor a & Priscilla L. Stephenson ba Overton Brooks VA Medical Center, Shreveport, Louisiana, USAb VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USAPublished online: 15 Feb 2013.
To cite this article: Mary Virginia Taylor & Priscilla L. Stephenson (2013) Disaster and EmergencyPreparedness: A Webliography, Journal of Consumer Health On the Internet, 17:1, 54-66, DOI:10.1080/15398285.2013.757509
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Journal of Consumer Health on the Internet, 17(1):54–66, 2013ISSN: 1539-8285 print/1539-8293 onlineDOI: 10.1080/15398285.2013.757509
WEBHEALTH TOPICS
Priscilla L. Stephenson and Mary Virginia Taylor, Column Editors
Disaster and Emergency Preparedness: A Webliography
MARY VIRGINIA TAYLOROverton Brooks VA Medical Center, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA
PRISCILLA L. STEPHENSON VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Disasters are crisis situations that cause widespread damage exceeding the ability of those affected to recover. Advanced plan-ning is critical to survival and recovery from a disaster. This webli-ography will assist librarians in providing materials needed by the general public, community leaders, and business owners to plan for, cope with, and recover from a disaster.
KEYWORDS Disaster planning, disasters
INTRODUCTION
A disaster is a crisis situation causing wide spread damage which far exceeds the ability of the individual, community, region, or nation to recover. Disasters are not totally discrete events. Their possibility of occurrence, time, place, and severity can often be, and in some cases accurately, predicted by tech-nological and scientific advances.
This article not subject to US copyright law. Comments and suggestions should be sent to the Column Editors: Priscilla L. Stephenson
([email protected]) and Mary Virginia Taylor ([email protected]). Address correspondence to the Column Editor, Mary Virginia Taylor, Chief Librarian,
Overton Brooks VA Medical Center, 510 East Stoner Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71101. E-mail: [email protected]
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Disasters are mainly of two types: natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, or landslides, and man-made disasters such as war, bomb blasts, or chemical leaks. All disasters, whether natural or man-made, go through the same phases of preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. Disasters often differ in the amount of damage caused or in the type of consequences. For example, earthquakes cause a great deal of physical injury and fractures; floods cause drowning deaths and infections; and chemical leaks cause toxic manifestations.
The web sites selected for this webliography include sites with informa-tion for persons with disabilities, for pet owners, for business owners, as well as individuals and community leaders. The sites will help those interested in planning and preparing for disasters.
GOVERNMENT WEB SITES
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)<http://www.ready.gov>
On its website, FEMA is described as the agency that “… . coordi-nates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigat-ing the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disas-ters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.” FEMA’s mission is to support the public and first responders to ensure that the nation’s capacity to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all types of disasters is sustained and improved. FEMA’s Ready.gov website is where the public can locate information on what to do before, during, and after an emergency. The Be Informed section is divided into information about natural disasters, pandemics, home fires, technological and accidental hazards, and terrorist hazards. Each subcat-egory gives information about the particular hazard, including how to prevent the disaster. The site includes links to FEMA publications and related web sites. The Family Emergency Plan is a two-page PDF that can be downloaded and used to help families preplan for an emergency by providing each member of the family a card with emergency contact information for each other, close relatives, co-workers, and community agencies. See Figure 1.
The Build-a-Kit section gives recommendations for a Basic Disaster Supplies Kit. Another section gives information on ways to get involved in community planning, especially before a disaster happens. There is informa-tion related to planning for and protecting businesses in another section. Activities for children are available, as is information for parents and teach-ers. The site provides information in twelve languages other than English, including Spanish, French, and Tagalog. See Figure 2.
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FIGURE 1 FEMA’s Family Emergency Plan. (Color figure available online.)
FIGURE 2 FEMA’s Ready.gov site – planning with children in mind. (Color figure available online.)
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DisasterAssistance.gov<http://www.disasterassistance.gov>
This site provides information on getting help from the U.S. govern-ment before, during and after a disaster. Information is available to help the user determine what help is available, apply for assistance online, check the progress of the application, search a list of housing available for rent, locate federal disaster recovery centers, and find local information for a specific disaster. See Figure 3.
Disaster Information Management Research Center (DIMRC). National Library of Medicine<http://disaster.nlm.nih.gov/>
The purpose of the Disaster Information Management Research Center, a part of the National Library of Medicine (NLM), is to develop and provide access to health information resources and technology for disaster prepared-ness, response, and recovery. DIMRC maintains access to health information during disasters, develops innovative products and services to serve health professionals and the public, conducts research to support disaster health information management, and collaborates with other agencies and commu-nities. Although the site aims to primarily assist librarians and emergency responders, there is information in the Disaster Types and Topics section
FIGURE 3 DisasterAssistance.gov. (Color figure available online.)
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which would be helpful to the general public. There are links to the Web applications and mobile web sites that have been developed by NLM for use by emergency responders. The Resource Guide for Disaster Medicine and Public Health gives the user access to freely available online resources, such as expert guidelines, factsheets, and web sites related to disaster medicine.
Disaster Preparation and Recovery. MedlinePlus<http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/disasterpreparationandrecovery.html>
MedlinePlus has an extensive listing of disaster preparation and recov-ery resources. Divisions include Overviews, Latest News, Specific Conditions, Financial Issues, and Law and Policy. Some of the links in the Related Issues listing are related to protecting and caring for pets during an emergency. Resources related to children, women, and senior adults are also provided. A list of organizations is included, as well as a directory of community and state information from the Department of Homeland Security. Links to an extensive list of videos on topics such as Sheltering in Place, Pets and Disaster, and Blackouts are provided. Many of the materials, including the videos, are available in Spanish.
Disaster Distress. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration<http://disasterdistress.samhsa.gov>
The mission of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is “to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities.” Recognizing that disasters can have a significant effect on mental health, SAMSHA created the Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) which provides year-round disaster crisis counsel-ing. “This toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service is available 24/7 via telephone and SMS to residents in the United States and its territories who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or man-made disasters. The goal of the Disaster Distress Helpline is to provide crisis counseling and support to individuals in distress related to disaster, in order to help them move forward on the path of recovery.”
In addition, the SAMHSA site provides information related to natural and man-made disasters, reached by clicking “Disasters” in the bar at the top of the page. The disasters covered presently are wildfires, hurricanes and tropical storms, and tornadoes and severe storms. Information on earth-quakes, floods, incidents of mass violence, and the Gulf oil spill will be added in the future. Each page includes general information, risk factors for distress, and warning signs including information related to distress in first responders, rescue and recovery workers, and a list of signs of emotional
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distress; information on where to get help; and additional resources such as tip sheets and links to local crisis centers. The Disaster Distress Helpline is also available on Twitter and Facebook.
Emergency Preparedness. Disability.gov<https://www.disability.gov/emergency_preparedness>
The Disabilty.gov site allows the user to locate both national and state information on emergency preparedness for persons with disabilities. The site links to more than 14,000 resources from federal, state, and local gov-ernment agencies, academic institutions, and nonprofit organizations. Disability.gov is a web portal, thus all the links are to external sites. Links on the site include Preparing for an Emergency or Disaster, Find Emergency Housing or Shelters, Get Help after a Disaster, ADA Emergency Management Checklist, and A Home Safety Guide. The user can subscribe to receive e-mail updates when the site is updated with new information and resources. A Facebook page, Twitter feed, and a Disability.gov blog are all accessible from the site.
Emergency Preparedness. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Food Safety and Inspection Service<http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FACTSheets/Emergency_Preparedness_Fact_Sheets/index.asp>
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is responsible for ensuring that the meat, poultry, and egg products commercially available in the United States are safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and pack-aged. As part of this mission FSIS has developed fact sheets, available in Spanish and English, on keeping food safe in an emergency. Topics include Checklist: Preparing for a Weather Emergency, Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency, and Fires and Food Safety. The site also includes links to videos, audio podcasts, and downloadable MP3 audio programs that are also available in Spanish. Some videos are available in American Sign Language.
Emergency Preparedness. Small Business Administration (SBA)<http://www.sba.gov/prepare>
The resources provided by the Small Business Administration help small business owners develop plans to protect their employees and their busi-nesses in the event of an emergency. Topics include creating a preparedness program, identifying critical business systems, creating an emergency com-munication plan, and building a disaster preparedness kit. The site has a link to an online course, “Disaster Recovery: A Guide to SBA’s Disaster Assistance
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Programs.” A checklist and safety tips are provided for hurricanes, winter weather, earthquakes, tornadoes, wildfires, floods, and cyber security. Videos related to SBA’s assistance in disaster recovery are available.
Emergency Preparedness and Response. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)<http://emergency.cdc.gov>
According to the web site, “The CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response web site is CDC’s primary source of information and resources for preparing for and responding to public health emergencies.” To get to information about a specific topic, the user can select from the A to Z list or from the specific hazards listed — Natural Disasters & Severe Weather, Bioterrorism, Chemical Emergencies, Recent Outbreaks & Incidents, Mass Casualties, and Radiation Emergencies. The site also includes a section on Preparedness for All Hazards, with links to topics such as preparation and planning, coping with a disaster, older adults, and children. One section, What You Can Do, includes information on planning for an emergency. A blog, Public Health Matters, is linked to the page. Links to social media such as CDC on LinkedIn, CDC Emergency on Facebook, and several Twitter feeds are available. It is also possible to receive email updates about the page. The page is available in eleven languages other than English, ranging from Chinese to Vietnamese (see Figure 4).
Emergency Preparedness and Response. U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)<http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/emergencypreparedness/index.html>
This site provides information on how to prepare and train employees for emergencies and the hazards to be aware of when an emergency occurs. The Getting Started – General Preparedness and Response section gives information for general businesses and for workers responding to emergen-cies. The Specific Hazards and Natural Disasters sections provide guidance on specific types of emergencies. A Resources and Guides section provides links to eTools, Safety and Health Topics Pages, Guidance Documents, QuickCards, and Fact Sheets.
Public Health Emergency. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services<http://www.phe.gov>
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response was created after Hurricane Katrina to lead in preventing, preparing for, and
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FIGURE 4 Emergency Preparedness and Response. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Color figure available online.)
responding to the adverse health effects of public health emergencies and disasters. Its focus is “… .preparedness planning and response; building federal emergency medical operational capabilities; countermeasures research, advance development … .procurement, and grants to strengthen the capabilities of hos-pitals and health care systems in public health emergencies and medical disas-ters.” The Emergency section of the web site is most useful for the general public. The Stay Connected portion includes links to social media and a link to information on emergency weather warnings for people who are deaf or are hearing impaired. The Emergency Response Guide is a reference developed by Transport Canada, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Secretariat of Transport and Communications of Mexico, and the collaboration of CIQUIME (Centro de Informacion Quimica para Emergencias) of Argentina. The section on Natural Disasters includes an overview of specific disasters, preparation, planning guides including videos, and information for responders. Sections on Bioterrorism, Mass Casualty Events, and Influenza and Outbreaks have prepara-tion and planning information for individuals and families, as well as for responders and health care personnel. Many of the links on this site direct the user to other agencies or organizations. The Situation Updates are a unique feature of the site; they provide current risk communications and situational awareness during public health emergencies (see Figure 5).
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ORGANIZATION WEB SITES
Emergency Preparation. American Association of the Deaf-Blind<http://www.aadb.org/information/emergency_preparation/emerg_plan.html>
The audience for this site is persons who have both vision and hearing loss. The site emphasizes the critical importance of planning ahead for the visually impaired and for those with hearing loss. The section entitled What to Do in an Emergency? poses questions that should be considered and pro-vides sources for assistance. The Building an Emergency Kit section lists general items as well as items specific to the needs of the audience.
Get Ready. American Public Health Association<http://getreadyforflu.org/newsite.htm>
The American Public Health Association created this web site to help Americans prepare for disasters and hazards such as pandemic flu, infectious disease, natural disasters, and other emergencies. The Get Ready Q&As offer advice from experts on surviving during a disaster, keeping pets safe in an
FIGURE 5 Public Health Emergency Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. (Color figure available online.)
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emergency, protecting children from infectious diseases, and stockpiling supplies for an emergency. Facts sheets, available in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language videos, provide preparedness tips for people with disabilities.
Disaster Preparedness. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals<http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/disaster-preparedness/>
This site, available also in Spanish, provides a step-by-step guide to ensuring that pets are protected during a disaster. The steps include getting a rescue alert sticker, making sure that emergency supplies are available, and packing a traveling kit. Special considerations for birds, reptiles, and small animals, such as hamsters and gerbils, are included.
Disaster Preparedness. National Crime Prevention Council<http://www.ncpc.org/topics/preparedness>
The National Crime Prevention Council’s mission is to help people keep themselves, their families, and their communities safe from crime. The Disaster Preparedness section of this site provides information that can be used by individuals and families to prepare for emergency situa-tions. Resources include general advice for preparing for disasters, tips for parents to ensure that children know what to do in case of emergency, and information on supplies that should be on hand in the event of an emergency. Downloadable resources on disaster preparedness are pro-vided, including Disaster Preparedness: A Checklist and a Family Link-Up Plan.
Natural Disasters. National Child Traumatic Stress Network<http://www.nctsn.org/trauma-types/natural-disasters>
Established by Congress in 2000, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) focuses on childhood trauma. The Natural Disasters site includes a Psychological First Aid Operations Guide and a link to Psychological First Aid Online, a free six-hour interactive course that puts the participant in the role of a provider in a post-disaster scene. The course features activities, video demonstrations, and tips from trauma experts and survivors. Information is provided on earthquakes, epidemics, fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and tsunamis. The site provides general information, including children’s reactions and tips for parents and teachers on helping themselves and help-ing children. Information on readiness and response, both at home and at school, is provided. Some of the documents are available in languages other than English.
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Plan & Prepare. Disaster Preparedness. American Red Cross<http://www.redcross.org/prepare>
The American Red Cross has a history of providing compassionate care to those in need, especially during disasters. The organization responds to approximately 70,000 disasters in the United States every year. These disas-ters range from home fires to earthquakes and hurricanes. The Plan & Prepare site gives information on preparing your home, family, school, and workplace. Information is available for specific types of emergencies and a wide range of tools and resources are provided. The section on Types of Emergencies has information about the emergency, ways to prepare, how to respond during the emergency, and how to recover afterwards. The Tools and Resources section includes fact sheets, preparedness checklists, recovery guides, and other information to keep you informed and safe. A link on the site provides a searchable list of local Red Cross organizations and links to their individual web pages with information specific to those locations. See Figure 6.
The Tools and Resources tab includes a link to mobile apps for specific types of disasters – wildfires, hurricanes, and earthquakes. It also has apps for first aid and locating shelter. See Figure 7.
MISCELLANEOUS
Many universities, cities, and states provide information about disasters on the Internet. The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management
FIGURE 6 Plan & Prepare, the American Red Cross disaster preparedness site. (Color figure available online.)
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provides an especially rich site at 72hours.org. Links are provided on making a plan, building a kit, and getting involved. Information is provided related to pets, utilities, food, first aid, seniors, the disabled, and on specific emer-gencies. The official web site of the city and county of Honolulu (www1.Honolulu.gov/dem/brochures.htm) provides links to several information sheets related to disaster preparedness.
Columbia University’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness (www.ncdp.mailman.columbia.edu/) includes links to two worthwhile documents: How to Survive a Disaster in 5 Easy Action Steps and 5 Actions Steps for Personal Preparedness.
The site also provides links to free online courses and public health seminars related to disaster preparedness and response.
State sites such as the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (www.dhses.ny.gov/oem/) and the State of Illinois Ready Illinois site (www.ready.illinois.gov) provide information about state resources and general information on preparing for an emergency as well as what to do during and after an emergency. The Hawaii State Civil Defense site (www.scd.hawaii.gov/dp_kit.html) provides recommendations for a disaster preparedness kit including disability-related supplies. This site pro-vides links to the Red Cross 3-Day Emergency Preparedness Kit Checklist and the Ready.gov Emergency Supply Checklist.
One effect of a disaster that is not often considered is the effect on finances. In 2011, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation released the publication “Protecting Your Finances if a Disaster Strikes: Are You Prepared?” This eight-page booklet can be downloaded from <http://publications.usa.gov/USAPubs.php?PubID=6097>.
FIGURE 7 American Red Cross Earthquake App. (Color figure available online.)
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CONCLUSION
Disasters can be devastating. It is imperative that individuals, business owners, and community leaders have access to information to prepare for disasters and emergencies, whether natural or man-made. Librarians can use the numerous resources described in this webliography to assist those inter-ested in planning for disasters.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Mary Virginia Taylor ([email protected]) is Chief Librarian, Overton Brooks VA Medical Center, 510 East Stoner Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71101. Priscilla L. Stephenson ([email protected]) is Chief, Library Service, VA Medical Center, 3900 Woodland Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
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