Regarding a recent Washington Post article "Panel: Bio attack likely in next 5 years,"
KB asked "Can anyone cite links or sources that explain how the average, American can prepare his/her family for the eventuality described above? How should we react if this happens?"Not to make light of the possibility or the seriousness of the subject, Greg Banner of DHHS passed on a quote from the height of the anthrax "white powder" days following 9-11, dealing with numerous phone calls from a panicked public ... "what kind of gas mask should I buy." Etc...
Dr. Kristi Koenig from the US Veteran's Administration was asked at a news conference:
"What should a member of the general public do to protect themselves from the threat of anthrax?"
Her response was: "Wear your seatbelt, stop smoking, and eat properly."
The point and message are that there is a whole world of mundane, day-to-day public health issues which provide more "bang for the buck" in terms of individual health and longevity, if people will just focus on those issues as a priority.
All-hazard emergency preparedness does have its place and all societies are better off if their populous does prepare and add certain rational preparedness activities to their lives.
So here are some useful links:
American Red Cross Disaster Guide
American Red Cross- Talking About Disaster
<http://www.redcross.org/disaster/safety/guide.html>
Anthrax Training Program (for public), South Carolina Department of Health
http://teamxtend.com/anthraxprevention/index.htm
<http://teamxtend.com/anthraxprevention/index.htm>
"Are You Ready: A Guide to Citizen Preparedness", FEMA, Sept 2002
FEMA: Are You Ready?
<http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/>
Are You Prepared. San Francisco Preparedness site
Are you prepared? <http://www.72hours.org/>
Australian Government Preparation Guidance
http://nationalsecurity.ag.gov.au/www/rwpattach.nsf/viewasattachmentPers
<http://nationalsecurity.ag.gov.au/www/rwpattach.nsf/viewasattachmentPersonal/4CF56D120B9E6497CA256CC100797443/$file/ntlbooklet.pdf
Bioterror Web Site, Linked to Television NOVA series, misc. resources
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bioterror/<NOVA Online | Bioterror
Bioterrorism Disease Primer, USA Today
USATODAY.com feature
<http://www.usatoday.com/graphics/news/gra/gbioterror/frame.htm>
Chemical Emergencies, American Red Cross Family InformationBrochure
Re-direct for readychemical.html
<http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/keepsafe/readychemical.html>
Citizens Corps, FEMA (volunteer efforts)
Citizen Corps <Citizen Corps
<http://www.citizencorps.gov/> >
The Community Preparedness Website Project, Multiple Resources
PrepareNow.org <http://www.preparenow.org/>
Crisis Checklist (for individuals), Organizing Made Simple (commercial firm)
http://www.organizingmadesimple.com/download/crisis-checklist-locked.pdf
<http://www.organizingmadesimple.com/download/crisis-checklist-locked.pdf>
Emergency Planning for Your Family: The Five-Step Guide. Public Safety
and Emergency Preparedness Canada. (PSEPC)
Is your family prepared?
<http://www.emergencypreparednessweek.ca/index_e.asp>
Emergency Preparedness Guides (for general population - multi-lingual),
City of Denver, CO
http://www.denvergov.org/jump_emergency.asp
<http://www.denvergov.org/jump_emergency.asp>
Emergency Preparedness: Guidance and General Preparation.
Department of Justice. Feb 2003.
DOJ: Emergency Preparedness:Guidance and General Information
<http://www.usdoj.gov/jmd/ps/dojepm.htm>
Emergency Survival Program, Los Angeles County
Emergency Survival Program (ESP) <http://www.espfocus.org/>
A Federal Employee's Emergency Guide, US Office of Personnel Management
http://www.opm.gov/emergency/PDF/EmployeesGuide.pdf
<http://www.opm.gov/emergency/PDF/EmployeesGuide.pdf>
A Federal Employee's Family Preparedness Guide, US Office of Personnel Management
http://www.opm.gov/emergency/PDF/NationalFamilyGuide.pdf
<http://www.opm.gov/emergency/PDF/NationalFamilyGuide.pdf>
Frequently Asked Questions (Public), Center for Civilian Biodefense
Studies, Johns Hopkins
http://www.hopkins-biodefense.org/faq.html
<http://www.hopkins-biodefense.org/faq.html>
Home Guides for Emergency Preparedness, Arlington County, VA, Multi-lingual.
http://www.co.arlington.va.us/emergency/
<http://www.co.arlington.va.us/emergency/>
Homeowner emergency preparedness guide. Homeownership alliance & DHS
http://www.homeownershipalliance.com/documents/emergency_final.pdf
<http://www.homeownershipalliance.com/documents/emergency_final.pdf>
Individual Preparedness Guide. "Are You Ready: Guidelines for Navy
Family Emergency Preparedness" Naval Services Family Line. January 2008
http://www.lifelines.navy.mil/idc/groups/public/documents/image/areyoure
<http://www.lifelines.navy.mil/idc/groups/public/documents/image/areyouready0308.pdf
"Individual Preparedness Response to Chemical, Radiological,Nuclear,
and Biological Terrorist Attacks." The Rand Corporation. 2003.
RAND | Monograph/Reports | Individual Preparedness and Response to Chemical, Radiological, Nuclear, and Biological Terrorist Attacks
<http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1731/>
Quick Guide
http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1731.1/MR1731.1.pdf
<http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1731.1/MR1731.1.pdf>
What You Should Do to Prepare for and Respond to Chemical,
Radiological,Nuclear, and Biological Terrorist Attacks. Pocket Edition
Survival Guide. RAND Corporation. 2004.
RAND | Monograph/Reports | What You Should Do to Prepare for and Respond to Chemical, Radiological, Nuclear, and Biological Terrorist Attacks: Pocket Edition Survival Guide
<http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1731.2/>
Personal Protection and Chemical or Biological Terrorism,
Frequently Asked Questions, Henry L. Stimson Center, Chemical and
Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Project
http://www.stimson.org/cwc/persprot.htm
<http://www.stimson.org/cwc/persprot.htm>
Personal Protection Measures against the Terrorist Threat.
Defense Intelligence Agency.
http://www.ncix.gov/publications/booklets_brochures/booklet_personalProt
<http://www.ncix.gov/publications/booklets_brochures/booklet_personalProtection/PersonalProt.php
"Preparing for Emergencies", United Kingdom preparedness guides
Preparing for Emergencies Home Page
<http://www.preparingforemergencies.gov.uk>
<Preparing for Emergencies Home Page
<http://www.preparingforemergencies.gov.uk/> >
Ready.Gov web site, Department of Homeland Security, Misc.
Information
Ready.gov - Prepare. Plan. Stay Informed. <http://www.ready.gov/>
Respirator fact sheet: "What you should know in deciding whether
to buy scape hoods, gas masks, or other respirators for preparedness
at home and work." NIOSH. April 14, 2003
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/npptlrespfact.html
<http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/npptlrespfact.html>
Shelter in Place Planning, Partnership Toward Safer Communities
Program, Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs.
http://www.ptsc-program.org/shelter_in_place.htm
<http://www.ptsc-program.org/shelter_in_place.htm>
"Sheltering in Place as a Public Protective Action", National
Institute for Chemical Studies, June 2001.
http://www.nicsinfo.org/shelter in place.pdf
<http://www.nicsinfo.org/shelter%20in%20place.pdf>
Sheltering in Place, Redefiningreadiness.doc study and resources
Redefining Readiness*|*Home
<http://www.redefiningreadiness.net/>
"Terrorism - Preparing for the Unexpected" American Red Cross,
Sept 2001
Redirect
<http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/keepsafe/unexpected.html>
US Government, FirstGov Web Site "Protect Yourself and Your country",
numerous resources
America Responds to Terrorism: USA.gov
<http://www.firstgov.gov/Topics/Usgresponse.shtml>
Special thanks to:
Gregory T Banner, MS, CEM
Regional Emergency Coordinator, Region I (New England)
US Department of Health and Human Services
Complete running compendium of medical and emergency management web resources. Available at:
http://www.ynhhs.org/emergency/US_DHHS_web_sites.pdf
<http://www.ynhhs.org/emergency/US_DHHS_web_sites.pdf>
KB asked "Can anyone cite links or sources that explain how the average, American can prepare his/her family for the eventuality described above? How should we react if this happens?"Not to make light of the possibility or the seriousness of the subject, Greg Banner of DHHS passed on a quote from the height of the anthrax "white powder" days following 9-11, dealing with numerous phone calls from a panicked public ... "what kind of gas mask should I buy." Etc...
Dr. Kristi Koenig from the US Veteran's Administration was asked at a news conference:
"What should a member of the general public do to protect themselves from the threat of anthrax?"
Her response was: "Wear your seatbelt, stop smoking, and eat properly."
The point and message are that there is a whole world of mundane, day-to-day public health issues which provide more "bang for the buck" in terms of individual health and longevity, if people will just focus on those issues as a priority.
All-hazard emergency preparedness does have its place and all societies are better off if their populous does prepare and add certain rational preparedness activities to their lives.
So here are some useful links:
American Red Cross Disaster Guide
American Red Cross- Talking About Disaster
<http://www.redcross.org/disaster/safety/guide.html>
Anthrax Training Program (for public), South Carolina Department of Health
http://teamxtend.com/anthraxprevention/index.htm
<http://teamxtend.com/anthraxprevention/index.htm>
"Are You Ready: A Guide to Citizen Preparedness", FEMA, Sept 2002
FEMA: Are You Ready?
<http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/>
Are You Prepared. San Francisco Preparedness site
Are you prepared? <http://www.72hours.org/>
Australian Government Preparation Guidance
http://nationalsecurity.ag.gov.au/www/rwpattach.nsf/viewasattachmentPers
<http://nationalsecurity.ag.gov.au/www/rwpattach.nsf/viewasattachmentPersonal/4CF56D120B9E6497CA256CC100797443/$file/ntlbooklet.pdf
Bioterror Web Site, Linked to Television NOVA series, misc. resources
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bioterror/<NOVA Online | Bioterror
Bioterrorism Disease Primer, USA Today
USATODAY.com feature
<http://www.usatoday.com/graphics/news/gra/gbioterror/frame.htm>
Chemical Emergencies, American Red Cross Family InformationBrochure
Re-direct for readychemical.html
<http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/keepsafe/readychemical.html>
Citizens Corps, FEMA (volunteer efforts)
Citizen Corps <Citizen Corps
<http://www.citizencorps.gov/> >
The Community Preparedness Website Project, Multiple Resources
PrepareNow.org <http://www.preparenow.org/>
Crisis Checklist (for individuals), Organizing Made Simple (commercial firm)
http://www.organizingmadesimple.com/download/crisis-checklist-locked.pdf
<http://www.organizingmadesimple.com/download/crisis-checklist-locked.pdf>
Emergency Planning for Your Family: The Five-Step Guide. Public Safety
and Emergency Preparedness Canada. (PSEPC)
Is your family prepared?
<http://www.emergencypreparednessweek.ca/index_e.asp>
Emergency Preparedness Guides (for general population - multi-lingual),
City of Denver, CO
http://www.denvergov.org/jump_emergency.asp
<http://www.denvergov.org/jump_emergency.asp>
Emergency Preparedness: Guidance and General Preparation.
Department of Justice. Feb 2003.
DOJ: Emergency Preparedness:Guidance and General Information
<http://www.usdoj.gov/jmd/ps/dojepm.htm>
Emergency Survival Program, Los Angeles County
Emergency Survival Program (ESP) <http://www.espfocus.org/>
A Federal Employee's Emergency Guide, US Office of Personnel Management
http://www.opm.gov/emergency/PDF/EmployeesGuide.pdf
<http://www.opm.gov/emergency/PDF/EmployeesGuide.pdf>
A Federal Employee's Family Preparedness Guide, US Office of Personnel Management
http://www.opm.gov/emergency/PDF/NationalFamilyGuide.pdf
<http://www.opm.gov/emergency/PDF/NationalFamilyGuide.pdf>
Frequently Asked Questions (Public), Center for Civilian Biodefense
Studies, Johns Hopkins
http://www.hopkins-biodefense.org/faq.html
<http://www.hopkins-biodefense.org/faq.html>
Home Guides for Emergency Preparedness, Arlington County, VA, Multi-lingual.
http://www.co.arlington.va.us/emergency/
<http://www.co.arlington.va.us/emergency/>
Homeowner emergency preparedness guide. Homeownership alliance & DHS
http://www.homeownershipalliance.com/documents/emergency_final.pdf
<http://www.homeownershipalliance.com/documents/emergency_final.pdf>
Individual Preparedness Guide. "Are You Ready: Guidelines for Navy
Family Emergency Preparedness" Naval Services Family Line. January 2008
http://www.lifelines.navy.mil/idc/groups/public/documents/image/areyoure
<http://www.lifelines.navy.mil/idc/groups/public/documents/image/areyouready0308.pdf
"Individual Preparedness Response to Chemical, Radiological,Nuclear,
and Biological Terrorist Attacks." The Rand Corporation. 2003.
RAND | Monograph/Reports | Individual Preparedness and Response to Chemical, Radiological, Nuclear, and Biological Terrorist Attacks
<http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1731/>
Quick Guide
http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1731.1/MR1731.1.pdf
<http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1731.1/MR1731.1.pdf>
What You Should Do to Prepare for and Respond to Chemical,
Radiological,Nuclear, and Biological Terrorist Attacks. Pocket Edition
Survival Guide. RAND Corporation. 2004.
RAND | Monograph/Reports | What You Should Do to Prepare for and Respond to Chemical, Radiological, Nuclear, and Biological Terrorist Attacks: Pocket Edition Survival Guide
<http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1731.2/>
Personal Protection and Chemical or Biological Terrorism,
Frequently Asked Questions, Henry L. Stimson Center, Chemical and
Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Project
http://www.stimson.org/cwc/persprot.htm
<http://www.stimson.org/cwc/persprot.htm>
Personal Protection Measures against the Terrorist Threat.
Defense Intelligence Agency.
http://www.ncix.gov/publications/booklets_brochures/booklet_personalProt
<http://www.ncix.gov/publications/booklets_brochures/booklet_personalProtection/PersonalProt.php
"Preparing for Emergencies", United Kingdom preparedness guides
Preparing for Emergencies Home Page
<http://www.preparingforemergencies.gov.uk>
<Preparing for Emergencies Home Page
<http://www.preparingforemergencies.gov.uk/> >
Ready.Gov web site, Department of Homeland Security, Misc.
Information
Ready.gov - Prepare. Plan. Stay Informed. <http://www.ready.gov/>
Respirator fact sheet: "What you should know in deciding whether
to buy scape hoods, gas masks, or other respirators for preparedness
at home and work." NIOSH. April 14, 2003
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/npptlrespfact.html
<http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/npptlrespfact.html>
Shelter in Place Planning, Partnership Toward Safer Communities
Program, Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs.
http://www.ptsc-program.org/shelter_in_place.htm
<http://www.ptsc-program.org/shelter_in_place.htm>
"Sheltering in Place as a Public Protective Action", National
Institute for Chemical Studies, June 2001.
http://www.nicsinfo.org/shelter in place.pdf
<http://www.nicsinfo.org/shelter%20in%20place.pdf>
Sheltering in Place, Redefiningreadiness.doc study and resources
Redefining Readiness*|*Home
<http://www.redefiningreadiness.net/>
"Terrorism - Preparing for the Unexpected" American Red Cross,
Sept 2001
Redirect
<http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/keepsafe/unexpected.html>
US Government, FirstGov Web Site "Protect Yourself and Your country",
numerous resources
America Responds to Terrorism: USA.gov
<http://www.firstgov.gov/Topics/Usgresponse.shtml>
Special thanks to:
Gregory T Banner, MS, CEM
Regional Emergency Coordinator, Region I (New England)
US Department of Health and Human Services
Complete running compendium of medical and emergency management web resources. Available at:
http://www.ynhhs.org/emergency/US_DHHS_web_sites.pdf
<http://www.ynhhs.org/emergency/US_DHHS_web_sites.pdf>
