Preparedness & Planning

The whole community (e.g., individuals, families, communities, businesses, and jurisdictions) needs to plan for disasters and emergencies, and the disruptions that often result. Click the links below to learn how families, businesses, healthcare facilities, and government organizations can prepare for disasters and different types of public health emergencies.

Personal Preparedness

Be prepared to protect your own and your family’s health from the impacts of a disaster or an emergency on the public health and healthcare systems.

Individuals, Families, and Communities

Personal and Public Health Threats

Communities

Businesses

Public Health Preparedness

Before an emergency happens, it is important to make plans. Below are some resources to help you prepare for and respond to disasters. Click on the links to learn more.

State and Local

Healthcare Facilities and Providers

Doctors respond in an emergency response drill
  • Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA)
    COCA prepares clinicians to respond to emerging health threats and public health emergencies by communicating relevant, timely information related to disease outbreaks, disasters, terrorism events, and other health alerts.
  • Planning Resources by Setting
    Tools for healthcare planners who are tasked with ensuring their facility is prepared to respond to a public health emergency within specified settings like hospitals, urgent care, and long-term care
  • OSHA Best Practices for Hospital-Based First Receivers of Victims
    Information to help hospitals in developing and implementing emergency management plans for protecting hospital-based emergency department personnel during the receipt of contaminated victims from mass casualty incidents occurring at locations other than the hospital; provided by the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA).

Emergency Planners and Responders

Training
Preparedness Tools and Resources
Response Tools and Resources
Legal Preparedness