PLANNING AND RESPONSE

• According to Redlener, the events of 9/11 spurred efforts to upgrade the United States' ability to plan for disasters
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS)


  Created after the attack of 9/11; responsible for:

  • security efforts to prevent future terrorist attacks
  • prevention of terrorism
  • border management
  • cyberspace security
  • disaster resilience and
  • immigration law enforcement
• In 2016, the DHS added prevention of cyberattacks to its many responsibilities, including a public awareness campaign called "Stop.Think.Connect." The purpose is to assist citizens in maintaining Internet security.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)


  39-year history: Assists in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from all types of disaster situations; a Center for Faith and Neighborhood Partnerships to expand community support for disaster prevention and recovery efforts.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)


  Takes a public health view of disasters; plans for and responds to disasters caused by biological events, natural events, and chemical/radiological incidents;

  
  

  Public Health Preparedness and Response (PHPR)

  Maintains a stockpile of medicines and is responsible for providing (150) laboratory support in the event of a threat or disaster
• American Red Cross (ARC)


  • Major source for disaster response information, inspired by Swiss International Red Cross and founded in 1881.
  • A humanitarian organization that uses the power of trained volunteers from both medical and non-medical communities to respond to a variety of disasters, provides shelter, food, healthcare, and mental health services, offers preparedness education and training opportunities.
• Erbay - provides a survey of ethics issues that this group of healthcare professionals may face. These issues ae divided into the following categories:

  • before intervention
  • treatment
  • end-of-life care
• Professional Readiness for Disasters requires practicing for what might never happen, being ethically ready for adverse situations, and having an adequate support system for their coping with what they face
• Application of ethics principles

  Nonmaleficence, justice, autonomy, and beneficence should be part of disaster planning and training for emergency care professionals
• Individual Response to Disasters

  Preparing an emergency first-aid kit, having at least three days' worth of supplies for survival, this includes having at least 1 gal. of water and 1600 calories of food. ARC asks to include money, flashlight, battery-operated radio, and prescription medicines. Developing a disaster plan, learning first aid and CPR.
• Provided an incentive for expansion of community support for responding to national disasters.

  Effects of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Wilma