In the wake of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center buildings and the Pentagon, the topic of disaster management and emergency preparedness has been a central concern of the Bush administration, health practitioners, and emergency personnel across the country. After the attacks, the Bush administration moved quickly to create the Department of Homeland Security, initiating efforts such as the Citizens Preparedness Campaign and signing the 2003 omnibus spending package that included a bipartisan effort to double the National Institutes of Health budget. Importantly, local communities have also been analyzing current response systems and recommending or making necessary improvements where needed. State and county health departments are focusing on improving communication methods, increasing surge capacity, and establishing surveillance systems.1
We, as a nation, must engage in these efforts because, at a moment's notice, a natural disaster or intended attack can occur. Although attacks, such as the one at the World Trade Center and the following distribution of anthrax, gain nationwide and even global attention, natural disasters occur at a far higher rate across the globe. Local, state, and national authorities must be able to respond effectively. Likewise, citizens must also be able to respond quickly and correctly. Planning is a way to increase efficiency when disaster occurs.
In a recent publication, Venema2 outlined several factors to increase preparedness. She noted the importance of early assessment of risks and vulnerabilities to illnesses and injuries, as well as anticipating problems and consequences of events in order to minimize unwanted consequences. Significantly, she emphasized that the process of planning is as important as the written plan.2
Another good resource is a book published by the American Public Health Association and authored by the issue editor of this issue of Family & Community Health, Linda Young Landesman, entitled Public Health Management of Disasters: The Practice Guide.3
Judging from the results of polls of citizens cited on television news programs, such as the Today Show on December 10, 2003, many of us have not taken seriously the need to prepare ourselves, our families, and our homes for a disaster. Perhaps we avoid doing so as a way to deny the possibility that disasters, such as those that have occurred in recent years, will ever recur or will ever affect us individually. The information presented in this issue of Family & Community Health (27.3) should be a wake-up call to each of us that preparation now is essential. The authors provide practical information about preparedness. Their articles cover a broad range of topics, as they focus on the effectiveness of preparedness in the aftermath of natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes, as well as emergency responses for terrorist attacks. May I encourage you to join me in becoming a better prepared citizen?
We are grateful to the following colleagues for their careful review of manuscripts for this issue, which they performed as experts in their field:
Linda Degutis, DrPH, MSN, Yale University
Ehren Ngo, MS, NREMT-P, Loma Linda University
Robert Westphal, MD, MPH,
University of Albany
Gail Cairns, MA, MPH, University of Pittsburgh
Darcy Vetro Ravndal, MPH, University of South Florida
Jeanette Lancaster
REFERENCES