Overview
During this century scores of natural disasters have killed
thousands of people, caused billions of dollars in damages and affected the
lives of hundreds of thousands of survivors. Examples of major disasters this
past decade include:
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Floods in 1990 that plagued Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas,
the worst in all three states since the early 1900s.
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The Mississippi River flood of 1993 that covered 17,000
square miles in nine states, leaving 48 people dead and an estimated
$21 billion in damage.
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Extensive flooding that stretched from Northern California
to Idaho in 1996, with a total of 70 counties declaring disasters and
hundreds of millions of dollars in damage.
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Extensive flooding in 1999 from Hurricane Floyd that
severely impacted the eastern half of North Carolina and much of the East
Coast causing $6 billion in damages and killing 51 in North Carolina alone.
These disasters place tremendous strains on the public health
system. Is your local and state health department prepared for the next
disaster? This Public Health Grand Rounds will feature an exemplary case of how
Greenville, North Carolina, prepared for and is working through its worst public
health disaster of the century. We will discuss the challenges of disaster
preparedness and the strategies implemented to meet them.
Goal
The goal of this program is to promote a leadership-level
national dialogue on disasters and their impact on public health and
the outreach efforts of state and local public health agencies. Join
us as we find answers and ask new questions about this important public
health issue.
Objectives
Attending this program will enable you to:
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Identify the major components of a comprehensive plan
to respond to public health emergencies and disasters, such as a flood.
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Describe the immediate and long-term public health
impact resulting from a flood.
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Describe the importance of public health information and
relationships with the media in planning for and responding to a flood disaster.
Audience
Health leaders, managers, and professionals from local
and state health departments, hospitals, clinics, emergency management
services, academic institutions, managed care organizations, and others
who seek to increase awareness of disaster preparedness
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