274: Disaster Planning Tools

ROBERT JOHNSON:

This is Public Health Review Morning Edition for Friday, September 30th, 2022. I'm Robert Johnson.

Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

ANNIE EVANS:

It's really critical that we build trust with different communities during blue skies, as preparedness folks would call it—you know, when things are normal, when you can start to build new partnerships and build up trust with the community.

JOHNSON:

Annie Evans is ASTHO's director of preparedness and disability integration. While Florida deals with the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, Evans is thinking about the needs of people living with disabilities who suffer more than others when disasters happen.

EVANS:

It's really critical to talk to the community about what they need. Nobody knows what the disability community needs better than they do, so it's really critical to build those partnerships, speak with them ahead of these disasters, and talk to them about what they're going to need to feel safe in their homes or to evacuate safely.

JOHNSON:

Evans says ASTHO has created an infographic to help public health agencies titled "10 Essential Questions for Disability Inclusion in Health Agencies."

EVANS:

So, the questions are really a guide that can help think through the planning process and, when used in congruence with feedback from the disability community, can really be a powerful tool to create inclusive programs.

So, it's just something that we recommend that folks take a look at when they start to plan any public health program and walk through those questions, think through all the different aspects where you can bring the disability perspective into your planning process.

JOHNSON:

Evans says people living with disabilities cannot be overlooked when planning for disasters.

EVANS:

People living with disabilities deserve and have a right to dignity and self-determination, just like any other person, so it's important to make sure that they are allowed to make decisions about what happens to them in a response and recovery just like anybody else would.

JOHNSON:

ASTHO also has developed a brief about the impact of power failures on this community. You can read the brief and the infographic using the links in the show notes.

Businesses and public health departments spent more time working together during the pandemic. Indiana state health commissioner Dr. Kristina Box says her department found employers to be important public health messengers.

KRISTINA BOX:

We know that employees trust their employers, especially when we're dealing with individuals that are from marginalized populations like our workers that, you know, worked in many of our meat packing industries and other places. So, it was really important that the right information got to them.

JOHNSON:

Box adds businesses struggling to deal with COVID-19 had a lot of questions.

BOX:

They wanted data. They wanted to understand Indiana-specific data, where that data was leading us, why we were making certain decisions, to make sure that different businesses in the state did have the personal protective equipment that they needed, or they had the critical medications that they needed.

We had to work very hard, as I said, with the meat packing individuals and the migrant workers to make sure that they could continue to feed the United States, that those businesses were able to stay open.

JOHNSON:

Box joined other public health and business leaders in meetings recently to discuss preparations for the next emergency. The event was hosted by the Health Action Alliance.

Box says workplaces with a health focus seem to be better prepared for the pandemic.

BOX:

A large part of what we can share is businesses that were very successful during this time oftentimes had connections with an on-site health clinic or a chief medical officer, had access to some type of a healthy community, making sure that they engage with their local public health and their state public health, and then helping them to be able to pivot at the time of a pandemic.

JOHNSON:

The Health Action Alliance has developed a playbook to help businesses get ready for whatever comes next. You can download it using the link in the show notes.

Also this morning: it's been said many times that a picture is worth a thousand words, but is that true in public health?

O'Keyla Cooper has more.

O'KEYLA COOPER:

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many states are now utilizing data visualization tools to create interactive maps. These maps will help to raise awareness about specific public health issues and connect communities to resources and information.

Learn how data visualization can help address health concerns in states and territories in ASTHO's latest blog, located in the show notes.

JOHNSON:

Finally today, October is almost here and that means it's time for a new Insight and Inspiration conversation. Make plans now to learn about Simon Sinek's Golden Circle Framework and how to apply it in your work life during an online discussion planned for Wednesday, October 26th at 3:00 p.m. Eastern time.

Also, make sure to follow us on your favorite podcast player. It's the best way to get every newscast delivered to your mobile device at 5:00 a.m. weekday mornings.

That'll do it for today's newscast. We're back Monday morning with more ASTHO news and information.

I'm Robert Johnson. You're listening to Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great weekend.