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On Demand May 9, 2006

Preparing for the Hurricane Season: Medical Needs Shelters

Broadcast Date: May 9, 2006 | (2 hours)

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Program Overview

Emergency response has become a fundamental part of our public health mission. This has resulted in an expanded level of responsibility to the public. Alabama residents will expect public health to respond rapidly and effectively. Although we hope that the Gulf Coast will be spared from another assault this year, we must be fully prepared to fulfill our responsibility to the public. As a result of Hurricanes Ivan, Dennis and Katrina, the concept of Medical Needs Shelters and our role in staffing them has been better defined. Many of our staff whose routine duties do not involve emergency response will be assigned to these type duties in the face of an emergency.

We all remember vividly the catastrophic devastation wreaked upon the Gulf Coast during the 2005 hurricane season. The Department is committed to prepare all ADPH staff before the onset of the 2006 hurricane season. Since all ADPH staff may be required to fill a vital role in disaster response, everyone is encouraged to watch this program.

This program will provide information about shelters, responsibilities of staff, and stories from several of our employees who worked in shelters during Hurricanes Ivan, Dennis and Katrina.