Hurricane Season Public Health Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Guidance for Health Care Providers, Response and Recovery Workers, and Affected Communities — CDC, 2017

Abstract

CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) have guidance and technical materials available in both English and Spanish to help communities prepare for hurricanes and floods (Table 1). To help protect the health and safety of the public, responders, and clean-up workers during response and recovery operations from hurricanes and floods, CDC and ATSDR have developed public health guidance and other resources; many are available in both English and Spanish (Table 2). TABLE 1 English and Spanish community guidance for preparing for hurricanes and floods — CDC, 2017 English En Español Information about hurricanes and other tropical storms 
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/index.html Huracanes y otras tormentas tropicales 
https://www.cdc.gov/es/disasters/hurricanes/index.html Preparations before a hurricane 
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/before.html Antes de un huracán 
https://www.cdc.gov/es/disasters/hurricanes/before.html Family, health, and safety preparation 
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/supplies.html Obtenga suministros 
https://www.cdc.gov/es/disasters/hurricanes/supplies.html Key facts about flood readiness 
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/readiness.html Datos importantes sobre los preparativos para una inundación 
https://www.cdc.gov/es/disasters/floods/readiness.html TABLE 2 English and Spanish guidance for response and recovery from hurricanes and floods, by primary target audience — CDC, 2017 English En Español General audience Be safe after a hurricane* 
 https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/be-safe-after.html Manténgase a salvo después de un huracán 
https://www.cdc.gov/es/disasters/hurricanes/be-safe-after.html After a hurricane 
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/after.html Después de un huracán 
https://www.cdc.gov/es/disasters/hurricanes/after.html Floods (general information) 
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/index.html Información sobre inundaciones 
https://www.cdc.gov/es/disasters/floods/index.html After a flood 
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/after.html Después de una inundación 
https://www.cdc.gov/es/disasters/floods/after.html Flood waters or standing waters health risks 
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/extreme-weather/floods-standingwater.html Agua de la inundación después de un desastre o una emergencia 
https://www.cdc.gov/es/disasters/floods/cleanupwater.html Building and facilities damage: health risks 
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/extreme-weather/building-damage.html —† Cleaning up your home after a disaster or emergency 
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/cleanup-home.html Limpiar tu casa después de un desastre o emergencia Limpie su casa 
https://www.cdc.gov/es/disasters/hurricanes/cleanup-home.html Generator and furnace safety 
https://www.cdc.gov/co/pdfs/Generators.pdf https://www.cdc.gov/co/pdfs/Furnace.pdf Seguridad con los Generadores y Calentadores 
https://www.cdc.gov/co/pdfs/flyers_Spanish.pdf Pressure washer safety 
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/pressurewashersafety.html — Carbon monoxide poisoning§ 
 https://www.cdc.gov/co/pdfs/Flyer_Danger.pdf Intoxicación por monóxido de carbono 
https://www.cdc.gov/co/pdfs/campaign_flyer_ES.pdf Carbon monoxide poisoning FAQs 
https://www.cdc.gov/co/faqs.htm Intoxicación con Monóxido de Carbono Preguntas Frecuente 
https://www.cdc.gov/co/es/faqs.htm Chemical hazards: asbestos in your environment: what you can do to limit exposure 
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/docs/limitingenvironmentalexposures_factsheet-508.pdf — ToxFAQ for asbestos 
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id = 29&tid = 4 ToxFAQs Asbesto (Amianto) 
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/es/toxfaqs/es_tfacts61.html Chemical hazards: mercury 
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/dontmesswithmercury/index.html No te metas con mercurio 
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/dontmesswithmercury/es/index.html Chemical hazards: lead 
https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/tips.htm Lo que debe saber sobre el envenenamiento del plomo 
https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/tools/know_the_factsspanish.pdf Coping with a disaster or traumatic event 
https://emergency.cdc.gov/coping/index.asp Cómo enfrentar un desastre o evento traumático 
https://emergency.cdc.gov/es/coping/index.asp Food safety for infants after a disaster 
https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/recommendations/food-safety-for-infants-after-a-disaster.html Asegúrese de que los alimentos y el agua se puedan consumir sin correr riesgo (Cómo alimentar a su bebé) 
https://www.cdc.gov/es/disasters/hurricanes/foodwater.html Keep food and water safe after a disaster 
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/foodwater/facts.html Asegúrese de que los alimentos y el agua se puedan consumir sin correr riesgo 
https://www.cdc.gov/es/disasters/hurricanes/foodwater.html Personal hygiene and handwashing after a disaster or emergency 
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/sanitation.html Higiene personal y lavado de manos después de un desastre o emergencia 
https://www.cdc.gov/es/disasters/floods/sanitation.html Extreme heat 
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/index.html Calor Extremo y Su Salud 
https://www.cdc.gov/extremeheat/espanol/index_esp.html Homeowner’s and renter’s guide to mold cleanup after disasters 
https://www.cdc.gov/mold/pdfs/homeowners_and_renters_guide.pdf Guía del propietario y arrendatario para la limpieza de moho después de desastres 
https://www.cdc.gov/mold/pdfs/IEPWG_Mold_Homeowners_and_Renters_Spanish_508.pdf Get rid of mold 
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/pdf/flyer-get-rid-of-mold.pdf Elimine el moho 
https://www.cdc.gov/es/disasters/hurricanes/pdf/flyer-get-rid-of-mold.pdf Mold FAQs 
https://www.cdc.gov/mold/faqs.htm Preguntas más frecuentes sobre molde 
https://www.cdc.gov/mold/es/faqs.htm Ready Wrigley Prepares for Storm and Flood Recovery (a resource for children) 
https://www.cdc.gov/phpr/readywrigley/documents/17_279940_Ready_Wrigley_mold_508.pdf — More resources for families 
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/more-resources.html Más recursos para las familias 
https://www.cdc.gov/es/disasters/hurricanes/more-resources.html Public service announcements (PSAs) 
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/psa.html Anuncios de servicio público (PSA) 
https://www.cdc.gov/es/disasters/hurricanes/psa.html Health care professionals Medical care of ill disaster evacuees: additional diagnoses to consider 
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/medcare.html — Medical management and patient advisement after a disaster 
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/management.html — Clinical guidance for carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning after a disaster 
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/co_guidance.html Directrices clínicas para la intoxicación por monóxido de carbono (CO) después de un desastre 
https://www.cdc.gov/es/disasters/co_guidance.html Safety information for health care professionals 
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/hcp.html Información de seguridad para los profesionales de la salud 
https://www.cdc.gov/es/disasters/hurricanes/hcp.html Public health professionals and response workers Emergency: response resources for storm, flood, and hurricane response 
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/emres/flood.html NIOSH advierte sobre los peligros de limpieza después de una inundación 
https://www.cdc.gov/spanish/NIOSH/docs/94-123_sp/ Death scene investigation after natural disaster or other weather-related events: a toolkit 
https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hsb/disaster/docs/DeathSceneInvestigation508.pdf — Public health assessment and surveillance after a disaster 
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/surveillance/ Formas de vigilancia de mortalidad relacionadas con desastres están disponibles en español 
https://www.cdc.gov/es/disasters/surveillance/pdf/disaster-mortality-instructions.pdf 
 https://www.cdc.gov/es/disasters/surveillance/pdf/disaster-mortality-form.pdf Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) 
https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hsb/disaster/casper/ — Emergency Responder Health Monitoring and Surveillance (ERHMS) 
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/erhms/default.html — Assessment of Chemical Exposures (ACE) toolkit 
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ntsip/ace_toolkit.html — Chemical hazards: lead information for workers 
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/lead/safe.html Instituto Nacional para la Seguridad y Salud Ocupacional (NIOSH) plomo 
https://www.cdc.gov/spanish/niosh/topics/plomo.html Chemical hazards: resources for emergency responders for chemical or radioactive materials 
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/emres/chemagent.html 
 https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/substances/ToxEmergency.asp Seguridad de productos químicos 
https://www.cdc.gov/spanish/niosh/topics/quimicos.html Preventing carbon monoxide poisoning from small gasoline-powered engines and tools 
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/96-118/ Prevención de envenenamiento con monóxido de carbono producido por herramientas y equipos con motores pequeños de gasoline 
https://www.cdc.gov/spanish/niosh/docs/96-118_sp/ Heat and outdoor workers https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/workers.html 
 Los trabajadores al aire libre y el calor 
https://www.cdc.gov/extremeheat/espanol/workers_esp.html Indoor environmental quality 
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/indoorenv/ — Indoor environmental quality: preventing occupational respiratory disease from exposures caused by dampness in office buildings, schools, and other nonindustrial buildings 
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2013-102/ Prevención de enfermedades respiratorias ocupacionales por exposición causadas por la humedad en edificios de oficinas, escuelas y otros edificios no industriales 
https://www.cdc.gov/spanish/niosh/docs/2013-102_sp/ Indoor environmental quality: recommendations for the cleaning and remediation of flood-contaminated HVAC systems: a guide for building owners and managers 
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/emres/Cleaning-Flood-HVAC.html — Safety: guidance on personal protective equipment and clothing for flood cleanup workers 
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/emres/ppe-flood.html Equipo de protección personal y la ropa para las personas que trabajan en la limpieza después de las inundaciones 
https://www.cdc.gov/spanish/niosh/topics/flood_sp/ppe-flood_sp.html Safety: information for response and cleanup workers 
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/workers.html Información de seguridad para trabajadores de respuesta a emergencias y de limpieza 
https://www.cdc.gov/es/disasters/hurricanes/workers.html Worker safety after a flood 
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/workersafety.html Seguridad de los trabajadores después de una inundación 
https://www.cdc.gov/es/disasters/floods/workersafety.html Traumatic incident stress: symptoms and recommendations for responders 
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/traumaticincident/ Estrés por sucesos traumáticos: Información para el personal de emergencia 
https://www.cdc.gov/spanish/niosh/docs/2002-107_sp/ Tree removal: preventing chain saw injuries during tree removal after a disaster 
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/chainsaws.html Cómo prevenir lesiones causadas por motosierras después de un desastre 
https://www.cdc.gov/es/disasters/psa/chainsaw.html Tree removal: preventing falls and electrocutions during tree trimming 
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/92-106/ Retiro de árbol: prevención de caídas y electrocuciones durante la poda de árboles 
https://www.cdc.gov/spanish/niosh/docs/92-106_sp/ * Information on this webpage is available in 11 different languages. † Currently not available in Spanish. § This fact sheet is available in six additional languages, available at https://www.cdc.gov/co/factsheets.htm. Hurricane Harvey made landfall on the Texas coast on August 25, 2017, as a Category 4 storm. In southeast Texas, record rainfall caused extensive flooding and damage to public infrastructure and communities, and displaced thousands of persons. As of September 12, 2017, the media have reported >80 storm-related deaths attributed to Hurricane Harvey (medical examiner confirmation is pending for some deaths). Most of these deaths likely were caused by drowning in flood waters within the first few days after impact (e.g., drowning at home or in vehicles). On September 7, 2017, a Category 5 hurricane, Irma, reached the Lesser Antilles, including the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Hurricane Irma then continued its path across the Greater Antilles and made landfall in south Florida on September 10, 2017. Irma’s hurricane-force winds and related storm surges caused substantial damage in the Caribbean and Florida. Many areas in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, and the U.S. territories affected by these storms are still experiencing disruptions in essential services, including electricity, potable water, food, and communications. Numerous health care and public health systems sustained damage. Environmental health impacts from the hurricanes included effects on industries, chemical plants, and hazardous waste sites. Many displaced persons remain in shelters or other temporary housing. As part of the overall U.S. Department of Health and Human Services response and recovery operations, CDC and ATSDR are supporting public health and medical care functions for affected communities and persons displaced by the hurricanes. As of September 12, 2017, CDC and ATSDR had sent pharmacy and federal medical station supplies to Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. CDC and ATSDR have also activated and deployed members of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and other personnel to provide technical support for critical public health functions. Field operations and the CDC and ATSDR Emergency Operations Center are supporting mortality and morbidity surveillance; public health messaging and risk communication; water, sanitation, safety, and facility assessments; community rapid needs assessments; mold abatement; industrial and residential contaminant exposure prevention; and vector control. There are potential public health and safety concerns after hurricane impact. Many injuries and illnesses from hurricanes and floods occur during the response and recovery phases. Common hazards include vehicle- and nonvehicle-related drowning, carbon monoxide poisoning (e.g., from any gasoline-powered engine, including generators and clean-up equipment), electrocution, falls, lacerations, and exposure to mold and industrial and household chemicals ( 1 – 8 ). In addition, exacerbation of existing chronic conditions and development of acute mental health symptoms are frequent reasons for seeking health care services following a disaster ( 9 – 11 ). Guidance and other resources to assist in addressing many of these hazards and risk are available (Table 2). CDC and ATSDR also offer a disaster response clinical consultation service to assist health care providers, public health professionals, and emergency response partners. This service can be accessed by emailing CDC IMS Clinical Inquiries at [e-mail]. For additional assistance, health care providers, public health professionals, and members of the public can also use CDC and ATSDR’s information service, CDC-INFO. Live agents provide up-to-date science-based health information. CDC-INFO can be reached Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time at 1–800-CDC-INFO (1–800–232–4636) or by submitting a web-based form (https://wwwn.cdc.gov/dcs/ContactUs/Form). Services are available in English and Spanish.