Natural Disaster Epidemiology and Assessment Activities
Mission, Goals and Objectives
Natural and technologic disasters often occur without warning. Efforts to prevent them from turning into major public health emergencies call for careful planning. Major concerns of the Clark County Public Health are to maintain an adequate level of preparedness, mitigate against future occurrences, respond efficiently, and address the effects of disasters on people and the environment.
The Epidemiology, Research and Assessment Section of Public Health, along with community partners, have the major responsibility for disaster epidemiology in Southwest Washington.
Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations, and the application of this study to control of health problems.
The objectives of disaster epidemiology are:
- Surveillance and assessment
Surveillance is the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of deaths, injuries, and illnesses in order to provide information about any adverse health effects related to a disaster event in a community. Surveillance allows us to:
- Assess the human health impacts of a disaster;
- Evaluate potential problems related to planning and prevention.
- Identify preventable risk factors contributing to disaster-associated morbidity and mortality (illness and death).
- Conduct prevention effectiveness drills.
- Refine surveillance and other methodologies
- Collect detailed information deaths, injuries, and illnesses related to a disaster events.
- Assess needs of disaster-affected communities.
- Evaluate emergency preparedness programs, response activities, and recovery operations.
- Manage data base system for tracking health effects of a natural disaster.
- Provide services to communities and organizations,
for response, and recovery.
- Activate response teams for response and recovery
- Conduct mass distribution clinics for vaccination and medications required for disease prevention, and death resulting from disaster events
- Activate the Incident Command System (ICS), (Unified Command System).
- Conduct medical management/treatment of disaster victims through triage and preventive services.
- Procure needed medical supplies through the National Strategic Stockpile (SNS), a national repository of life-saving pharmaceuticals and medical material.
- Conduct advanced training of those administering vaccinations or medications.
- Consultation and Training for preparedness and
response
We respond to requests for information from state, local or foreign health departments; Federal agencies; non-governmental organizations; professional interest groups; international organizations; and academic institutions. Upon request, we may provide:
- Scientific consultation and technical assistance
- Disaster training
- Specialized lectures on epidemiology in disaster settings
- Dissemination of knowledge of disaster epidemiology.
- Community at large
- State/local/foreign health departments
- Other Federal agencies
- Professional interest groups
- Academic institutions
- International organizations
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources describes some preparedness and response measures for earthquakes, volcanic activity, tsunamis, fire, and landslides.
