The Issues

The coalition agreed in light of recent events, America must consider new approaches to community preparedness. Although the coalition expects to announce a detailed plan early next year, members agreed that additional resources are needed in the following areas:

• Improve Communications Infrastructure. During disasters, communications often degrade as saturated cellular phone systems and wireless communications systems interfere with public safety communications. There is a critical need to upgrade and modernize responder communications systems and to address interoperability problems.
  • Information
  • Expertise and Best Practices
  • Policy Education and Advancement
    
    
• Improve Community-Based Planning. Disasters involving terrorism are community-wide concerns likely to require a broad array of resources to supplement the health care system. Local communities also need comprehensive and effective disaster response that integrates the plans of all responders.
  • Information
  • Expertise and Best Practices
  • Policy Education and Advancement
    
    
• Increase Community Capacity to Deal with Disasters. Community-wide disaster planning will require adequate surge capacity to address the health care needs of large numbers of casualties.
  • Information
  • Expertise and Best Practices
  • Policy Education and Advancement
    
    
• Improve Disease Surveillance, Disease Reporting, and Field Laboratory Identification Systems. Clinicians must quickly detect, accurately diagnose, and effectively treat uncommon diseases. Improving the capacity of local and state public health departments, public health laboratories, and hospitals to engage in disease surveillance and disease reporting is critical to determining whether a biologic or chemical agent has been released.
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  • Policy Education and Advancement
    
    
• Protect Responders from the Effects of Biologic, Chemical, and Nuclear Agents. Responders must be equipped with the necessary protective equipment and trained in the equipment's use. Responders must have priority access to vaccines, antibiotics, and other resources so they can continue to provide services to the community in the event of a terrorist act involving a biologic or chemical agent.
  • Information
  • Expertise and Best Practices
  • Policy Education and Advancement
    
    
• Increase and Enhance Training Programs, Continuing Education, and Community Drills for Mass Casualty Incidents. Responders must be trained to detect and respond to all types of potential diseases and disasters in a coordinated and integrated way.
  • Information
  • Expertise and Best Practices
  • Policy Education and Advancement