You have credible information that your city is in the path of the hurricane. As a public health official, how will you communicate to diverse populations before a category 5 hurricane hits your city?
You have credible information that your city is in the path of the hurricane. As a public health official, how will you communicate to diverse populations before a category 5 hurricane hits your city?
A key goal of crisis communication is avoiding panic. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
The right message at the right time from the right person can save lives. Every natural disaster is unique and emergency responders have to quickly adapt to the ever-changing nature of a crisis. To be able to more quickly and effectively disseminate messages before, during, and after an emergency, many key messages can be written in the preparedness phase. CDC developed a reference document that contains key messages on hurricane and flood related health threats.
The Preparedness and Safety Messaging for Hurricanes, Flooding, and Similar Disasters (Spanish) can help local responders quickly create and adapt health communication products for affected communities. The document contains messages on various topics including food safety, carbon monoxide poisoning, waterborne diseases, and mold. The Hurricane Key Messages: COVID-19 Annex (Spanish) includes public messaging to help people safely prepare, evacuate, and shelter for severe storms while protecting themselves and others from COVID-19.
How to Use this Document
Public health and emergency management partners can add the key messages document as a resource to their communication plans that address hazards expected from extreme weather involving strong wind and high water. Partners can also use these messages to develop products with protective information for diverse audiences before, during, and after a hurricane, flood, or similar disaster.
On-demand Virtual Workshop Training
CDC is offering an eLearning version of the “Preparedness and Safety Messaging for Hurricanes, Floods, and Similar Disasters Virtual Workshopexternal icon.” This training will help health departments with natural disaster public health messaging.
The free, on-demand virtual training teaches participants how to use CDC’s messaging resources to develop content for various communication products and channels. The workshop includes information about how to integrate COVID-19 safety messages into storm communications. Continuing education credits are offered for the one-hour interactive workshop, which engages learners through knowledge checks, case studies, and applied exercises. Register for the training via CDC Trainexternal icon.
PREPARE BEFORE A HURRICANE OR SEVERE FLOODING
During and after a hurricane, you may need supplies to keep your family safe and healthy.
Remember that a hurricane could cut off your power and water supply. You also may not be able
to drive because of damage to your car. Roads may be flooded or blocked.
Make a plan
Even if there’s no risk of a hurricane or severe storm right now, make sure you and your family
are prepared.
■ Stock up on emergency supplies for your home and car.
■ Write down emergency phone numbers and keep them near every phone in your house or
on the refrigerator. Program them into your cell phone, too.
■ Buy a fire extinguisher and make sure your family knows where to find it and how to use it.
■ Find out where the nearest shelter is and the different routes you can take to get there if
you have to leave your home.
■ Make sure that everyone in your family knows what the warning sirens in your area sound
like—and what to do if they go off.
For more information on how to make an emergency plan, visit
https://www.cdc.gov/phpr/areyouprepared/plan.htm.
Prepare an emergency food supply
A disaster can easily disrupt the food supply at any time, so plan to have at least a three to five
day supply of food on hand. Keep foods that:
■ Have a long storage life (like canned food)
■ Require little or no cooking, water, or refrigeration, in case utilities are disrupted
■ Meet the needs of babies (baby food or formula, if needed) or other family members who
are on special diets
■ Meet pets’ needs
■ Are not very salty or spicy, as these foods increase the need for drinking water, which may
be in short supply
How to store emergency food
When storing food, it is not necessary to buy dehydrated or other types of emergency food.
■ Check the expiration dates on canned foods and dry mixes. Home-canned food usually
needs to be thrown out after a year.
■ Use and replace food before its expiration date.