News in PicturesSeptember 1, 2008
Federal Partners Work Together to Support the Hurricane Gustav Public Health and Emergency Medical Support Effort Effort Federal partners work together to Support the public health and emergency medical support effort across the south during Hurricane Gustav. December 8, 2007
ASPR host its first Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) Stakeholders Meeting On November 8, ASPR hosted its first Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) Stakeholders Meeting at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, DC. This important meeting brought together over 300 representatives from Federal, State, Tribal, Territorial, and local governments, as well as the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and individuals. The purpose of the meeting was three fold: to discuss the Department’s PAHPA implementation strategy; to inform stakeholders about HHS’s PAHPA achievements to date; and to provide attendees with an opportunity to discuss issues with HHS subject-matter experts. The feedback from the meeting has been overwhelmingly positive, with many participants voicing their support for ASPR and their interest in remaining engaged in the implementation process. September 1, 2007
New HHS ASPR Office Prepares for First Major Hurricane of 2007 Hurricane Dean was the first major hurricane of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season. Dean began as a tropical depression off the coast of Africa on August 11th, and was upgraded to hurricane status on August 16th as it moved west into the Caribbean. Although Hurricane Dean eventually made landfall in Mexico, ASPR and our ESF-8 partners were fully prepared to respond if it hit the United States. The Emergency Management Group was activated in the Secretary's Operations Center, six National Disaster Management System teams were deployed throughout Texas, and the Incident Response Coordination Team (IRCT) from Region X was also sent down to texas. A Joint Field Office (JFO) was stood up in Austin, and resources including ambulances, planes, and buses for patient evacuations were pooled at the San Antonio Alamo Regional Response Command Center. August 22, 2007
FEMA Activates National Ambulance Contract to Prepare for Hurricane Dean On Saturday, August 18 as Hurricane Dean approached Jamaica, federal disaster planning and preparations were underway to assist Texas. FEMA activated a new national ambulance contract with American Medical Response (AMR) to help make sure there would be transportation for patients in the projected storm track who would need to be evacuated from hospitals and nursing homes. July 11, 2007
USNS Comfort Continues to Advance the Cause of Social Justice The USNS Comfort will visit 12 Central American, South American and Caribbean nations where its embarked medical crew of more than 500 military, USPHS and NGO doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals will treat 85,000 patients, perform 1,500 surgeries and address regional health service support requirements and promote clinical information sharing across the region. USS Peleliu on assignment as part of humanitarian mission Peleliu Pacific Partnership The multi-purpose amphibious ship, USS Peleliu (LHA 5), departed San Diego on May 23, kicking off the humanitarian mission Peleliu Pacific Partnership (3P). Throughout the Pacific Partnership mission, the Peleliu will serve as an enabling platform through which military and NGOs can coordinate and carry out humanitarian efforts. July 4, 2007
HHS Personnel Support the 4th of July Celebration on the National Mall An estimated 400,000 spectators gathered on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to enjoy the July 4, 2007 Independence Day celebration. The annual event in our nation’s capital included a parade, several concerts and a huge fireworks display. For medical services, the National Park Service partnered with the Department of Health and Human Services, District of Columbia Department of Health Rapid Emergency Response Team, Shenandoah Mountain Rescue Group, Sterling Volunteer Rescue Crew, Montgomery County First Aid Unit, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Bicycle Emergency Response Team, the Arlington County Fire Department, D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services and NPS Trail Patrol volunteers. While HHS personnel worked primarily within the National Mall area, volunteers and EMS crews from the other organizations were stationed along the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Despite the large crowds, hot weather and the National Mall evacuation due to a late afternoon severe thunderstorm, only 13 spectators required transportation to local hospitals. US Public Health Commissioned Officers helped staff seven medical tents – six on the National Mall and one at the end of the parade route. The Office of Preparedness and Emergency Operations managed the 50 HHS personnel involved in this year’s National Mall Independence Day medical planning and response operations. June 1, 2007
HHS Participates in the Pinnacle exercise to test continuity of operations plans With the wide range of potential threats in the post-Cold War world and global war on terror, it is both prudent and a good business practice for each federal department and agency to have comprehensive and effective programs to ensure the survival and continuity of essential functions and our Constitutional form of government. The Pinnacle exercise allowed HHS officials to test communications connectivity, operations and procedures for performing essential government functions from alternate locations, and interagency coordination. Additionally, Pinnacle demonstrated essential functions can be effectively conducted during threats and emergencies. December 29, 2006
NDMS Teams Provide Medical Support for Ford Funeral in Washington, DC - The National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) team activated to provide medical support for activities near the U.S. Capitol during to the Ford Funeral in Washington, DC.
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