2001.09.20:HHS Emergency Response: Summary Report, Sept. 20

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, Sept. 20, 2001

Contact:

HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343

HHS EMERGENCY RESPONSE: SUMMARY REPORT, SEPT. 20

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said today that the department's latest response to last week's attacks includes public service announcements providing information on resources the public can turn to for emotional support and health care assistance as well as an additional deployment of personnel to provide relief to workers in New York City.

"During this time of national healing, HHS is committed to letting people know that help is available," said Secretary Thompson. "Resources we're providing are there for anyone who needs assistance with coping with this tragedy, from victims and rescue workers in the affected areas to parents helping their children understand the emotions they're feeling."

Public Service Announcements

HHS announced the release of three public service announcements (PSAs) available to broadcasters, individual cable systems and other members of the media. These PSA videos address issues related to talking with children after a disaster, aid to New York seniors concerning Medicare and other senior services, and information for people having problems coping with last week's events.

The National Association of Broadcasters will distribute the PSAs to broadcasters. In addition, information on the satellite distribution of the PSAs, scheduled for Friday, September 21, is available in a press release under the "News & Speeches" section of the HHS home page at www.hhs.gov.

Additional Deployments

HHS announced today that 43 members of the Commissioned Corps Readiness Force (CCRF) have been deployed to New York City to relieve currently assigned health personnel in the area. It is the first time that the CCRF has deployed an entire team to a disaster site. The Corps members will begin working at ground zero on Friday, Sept. 21.

The CCRF is a group of U.S. Public Health Service officers who can be mobilized in times of disaster or public health emergencies. In New York, the team will be providing 24-hour primary medical care for disaster relief workers such as search and rescue teams, law enforcement, emergency medical service personnel and construction workers. Among other health care specialties, the force includes doctors, nurses, dentists, mental health specialists, and pharmacists.

The CCRF was created by the office of the Surgeon General in 1994 and has been under the management of HHS' Office of Emergency Preparedness since 1997.

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at www.hhs.gov/news.