CDC Responds to Hurricane 2008 Season

This information is current as of 12:00 pm EST, September 9, 2008.

CDC, the nation’s public health agency, is responding to Hurricane Gustav and preparing for Hurricane Ike’s projected landfall on the Gulf Coast later this week. Currently, CDC has sent 72 staff to affected and potentially affected areas. Working with the Department of Health and Human Services and federal, state and local partners, CDC’s response is focused on protecting people’s health and safety during storm preparation and recovery.

Hurricane Gustav

CDC has sent experts to affected areas to assist in recovery for Hurricane Gustav. This includes environmental health experts who are working in New Orleans to assess safety at food handling facilities that may have been damaged by the storm.
Additional CDC experts are providing public health and medical support, assisting with local efforts, and monitoring state surveillance activities in local areas.
State health departments in affected areas have been assisting each other with responding to and recovering from the storm and are working with other agencies to restore infrastructure capabilities in affected areas. All hospitals in Louisiana are now reporting fully restored power, and states are continuing to work to restore electricity to private homes, offices, and other facilities.

Hurricane Ike

CDC is working to help communities prepare for landfall along coastal areas that may be affected by the storm. Experts are working with state and local officials to provide guidance on what to do in case of evacuation, power outages, flooding, or tornadoes resulting from the storm. CDC experts are also assisting in providing support to temporary shelters for evacuees. For up to date information about this storm, visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Federal Medical Stations are mobile units made of medical supplies, equipment, and healthcare providers which provide medical care for evacuees with special needs. Each medical station has beds, supplies, and medicine to treat 250 people for a period of time determined by state and local needs, without drawing resources from the host community. Currently, there are 12 stations set up or planned across the South, including stations in Dallas and San Antonio, Texas; and Alexandria, Ruston, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Two stations in Florida are being re-routed to Atlanta, Georgia to better serve potential evacuees from the storm.

In addition to deploying staff and resources, CDC is working closely with federal, state and local partners to distribute information on how to recover safely after a hurricane and how to prepare for future storms. Recovering safely includes protecting personal health and preventing injury.

There are many things you can do to stay safe before and during a storm.

Protect your health and safety when authorities tell you to evacuate from the path of a hurricane.

Turn off gas, electricity, and water and disconnect appliances before you leave.
Stock your car with a complete emergency kit if you are driving out of the area. Follow the designated evacuation routes and expect heavy traffic.
If possible, fill your gas tank before beginning evacuation.
Contact local emergency management authorities if you have questions about evacuating.

Take your prescription medicines with you if you evacuate.

Also take any medical supplies you use regularly.
Forgotten medications and supplies will be hard to replace if pharmacies are closed during and after a hurricane.
If you’re unable to evacuate, ask someone to help you pick up emergency supplies, including a week’s supply of medication, if you cannot drive yourself.

Be safe and keep informed if authorities advise you to stay at home during the storm.

Monitor the radio or television for weather reports and follow instructions related to the storm.
Until the storm is over, stay indoors in a basement or an interior room, away from all windows and exterior doors.
If your home is damaged or emergency workers tell you to leave, evacuate to a shelter or to a neighbor's home.

There are many things you can do to stay safe as you recover after a storm.

Avoid Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning after a disaster.

Generators, grills, camp stoves, or other gasoline or charcoal-burning devices produce deadly CO gases.
Always use these devices outdoors, far away from windows, doors and vents.
Pressure washers and other gasoline powered tools also give off high levels of CO and should be used outdoors.

Follow manufacturer’s directions to prevent chain saw injuries after a disaster.

Read the instruction manual and start the chain saw using only the method recommended by the manufacturer.
It is best to wear protective equipment, including hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection, heavy work gloves, and boots which cover the ankle.
When cutting, keep the chain saw at waist level or below to improve your control of the saw.

Frequent handwashing helps prevent illness.

Use plenty of soap and water, or a hand sanitizer.
Wash before making food, eating, or touching a cut or sore.
Wash after using the bathroom, coughing, or sneezing.

Previous Updates

More Information

For more information about how to stay safe before, during and after hurricanes, please visit emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes.

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Page last updated September 9, 2008
Content source: CDC Emergency Communication System (ECS), Division of Health Communication and Marketing (DHCM), National Center for Health Marketing (NCHM)