Crisis & Emergency Risk Communication (CERC)

Spotlight on...

Pandemic Influenza Storybook
These first-person and family accounts provide an intimate, personal view of the 1918 pandemic that goes beyond the staggering statistics associated with the event and, thus, can help planners re-energize their efforts and fight preparedness fatigue and apathy. The stories related in the Pandemic Influenza Storybook will move you, some will make you laugh, but all serve as reminders of the primary reason why preparedness is so important ― saving human lives. Learn more ...

CERC Training Curricula & Tools

The CDC's training curricula brings the novice up to speed and helps the seasoned professional hone his or her skills in Crisis & Emergency Risk Communication. Learn more ...

Online Training

NEW! CERC Online. Take the course at your own pace with this updated online version.

In-person Training

One- to one-and-a-half-day class that focuses on information surrounding an intense public health emergency as well as the psychology of risk communication.

NEW! The next in-person training session will be held in Atlanta, Georgia on Tuesday, February 17, 2009. Training will be held at CDC's Roybal Campus in the Global Communications Center (Main Campus, Bldg. 19), Rooms 256/257, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The course is free. CDC employees may register on the HHS Learning Portal. External persons interested in attending should send an email to CERCinfo@cdc.gov.

Course Books

You may order course books for your local CERC training session. Send an email to CERCrequest@cdc.gov with your name, mailing address, organization, date, and location of your CERC training session. Limit 250 books per training session. There is no charge for CERC course books. All course books are 8x11 inches.

Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (1.7Mb, 277 pages)
The BASIC CERC course book is an introductory course on risk communication, issues management, and crisis or disaster communication.
Leader Materials—By Leaders for Leaders (700K, 57 pages)
The LEADERS FOR LEADERS CERC course book gives leaders the tools they need to successfully communicate with the public, media, partners, and stakeholders during emergency public health events.
Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication: Pandemic Influenza (6.4 Mb, 186 pages)
The PANDEMIC FLU CERC course book provides vital communication tools and concepts for preparing and responding to a pandemic influenza event in the United States. See also Pandemic Influenza Course for more information, including overview and objectives.

Quick Guides and Wallet Cards NEW! Oct 3, 2008

Quick Guides (185K, 1 page)
Wallet Cards (150K, 1 page)

Best Practices

Examples derived from actual public health events

Contact Us

Send questions about CERC to CERCinfo@cdc.gov
Request materials at CERCrequest@cdc.gov. Orders will be completed in 3-4 weeks from the time of the request.
Send email to Listserv@cdc.gov with NO subject in the header. Type the following command in body of the email: subscribe CERC your email address your full name