Federal Departments and National Relief Agencies
Department of Health and Human Services
The Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) has a comprehensive disaster and emergency webpage at http://www.hhs.gov/disasters. In addition, listed
below are key HHS agencies and offices providing disaster and emergency information.
http://dhhs.gov/emergency/
Other Federal Departments
- (DA) Department of Agriculture.
The USDA operates Food Distribution Disaster Assistance and an Extension Disaster Education Network.
- (DHS) Department of Homeland Security
DHS leads the unified national effort to secure America. Goals are to prevent and
deter terrorist attacks and protect against and respond to threats and hazards to
the nation.
- Citizen’s Corps
The Citizen Corps helps communities be better prepared to handle disasters, threats,
and emergencies of all kind.
- First Responders
DHS is committed to ensuring that first responders nation-wide are prepared, equipped
and trained for any situation and to bringing together information and resources
to prepare for and respond to a terrorist attack, natural disaster or other large-scale
emergency.
- (FEMA)Federal Emergency Management
Agency
FEMA coordinates the federal response when a Presidential Disaster Declaration is
made. Together with the Small Business Administration (SBA), it responds with
loans and grants that help disaster victims recover. - Regional and
State Offices
- (EPA) Environmental
Protection Agency
Environmental emergencies involving the release, or threatened release, of oil,
radioactive materials or hazardous chemicals may potentially affect communities
and the surrounding environment.
- (DoT) Department of Transportation.
- DoT’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) administers
federal funding to support a variety of locally planned, constructed, and operated
public transportation systems throughout the U.S., including buses, subways, light
rail, commuter rail, streetcars, monorail, passenger ferry boats, inclined railways,
and people movers. FTA has 10 regional offices.
-
(DoVA)Department of Veteran Affairs.
The VA operates the National Center for Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/index.jsp -
(SMA) Small Business Administration.
The SBA provides loans for businesses of all sizes, homeowners and renters in the
event of a disaster. This includes physical disaster loans, economic injury loans,
military reservists' loans and home and personal property loans.
National Relief Agencies
National Relief Agencies serve an important role in emergency/disaster preparation
and assistance. They are often among the first responders to disasters at
the individual and the community level.
Resources for Individuals and Families
These resources are specifically developed to meet the needs of older adults and
their caregivers in the event of an emergency/disaster.
- Eldercare Locator
If you know the number of your local AAA, call it first. If you do not know
the number, the Eldercare Locator is the first step to finding resources for older
adults in any U.S. community. Enter the zip code, city, or county to locate
state and local aging offices in your state.
- Just in Case: Emergency Readiness for Older Adults and Caregivers.
This AOA fact sheet has step by step information on how older adults should prepare
for a disaster/emergency. It includes helpful checklists, contact lists, and
a medication list that can be filled in. It is also available in Spanish. -
Emergency Preparedness and Response,
Centers for Disease Control.
This website contains consumer information pertaining to all kinds of natural and
man-made disasters. - Emergency Preparedness for Seniors and People with Disabilities,
American Red Cross.
This website contains a number of resources to help seniors and people with disabilities
during a disaster. - Are You Ready? An In-Depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness
is FEMA’s most comprehensive source on individual, family, and community preparedness.
- Health Related Resources
This page includes extensive health related information for consumers and families,
including information on heat, cold, mental health, and mold. - Emergency Planning
Checklist, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services:
The following three links provide emergency planning checklists for people living
in long-term care facilities and their families:
residents
and long-term care ombudsmen ; long-term
care providers ; and
people with medical needs living at home
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