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News Release

HHS DEPLOYS EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS
TO SUPPORT STATE, LOCAL RESPONSE TO HURRICANE ISABEL

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson is providing the Department's full and extensive emergency response resources to states, municipalities, hospitals and others in need of public health assistance in preparation for and response to Hurricane Isabel.

Secretary Thompson deployed emergency response teams in advance of the storm to Raleigh, N.C., and Richmond, Va., to work with state and local governments. Three other teams also are on standby. So far, 65 HHS personnel are deployed along the hurricane's path, and dozens of others are prepared to help in areas most needing public health assistance.

"We are making the full resources of HHS available to states, communities, hospitals and families in Hurricane Isabel's path," Secretary Thompson said. "We are in constant contact with officials to assist in their preparations and to prepare a rapid response to any storm damage and emergency health needs."

Secretary Thompson directed HHS officials to take the following steps to prepare for and respond to Hurricane Isabel:

"The North Carolina Department of Health established a public health command center, using an HHS bioterrorism and public health grant. HHS emergency response personnel are working with command center staff to prepare to send teams out to conduct rapid needs assessments and medical surveillance of the counties affected by the hurricane. HHS teams also will perform damage assessments and work to minimize and prevent injuries in the aftermath of the hurricane.

"The HHS Command Center is operating 24 hours a day and in constant communication with state and local emergency management operations, as well as other federal departments, including Homeland Security and the White House.

"The Commissioned Corps Readiness Force has 18 members on stand-by to deploy with emergency response teams, as well as 20 nurses and 10 mental health professionals prepared to deploy for the recovery phase of the hurricane.

"HHS is in constant contact with hospitals, health centers and nursing homes projected to be in the path of the hurricane to assist in their preparations and to ready a rapid response to any storm damage and emergency health needs.

"HHS is in constant contact with the blood centers and banks, and stands ready to rapidly respond to any needs for blood as well as take necessary measures to ensure the safety of the blood supply.

"HHS is ready to work with local governments and the private sector to rapidly respond to protect the food and water supplies. HHS will work to make sure contaminated food or crops do not make it into the food supply, as well as help ensure the quality of water supplies. HHS will also work to ensure public health in the wake of any flooding or sewage backups.

"HHS is making mental health advice and counsel available to communities, schools and individuals, including how to talk to children about natural disasters. We will continue to make our mental health resources available widely.

"HHS has created a link at the top of its Web page - www.hhs.gov - for the latest health-related information related to Hurricane Isabel. The information includes links on hurricane preparedness in English and Spanish, mental health advice, blood availability, and safety of food and other products in the event of a power outage.

"We have worked aggressively over the past week to help prepare communities potentially in the path of Hurricane Isabel," Secretary Thompson said. "Hopefully, those efforts in conjunction with state and local efforts, will help minimize damage from the hurricane. In the wake of the storms, HHS teams will help carry out a rapid assessment of needs as Hurricane Isabel progresses northward, working with state and local health officials."

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

Last Revised: September 18, 2003