According to a new study from the Saint Louis University School of Public Health, many U.S. schools are not prepared for bioterrorism attacks, outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases, or pandemics, despite the recent 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic that resulted in more than 18,000 deaths worldwide.

During National Preparedness Month, this study serves as an important reminder that schools need to have plans for disasters and emergencies too. Read more on the results of the study: http://bit.ly/UrkQ5I [ASPH Friday Letter, Sept. 21, 2012]

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The Ready Campaign, FEMA, Citizen Corps, American Red Cross, and The Humane Society of the United States have come together to develop an emergency preparedness toolkit that can assist you in planning to keep your community, and specifically, the pets and people who care for them, safe from disasters.

The toolkit provides you with the resources on how to stay current on your local pet disaster plan, policies and procedures; examples of how to promote preparedness in your communities and engage other organizations in your efforts; as well as resources to educate the community about how to assemble a pet emergency supply kit and make a family emergency plan. In addition, there is a tools section that provides sample preparedness brochures, PowerPoint templates and press materials you can use to develop and distribute your internal and external preparedness messaging.” [http://1.usa.gov/S9yNYd]

Local public health officials can use a free new Web-based application, MappyHealth, to track health concerns in real time in their communities using Twitter. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) announced MappyHealth as the winning submission of the developers’ challenge on Friday.

Try it out at: http://www.mappyhealth.com/ More information at:http://1.usa.gov/RZwTVV  [HHS News Relese, Sept. 14, 2012]

A recent survey by the American Red Cross shows that about 20% of surveyed U.S. adults have used smartphone applications in emergency or disaster situations. According to the survey, mobile apps are the fourth most popular source of emergency information behind TV news, local radio stations and online news websites. Read more at: http://bit.ly/StuXp0 [iHealthBeat, Sept. 11, 2012].

The Red Cross has recently released its own Hurricane App for iPhone and Android smartphones which includes features to assist families in creating emergency plans and monitoring conditions before and during a storm track: http://rdcrss.org/RXKTVu [National Preparedness Month via American Red Cross].

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian affairs has created a set of 500 freely available icons that can be used to present information quickly in a disaster.  These icons can be used in signage and other publications to provide timely information on:

• relief locations and supplies
• types of disasters
• specific populations

To access the symbols and to learn more: http://bit.ly/QYzXBI

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has created a resource guide for National Preparedness Month (September).  Resources include fact sheets for parents, youth, school staff and community leaders on Coping in Hard Times. Also included is a 6 hour interactive online course on Psychological First Aid, which allows participants to take the role of a provider in a disaster.

Access the resource guide: http://bit.ly/OK9g4t

The National Library of Medicine has compiled a list of mobile applications and mobile-optimized web sites for disaster preparedness and response.

Apps listed include:

• WISER: information for first responders in HAZMAT situations
• First Aid from the American Red Cross: life-saving first aid information, including how-to videos
• Apps from NLM, CDC, EPA, FEMA, and the National Weather Service

The full list: http://1.usa.gov/RMP4DD

Several key agencies, including FEMA, APHA, and the CDC have joined together to encourage Americans to ask the question, “Would you be ready if there were an emergency?” Throughout the month, more than 3,000 orgnizations nationwide are supporting efforts to help Americans prepare in case of emergency, with many events culminating on “Get Ready Day,” September 18th.

For more information and resources for planning an event: http://bit.ly/Q4ca6S .

Also: CDC Features page http://1.usa.gov/Uy0iuj and http://www.ready.gov . [Public Health Newswire, Sept. 4, 2012]

Back to School Youth Preparedness Projects: Wednesday, August 15, 2012 at 3 pm EDT (2 pm CT/1 pm MT/Noon PT).

On Wednesday, August 15, FEMA’s Individual and Community Preparedness Division and Ready.gov will present a FREE Webinar about youth preparedness activities – just in time for back-to-school season!

Speakers will discuss ideas for preparing schools, children and youth in your communities with a creative project or event during National Preparedness Month this September and beyond. They will also discuss a new School Preparedness Toolkit.

More information: http://1.usa.gov/MX0xJS [Disaster Information by Librarians listserv]

On August 21, 2012 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. CST, a CDC subject matter expert will discuss the importance of disaster risk reduction for reducing adverse health effects of disasters.

For more information: http://bit.ly/TyW84P [Disaster Information by Librarians listserv]