U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
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Disaster Preparedness - FAQs:
Preparedness
Being prepared is the best way to reduce the effects of a natural disaster or other emergency. There are a number of Web sites that can provide invaluable information about planning and readiness:
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Personal Preparedness for Older Adults & Their Caregivers (CDC)
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Keeping Food and Water Safe after a Natural Disaster or Power Outage (CDC)
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Surviving an Earthquake (CDC)
Pet Information
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Helping Pets (FEMA)
Isolation and quarantine are public health practices used to stop or limit the spread of disease.
Isolation is used to separate ill persons who have a communicable disease from those who are healthy. Isolation restricts the movement of ill persons to help stop the spread of certain diseases. For example, hospitals use isolation for patients with infectious tuberculosis.
Quarantine is used to separate and restrict the movement of well persons who may have been exposed to a communicable disease to see if they become ill. These people may have been exposed to a disease and do not know it, or they may have the disease but do not show symptoms. Quarantine can also help limit the spread of communicable disease.
Isolation and quarantine are used to protect the public by preventing exposure to infected persons or to persons who may be infected.
By Executive Order of the President, federal isolation and quarantine are authorized for these communicable diseases:
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Cholera
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Diphtheria
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Infectious tuberculosis
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Plague
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Smallpox
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Yellow fever
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Viral hemorrhagic fevers
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Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
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Flu that can cause a pandemic
The Federal government derives its authority for isolation and quarantine from the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Under section 361 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S. Code § 264), the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services is authorized to take measures to prevent the entry and spread of communicable diseases from foreign countries into the United States and between states.
Under 42 Code of Federal Regulations parts 70 and 71, CDC is authorized to detain, medically examine, and release persons arriving into the
When alerted about an ill passenger or crew member by the pilot of a plane or captain of a ship, CDC may detain passengers and crew as necessary to investigate whether the cause of the illness on board is a communicable disease.
If a quarantinable disease is suspected or identified, the CDC may issue a Federal isolation or quarantine order. Public health authorities at the federal, state, local, and tribal levels may sometimes seek help from police or other law enforcement officers to enforce a public health order.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Coast Guard officers are authorized to help enforce federal quarantine orders. Breaking a federal quarantine order is punishable by fines and imprisonment. Federal law allows the conditional release of persons from quarantine if they comply with medical monitoring and surveillance.
Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS): a fact sheet for the public (CDC)
Learn about radiation sickness and its symptoms.
Radiation and pregnancy: a fact sheet for the public (CDC)
Understand the possible health effects to your fetus from exposure to radiation.
Radiation emergencies information (CDC)
Find information to help people protect themselves during and after a radiological event.
Radiation Emergencies: Protecting yourself and your family (CDC)
Read about actions people can take to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their pets if a radiation emergency occurs.
