Stories from the Field
CDC’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) cooperative agreement program is a critical source of funding, guidance, and technical assistance for state, local, tribal, and territorial public health departments to strengthen their public health preparedness capabilities. Since 9/11, the PHEP program has saved lives by building and maintaining a nationwide public health emergency management system that enables communities to rapidly respond to public health threats.
PHEP Helps Atlanta Prepare for Super Bowl LIII
In February 2019, Atlanta hosted Super Bowl LIII, an event which brought more than 1 million people into the city. To help prepare for an array of public health events, PHEP-funded state and local programs worked for months, conducting trainings, monitoring potential disease outbreaks, and preparing to respond to any potential terrorist event.
CDC Epidemiologists Help Ensure Preparedness
September is National Preparedness Month, and to celebrate, we’re looking at a unique group of CDC employees who work across the United States, using their varied expertise to help the nation prepare for and respond to public health emergencies.
CDC CEFO Prevents Toxic Chlorine Gas Exposure
In June 2015, the CDPH received notification that a chemical release at a municipal swimming pool sickened 34 people, mostly children. Dr. Jason Wilken, a CEFO assigned to California assembled a multidisciplinary team to develop recommendations to prevent future toxic chlorine gas releases at aquatic venues. The findings of this investigation led to a revision of the aquatic health code as best practice for keeping swimmers safe from chemical exposures
PHEP Helps North Carolina Respond to Hurricane Florence
In September 2018, Hurricane Florence crawled through North Carolina, causing catastrophic flooding and killing 42 people.
Containing a Hepatitis A Outbreak in Michigan
Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable, contagious liver disease that is usually contracted by consuming contaminated food or water. This outbreak appeared to be spread mainly via person-to-person contact, as a community-acquired infection.
PHEP Helps Keep Residents Safe during a Volcanic Eruption in Hawaii
PHEP-funded staff were able to quickly establish six dispensing sites to distribute more than 52,000 particulate filtering masks to residents in affected areas, protecting them from volcanic ash.
Keeping Residents Safe after a Train Accident in Pennsylvania
In August 2017, a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in Pennsylvania, necessitating the evacuation of 3,000 residents.
Containing an Outbreak Seoul Hantavirus in Wisconsin
Early in 2017, a child in Wisconsin fell sick with a rare illness spread through rats – Seoul hantavirus.
Preventing Influenza in Connecticut
The 2017-2018 influenza season was one of the worst in recent history. Connecticut helped prevent new cases by setting up a vaccine clinic and developing risk communication materials.
Restoring California Communities after Devastating Wildfires
In 2017, wildfires in California raged through 1.2 million acres and claimed at least 46 lives. HPP-PHEP plans and partnerships allowed for the efficient evacuation and eventual repopulation of hospitals and helped support shelters.
Responding to a Water Contamination Incident in Illinois
A water main break under a river contaminated water in Cumberland County, Illinois and left some residents without water entirely. In response, PHEP-funded health department staff established a water distribution center and went door-to-door to check on residents. The actions of the health department and the community spirit of the small town prevented any waterborne illnesses.
Controlling a Mumps Outbreak in Washington
In late 2016 and early 2017, a mumps outbreak in Washington affected more than 800 people of all ages. In response, the state health department used PHEP funds to mobilize an Epidemiology Task Force to support local health departments with case investigation, disease surveillance, and risk communication activities.
Collaborating with Alaskan Tribes to Improve Preparedness
Most Alaskan villages are not accessible by road, meaning village leaders need to be prepared to handle emergencies until help arrives. The PHEP-funded Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium trains community leaders and equips regional hospitals to be better prepared for emergencies.
Containing a Measles Outbreak in Minnesota
In 2017, a measles outbreak infected over 70 people in and around Minneapolis. With the help of PHEP, epidemiologists and home visitors investigated new cases and counseled potential cases throughout the course of the event.
Flooding from Hurricane Matthew in North Carolina
In October 2016, Hurricane Matthew made landfall in southeastern North Carolina as a Category 1 storm, causing catastrophic flooding and killing 28 people. PHEP-funded staff relied on relationships with partners and past experience to respond to a very unpredictable storm and its impact.
Wildfires in Gatlinburg, Tennessee
In late 2016, a wildfire tore through Gatlinburg, Tenn., destroying 2,460 structures and killing 14 people. Tennessee state and local health departments deployed staff to all areas of the response, and provided the infrastructure to support all communication.
PHEP-Funded Exercise Supports Influenza Vaccination in Oklahoma
In September 2016, the Oklahoma State Health Department needed assistance distributing flu vaccines across the state. The state SNS team incorporated the vaccine distribution into its regularly scheduled MCM exercise.
Regional Cooperation in Emergencies
In October 2016, Hurricane Matthew made landfall in Florida as a Category 2 storm. To assist in recovery, Florida used the Unified Planning Coalition, or UPC, a resource-sharing coalition among states in the southeastern region of the United States. After the storm, Florida was able to receive shelter support from nearby states days before what would have been possible without the UPC.
Catastrophic Flooding in Louisiana
In August 2016, a historic flood killed 13 people and left more than 100,000 people homeless in southeastern Louisiana. Because health department staff were personally affected by the flood, federal and state partners, as well as private citizens, were critical to the flood response.
Flooding In West Virginia
West Virginia is no stranger to floods. “It feels like we have a major flood every Tuesday,” said Jerry Rhodes, director of the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health Center for Threat Preparedness. However, this flood was different; by all accounts it was a catastrophe the state hasn’t seen the likes of in many years.
Flooding in Texas
In April and May of 2016, a record-setting 16.5 inches of rain caused the Brazos River in southeastern Texas to flood its banks, wreaking devastation on the surrounding counties. The floodwaters brought snakes, insects, and debris, killed six people, and led to more than 300 water rescues, hundreds of displaced persons, and the evacuation of two prisons.
Republican National Convention in Ohio
On July 18 -21, 2016, Cleveland, Ohio, hosted the Republican National Convention, seeing an influx of nearly 70,000 visitors to the area, including delegates from every state and territory. This event, like other large political gatherings, was considered a National Special Security Event, meaning that it was a potential target for terrorism or other criminal activity.
Surveillance Success in Oregon
In 2015, a foodborne outbreak associated with Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants caused 13 cases of E.coli in Oregon, four of which required hospitalization. The same year, an outbreak of meningitis B at the University of Oregon resulted in seven cases and one fatality.
Ebola Response in GA
Georgia was particularly vulnerable to travel-related Ebola cases, both because it is home to CDC headquarters, which was continuously sending staff to assist with the outbreak in West Africa, and because the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport was one of five airports that received travelers from West Africa.
Caring for the Chronically Ill During Emergencies
During two winter storms in early 2015 and 2016, the Kentucky Department for Public Health was able to continue caring for vulnerable patients, because they had established state and local public health emergency expertise and had relationships in place with partners such as law enforcement and were able to work together to mitigate the health effects of life-threatening emergencies.
Alaska’s Sockeye Wildfire
In the summer of 2015, Alaska was affected by more than 300 statewide wildfires, burning more than five million acres, significantly larger than the 600,000 acres burned in a typical year. In response, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services used PHEP-funded emergency management processes to support emergency shelters with equipment and mental health services for residents.
Caring for Chronically Ill Patients During Emergencies in North Dakota
Two separate incidents in North Dakota in 2013, the threat of a dam failure and a train collision, highlighted the need for a multi-incident care model, specifically in regard to residents with chronic health conditions. The North Dakota Department of Health worked with local partners and used PHEP funds to develop and implement these plans, thereby sustaining a system capable of rapidly distributing lifesaving medications and emergency medical supplies to the public.
Severe Tornados in Alabama
In 2011, Alabama responded to the largest emergency in state history—a severe weather outbreak with 62 confirmed tornadoes. Two hundred forty-seven people died, hundreds were injured, and thousands were left homeless in this disaster. The Alabama Department of Public Health used PHEP funds to open two medical needs shelters, provided public health nurses to support a local hospital, established a mobile pharmacy, and collaborated with partners to process more than 200 human remains.
Extreme Flooding in Colorado
In September 2013, heavy rains caused extreme flooding in 18 counties in Colorado. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared the event a 1,000-year rainfall event—1,882 structures were destroyed, and 16,000 other structures damaged, including multiple healthcare facilities in the affected counties.
Maryland Superstorm Sandy Response
When Superstorm Sandy struck the Mid-Atlantic region in 2012, Maryland was affected by both a rainstorm and a blizzard, causing power outages throughout Garrett County. Maryland’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene was prepared, having worked with local partners to implement a public health emergency structure capable of leading public health responses..
Tornado in Joplin, Missouri
On May 22, 2011, an EF-5 tornado carved a four-mile path through Joplin, MO. Two thousand buildings, including a major hospital, were damaged or destroyed. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services activated the PHEP-funded State Emergency Operations Center and Emergency Response Center to integrate public health into the emergency response and, in collaboration with its partners, lead and coordinate the public health and healthcare sectors.