Public Health Management of Disasters: The Practice Guide

Emergency response and public health preparedness has gained a heightened awareness in our consciousness because of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Because of these events and of the increasing number of natural disasters that have struck across the United States, there are concerns that the public health infrastructure is not sufficient to meet the need from the threats of bioterrorism or weapons of mass destruction. Public Health Management of Disasters: The Practice Guide, is the first comprehensive public health text for public health practitioners in this relatively new practice area as public health leaders begin the comprehensive nationwide integration of health departments into the emergency response of communities.

This book can serve as a quick reference for either public health practitioners or public safety personnel who need quick information about disaster response for natural, man-made, and weapons of mass destruction (AKA bioterrorism). In addition, it identifies the public health role in each aspect of disaster activity, something that no other book has done. Public Health Management of Disasters: The Practice Guide also organizes morbidity and mortality concerns by disaster so that these negative outcomes can be referred to quickly.