Introduction
This guide serves as an online collection of resources and tools that are relevant to disaster and emergency management. If you would like to learn more about emergency preparedness resources, or explore training opportunities that are available through NNLM, find and contact your region for more information!
MedlinePlus
MedlinePlus is the National Library of Medicine’s website for patients and their families and friends with information about diseases, conditions and wellness in plain language. MedlinePlus offers reliable, up-to-date health information, anytime, anywhere, for free.
Ready.gov (Listo en español)
Resources for developing a preparedness plan, including publications, checklists, videos, and tool kits for community outreach.
Ready in Your Language (Ready.gov)
Ready also offers some content in additional languages such as Arabic, French, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Tagalog, Vietnamese and Simplified Chinese.
State and Federal Resources
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness & Response (ASPR)
National Weather Service - Weather Prediction Center
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-Emergency Preparedness
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
FEMA Helpline: 1-800-621-3362
Write to FEMA:
FEMA
P.O. Box 10055
Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055
FEMA is comprised of 10 regions in the continental U.S. and territories. Each region has a regional office that work directly with states, territories, and tribes. Please note the regional and state designation under FEMA is different from the regional/state designation under the Network of the National Library of Medicine.
- Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
- Email: fema-r1-info@fema.dhs.gov
- New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands
- General Contact Email: FEMA-R2-ExternalAffairs@fema.dhs.gov
- Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, District of Columbia, West Virginia
- General Contact: 215-931-5500
- Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
- General Contact: 770-220-5200 | E-mail: FEMA-R4-Info@fema.dhs.gov
- Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin
- General Contact: 312-408-5500 | E-mail: fema-r5-info@fema.dhs.gov
- Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
- General Contact: 940-898-5399
- Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming
- General Contact: 303-235-4800
- Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Guam, American Samoa, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands
- General Contact: 510-627-7100
- Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington
- General Contact: 425-487-4600 | Email: FEMA-R10-Info@fema.dhs.gov
Preparedness, Response and Recovery
Preparedness
Planning, training and education
MedlinePlus (NLM)
For patients and their families and friends with information about diseases, conditions and wellness in plain language.
- Earthquakes Topic Page (Terremotos en español)
- Floods Topic Page (Inundaciones en español)
- Hurricane Topic Page (Huracanes en español)
- Tornadoes Topic Page (Tornados en español)
- Wildfires Topic Page (Incendios forestales en español)
- Winter Weather Emergencies Page (Emergencias causadas por el invierno en español)
Pet Safety in Emergencies (CDC)
Vulnerable Populations
Resources for “at-risk populations” whose needs are not fully addressed by traditional service providers or who feel they cannot comfortably or safely use the standard resources offered during preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.
- Emergency Preparedness and Disability Inclusion (CDC)
- How To Prepare for Emergencies (Red Cross)
- Emergency Preparedness (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights)
Printable Guides
- Downloadable Publications (Ready.gov)
- Topic Collection: Continuity of Operations (COOP)/Business Continuity Planning (ASPR TRACIE)
- Communications Resources-Natural Disasters including for kids (CDC)
Response
Immediately after an emergency when normal life has been interrupted
Community and State Information (Ready.gov)
Volunteer
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) (FEMA)
Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) (ASPR)
Disaster Preparedness Volunteer (Red Cross)
Disaster Action Team (Red Cross)
Stay up-to-date
Conditions and information change quickly during an emergency.
- Find Emergency Alert resources.
- Learn the difference between an advisory, watch and warning.
- Follow trusted local, state and national accounts on social media.
Recovery
Getting back to normal
Rebuilding
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Recovering from Disaster (Ready.gov)
Coping with Disasters
Coping with Disasters: MedlinePlus (Enfrentarse con desastres MedlinePlus español) (NLM)
Disaster Distress Help Line (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA))
Reunification of Family in the US and US Territories (Red Cross)
Printable Guides
- Technical Resources: Recovery Planning (ASPR TRACIE)
- Publications and Digital Products (SAMHSA)
- Coping with Disaster or Traumatic Event Factsheet (CDC)
Training Opportunities
NNLM Recordings from Past Disaster Forums
- Cybersecurity in the Rural Health Landscape (September 18, 2024)
- Informal Weather Education Outreach (Sep. 28, 2023)
- Why Comics Work for Risk Communication (Sep. 20, 2023)
- ASPR TRACIE: A Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Information Gateway (Sep. 13, 2023)
- Creating a One-Page Disaster Plan (Sep. 14, 2023)
- OnTheMap for Emergency Management and My Community Explorer Data Tools (Sep. 12, 2023)
- Inclusive Disaster Planning: Considering the Needs of People with Disabilities (Sep. 27, 2022)
- Ransomware Attacks: What Medical Librarians Need to Know (Dec. 9, 2021)
- Less Ostrich, More Owl: Five Steps to Quickly Improve Your Library's Ability to Respond to a Sudden Disaster (Sep. 22, 2021)
- Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP) for Libraries Part 2: The Library Match Game (Feb. 10, 2021)