AAOHN Hurricane Relief Support Resources

The destruction left by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita is unfathomable in terms of lives lost, injuries, property damage, jobs lost, and the long-lasting public health consequences of the events. AAOHN offers its deepest condolences and support to those members and their families affected by these hurricanes.

Many AAOHN members across the nation want to help in the relief efforts. To help facilitate hurricane relief efforts, AAOHN has created this Web page as a resource for members who would like to contribute money, volunteer time, or provide resources to their employees. Please feel free to distribute any information on this page.

Cash Contributions for Hurricane Katrina/Rita Relief:

• American Red Cross – http://www.redcross.org
  1-800-HELP NOW (435-7669) English,
  1-800-257-7575 Spanish;

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Donation Resource Page http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18473

Contacts for Health and Safety Professionals Who Want to Volunteer:

• American Red Cross contact page for volunteers -- http://www2.redcross.org/contactus/
  
  
• Find your local American Red Cross -- http://www2.redcross.org/where/where.html
  
  
• The Department of Health and Human Services has established a Web site at https://volunteer.ccrf.hhs.gov/ and toll-free number (1-866-KAT MEDI) to identify healthcare professionals to assist in relief efforts.
  
  

• Emergency Management Assistance Compact -- http://www.emacweb.org/. Volunteer information for public health workers employed by state and local public health agencies.

• National Council of State Boards of Nurses -- http://www.ncsbn.org/news/ncsbninthenews_hurricanekatrina.asp. This page provides information on Boards of Nursing in the states most impacted by this disaster and offers links for those wishing to volunteer their services.

• National Emergency Resource Registry -- https://www.swern.gov/. Offers information for those interested in donating housing, transportation, medical equipment, supplies, and medications.

• National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters -- http://www.nvoad.org/membersdb.php?members=National.

• Those interested in joining a federal Disaster Medical Assistance Team should visit the national DMAT Web site at http://www.oep-ndms.dhhs.gov/dmat.html or e-mail the main office at ndms@usa.net.

• USA Freedom Corps -- http://www.usafreedomcorps.gov/.

FEMA Resources for Hurricane Victims:

• How to Apply for Assistance -- http://www.fema.gov/about/process/

• Returning Home After the Disaster -- http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=17978

• General Recovery Information -- http://www.fema.gov/press/2005/hurricane_season.shtm

School-Related Resources for Hurricane Victims:

• U.S. Dept. of Education -- http://www.ed.gov/news/hurricane/factsheet.html. Nationwide clearinghouse addressing the needs of the affected children and schools and districts serving displaced students.
  
  
• USDA/Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) -- http://www.frac.org/news/katrina9_01-05.html. Information on USDA's recent policy memorandum reducing barriers to feeding school children in affected areas. For information on FRAC's Advocate's Guide to the Disaster Food Stamp Program, visit http://www.frac.org/pdf/dfsp05.pdf.

Resources for Health and Safety Professionals:

• CDC Hurricane Recovery Info -- http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/
  
• NIOSH Flood and Hurricane Response Info -- http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/emres/natural.html#flood

• OSHA – Keeping Workers Safe During Clean Up and Recovery Operations Following Hurricanes -- http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/hurricaneRecovery.html
  
  

• National Library of Medicine Hurricane Katrina Web page -- http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/hurricane.html
  Has info on toxic chemical and environmental health information resources for health workers and the interested public. Links are provided to information on chemicals that may be released as a result of the Katrina disaster and on environmental health concerns following the wind and flood damage.

Resources to Share with Your Employees:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Hurricane Response and Preparedness -- http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/index.asp
  
  
• Department of Health and Human Services  -- http://www.hhs.gov/katrina/index.html. Hurricane Katrina response updates.
  
  
• FEMA Says Cash Donations Best Way to Help Hurricane Victims -- http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18473

• Florida Department of Health Hurricane Information Index -- http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Hurricane/hurricane2005.html

• Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Offers Safety tips to prevent injury and the spread of disease following Hurricane Katrina. --http://www.dhh.state.la.us./news.asp?Detail=570

• Mississippi Department of Health Severe Weather Health and Safety Advisory -- http://www.msdh.state.ms.us/msdhsite/_static/44,2022,122,218.html

State Health Departments in Affected Areas:

• Alabama Department of Public Health -- http://www.adph.org/Default.asp?bhcp=1

• Florida Department of Health -- http://www.doh.state.fl.us/

• Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals -- http://www.dhh.state.la.us./

• Mississippi Department of Public Health -- http://www.msdh.state.ms.us/
  
• Texas Department of Health -- http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/

• CDC Resource Links, including list of all state public health departments -- http://www.cdc.gov/doc.do/id/0900f3ec80226c7a

Hurricane-Related Documents and Resources Recently Released or Updated

• Drive Safely -- http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/pdf/flyer-drive-safely.pdf
• Returning Home After a Hurricane: Be Healthy and Safe -- http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/returnhome.asp
• Cleaning and Sanitizing With Bleach after an Emergency -- http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/bleach.asp
• Varicella Info from NIP -- http://www.cdc.gov/nip/diseases/varicella/
• Addition of Safe Water Tips to Announcer Read PSAs -- http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/psa_announcerreads.asp#rita
• Disposal of Contaminated Medical Devices -- http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/emergency/disposal.html
• Contact Information for Questions about Clinical InvestigationsAffected by Hurricane Katrina -- http://www.fda.gov/cder/emergency/clin_invest.htm
• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning After Hurricane Katrina: Alabama,Louisiana, and Mississippi, August-September 2005 -- http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm54e930a1.htm