Disaster Preparedness:
What Texas Health Steps Providers Should Know
Disasters can occur with or without warning and can be local or widespread. The time to “prepare to survive” and “prepare to recover” is before a disaster. Your ability to provide advice and useful resources can help families get through emergencies and can position your practice to resume normal operations as soon as possible.
Choose any section below to learn more.
Resources & Appendix
- Resources for Health-Care Providers
- American Academic of Pediatrics (AAP) web page, Disasters and Children.
- AAP Preparedness Checklist for Pediatric Practices.
- AAP Pediatric Preparedness Resource Kit.
- AAP Post-disaster Considerations for Pediatricians.
- AAP webinar, Talking to and Supporting Children During a Pandemic. Discusses communication strategies for providers, ways to talk to and support children during the COVID-19 pandemic and strategies to help parents communicate with their children.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Cooperative Agreement. Source of funding that provides assistance to public health departments.
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) login.
- National Child Traumatic Stress Network, Tornado Resources. Resources for parents, children and those who work with them to understand, prepare for and survive tornados.
- National Pediatric Disaster Coalition. Information, conference findings and other tools for pediatric professionals to prepare for disasters.
- State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR). Registry for individuals who need assistance during emergencies and disasters. Does NOT guarantee assistance or specific supports but provides local emergency planners and emergency responders with additional information about the needs in their community.
- Texas Department of State Health Services. Regional Advisory Councils.
- Texas Department of State Health Services. Texas Vaccines for Children Program (TVFC). State program that makes vaccines available to eligible children at no cost to health-care providers. Can assist with re-stocking lost vaccines during or after a disaster. Enroll online or call the TVFC program toll-free at 800-252-9152.
- Texas Department of State Health Services. Texas Vaccines for Children Program (TVFC) Best Practices. Web page details how to best use TVFC and includes links to enroll in TVFC and access the TVFC and ASN Provider Manual.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. COVID-19 Resources for Pediatric Healthcare Leaders and Clinicians: Understanding Risks, Keeping Children Healthy, Treating COVID-19 Patients, and Managing Patient Surge.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Cultural and Linguistic Competency in Disaster Preparedness and Response Fact Sheet.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP). A national program that promotes improving patient outcomes during emergencies and enables rapid health-care service resilience and recovery.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Ready.gov. Disaster Preparedness for Individuals with Disabilities.
can access curated content, get involved with preparedness program, and connect with their community. - Acts of Violence and Terrorism
- National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement.
- National Child Traumatic Stress Network, Terrorism and Violence web page Resources to help families and children recover after acts of terrorism and violence.
- Ways for Medical Professionals to Volunteer During Disasters
- FEMA Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
- Team Rubicon.
- Texas Disaster Volunteer Registry.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Medical Reserve Corps.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), Unit Locations Map.
- Helpful Resources to Share with Patients and Families
- AAP Family Readiness Kit. Printable and thorough toolkit to help families discuss and plan for disasters.
- AHAS – Accessible Hazard Alert Systems.
- Autism Speaks, Natural Disaster Resources.
- Autism Speaks, Wandering Prevention Resources.
- National Autism Association. Big Red Safety Toolkit.
- National Child Traumatic Stress Network, Help Kids Cope mobile app.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Ready.gov. Ready Kids. Tools for children and families to help before, during and after disasters.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Ready.gov. Ready Kids, Build a Kit game. Interactive game that lets children build an emergency kit.
- AAP, healthychildren.org. Talking With Children About Disasters.
- TexasReady.gov. Disaster planning and checklists for Texas families and children.
- TexasReady.gov. Build a Disaster Kit. Printable PDF to help anyone put together a disaster supply kit.
to help parents talk to their children about disasters. Can also help professionals such as medical providers and teachers navigate conversations with children about disasters and disaster preparedness. - References Featured in Course
- American Academy of Pediatrics. (2017). Taking their toll: Hurricanes test resolve of pediatricians.
- Busby, J. W., Baker, K., Bazilian, M. D., Gilbert, A. Q., Grubert, E., Rai, V., . . . Webber, M. E. (2021). Cascading risks: Understanding the 2021 winter blackout in Texas. Energy Research & Social Science, 77:102106.
- Centers for Disease Control. (2021). Natural Disasters and COVID-19: Preparedness Information for Specific Groups. (English and Spanish).
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Learning from 2020: Preparing for a Second COVID-19 Hurricane Season. CDC Public Health Matters Blog.
- Insurance Information Institute. (2021). Wildfires By State, 2021.
- Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission. (2018). Medicaid’s Role in Disasters and Public Health Emergencies.
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Centers for Environmental Information. (2022). U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters: Events, Texas.
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Centers for Environmental Information. (2022). U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters: Overview.
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center. (2022). Hurricanes in History: Galveston Hurricane 1900.
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center. (2022). Tropical Cyclone Climatology.
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service. (2021). Valentine's Week Winter Outbreak 2021: Snow, Ice, & Record Cold.
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office for Coastal Management. (2022). Fast Facts: Hurricane Costs.
- Texas Department of State Health Services. (2022). Regional Advisory Councils.
- Texas Department of State Health Services. (2021). February 2021 Winter Storm-Related Deaths – Texas (Report).
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness & Response. (2022). ASPR Health Care Readiness State Highlights: Texas.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness & Response. (2017). Public Health and Medical Services Support.