Resources
Hazard Risk Assessment Instrument (HRAI)
The Hazard Risk Assessment Instrument (HRAI) will enable state and local public health agencies to conduct a risk assessment of their community. The tool is designed for use as a standard approach to hazard risk assessment that is adapted to the public health impacts of hazards. HRAI will guide public health agencies in identifying the hazards most relevant to their communities, assessing the probability of occurrence, determining their community's vulnerabilities and current resources, and quantifying the impact on the public's health, allowing for prioritization of response and mitigation options. CPHD is available to assist public health agencies in conducting a hazard risk assessment.
Writing a Disaster Plan: A Guide for Health Departments
This guidebook is designed to assist state and local public health departments in developing a comprehensive, all-hazards disaster plan that includes the essential components necessary in the event of an emergency or disaster. An adaptable plan that incorporates all potential hazards can reduce confusion during a disaster by employing a consistent set of core responses and will eliminate the need for multiple disaster plans. Disaster plans will differ between jurisdictions as the potential hazards, applicable laws, and resources may vary. Topics include, but are not limited to, hazard and resource assessment, legal responsibilities, mutual aid, incident command system, and recovery operations. Templates for designing and conducting public health exercises and other related topics may be developed as needed. CPHD is available to assist public health departments in developing an all-hazards disaster plan as well as appropriate annexes.
When multiple agencies or jurisdictions need to coordinate their operations and resources, an Incident Action Plan allows them make effective and efficient use of personnel, supplies, and time. If an incident has multiple components with competing needs for attention, an incident action plan helps to establish priorities and direct activities. Incident Action Plans provide direction and organization if a public health agency is forced to operate outside of its normal activities.
Incident Action Planning is implemented using a variety of ICS forms, which are completed for each operational period of a disaster or other public health emergency. Certain forms may be necessary to complete, depending on your jurisdiction, while others may be optional. The forms provided have been modified for use by public health agencies. These can be tailored to fit your agency, but you must keep the ICS terminology so that the forms will be interchangeable with other forms, understandable to outsiders, and meet the reporting requirements of your funding sources.
Incident Action
Planning Forms
ICS Form 202
ICS Form 203
ICS Form 204
ICS Form 205
ICS Form 215a
These forms are adaptable. To access the forms, right click and save them to your computer.
Psychological First Aid for Children and Parents
The Center for Public Health and Disasters has developed two psychological first aid guides entitled "Listen, Protect, and Connect."
One guide is for parents and the second, which was developed in conjunction with the Los Angeles Unified School District's Crisis Counseling and Intervention Services, is for teachers and schools.
These guides provide ways to support children's emotional wellbeing before, during and after emergencies. They build on ideas, strengths and practices that parents, teachers and schools naturally use with children and also provide additional ideas and tools they can call upon in times of disaster or terrorism.
"Listen Protect and Connect" - Psychological First Aid for Children and Parents (PDF, 172Kb)
"Listen Protect and Connect" - Psychological First Aid for Teachers and Schools (PFD, 795Kb)
If you need large quantities of these publications, there is an alternative booklet-style format with special printing requirements. Our Center may be able to work with you on finding an appropriate printing mechanism for this format. Please contact us at 310-794-0864 or cphdr@ucla.edu for additional information.
These files can
also be accessed from Ready.gov
Disaster Preparedness Kits
Detailed and thought-out disaster planning must be considered for effective disaster preparedness, especially for those specific populations for whom disasters might aggravate pre-existing conditions. An especially important population to consider when planning for disaster preparedness is children with special health care needs (CSHN). CSHN may be more vulnerable in a disaster situation, and therefore require tailored disaster kits for their specific condition to maintain their health when access to medical resources may be limited. UCLA CPHD has developed disaster kits for children, children with asthma, and children with diabetes based on their age. Tailor these kits for your child’s specific medical needs to best sustain them through a disaster situation.
| Standard Disaster Kits | Disaster Kits for those with Asthma |
 One
Infant or Toddler (0-12 months) |
One
Child with Asthma (1-3 years old) |
| One
Child (1-3 years old) |
|
| One
Child (4-10 years old) |
One
Adult with Asthma (or Child over 10 years old) |
| One
Adult (or Child over 10 years old) |
Interdisciplinary Response to Infectious Disease Emergencies
The First Edition of this course, Interdisciplinary Response to Infectious Disease Emergencies, is available on DVD. This DVD contains integrated comprehensive curricula and course materials that schools of public health, medicine, dentistry, nursing, and pre-hospital care can utilize to teach their students about infectious disease emergencies.
Click here if you are interested in receiving a copy of the DVD, which we will be mailed to the address you provide.
Head Start Disaster Preparedness Workbook
The Head Start Disaster Preparedness Workbook is designed to guide Head Start programs through the development and implementation of a comprehensive disaster plan. Section I of the workbook provides important background information on disasters and their impacts. Sections II-VI contain information, tools, and activities to assist Head Start programs with different aspects of disaster planning and preparedness. Several sections, particularly Sections III, IV, and V, include information on education and training of staff, volunteers, parents, and children. The Toolbox section provides templates for forms referenced in other parts of the workbook. The final section, More to Explore, provides information on other disaster planning and preparedness resources that Head Start programs may want to review and use as needed. Note: While this workbook was designed specifically for Head Start programs, it may be useful to others, and we encourage its use by any program that may find it helpful. The Head Start Disaster Preparedness Workbook was made possible through support from the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies.
Physician's PowerPoint Presentation
"Bioterrorism: Are You Prepared?"
This PowerPoint presentation was developed by the Center for Public Health and Disasters with input and support from the California Department of Health Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This web-based training was designed specifically for internists, family physicians, pediatricians, emergency physicians, and other clinical practitioners who are most likely to encounter symptomatic patients for evaluation and treatment in a bioterrorism incident. Clinical case examples are incorporated throughout the slide presentation to illustrate how persons who have been exposed to Category A biological agents might initially present at a clinic, doctor's office, or hospital emergency room. We hope you find this information interesting and helpful, and that you will share this presentation and associated materials with your colleagues.
Standardized Injury Categorization Schemes for Earthquake Related Injuries
Under funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), researchers from the Center developed a scheme for categorizing injuries associated with earthquakes. An extensive review of the scientific literature was conducted, focusing on studies of injuries in earthquakes. This project resulted in a standardization of data definitions and methodologies developed by a multi-disciplinary team to set standards that will prove useful to the many disciplines studying earthquake-related casualties. It attempts to define a common language that can be used to study events across time and geography to improve our ability to estimate casualties in earthquakes. Furthermore, it provides a mechanism for understanding the risk factors associated with injuries in order to reduce those losses.
The classification scheme for earthquake casualty estimation includes measures of the components relevant to estimation of injuries and fatalities from earthquakes, including characteristics of the hazard, characteristics of the built environment, characteristics of the population, behavioral characteristics of the population and characteristics of the resulting injuries. While the classification scheme is not necessarily all-inclusive, it does attempt to cover the majority of factors that need to be considered both from an engineering and a medical standpoint, and is intended to be applicable within the US and abroad.
Earthquake Survey Data from UCLA
Earthquake related behavior is an important part of disaster research in California. Behavior during and immediately after earthquakes is influenced by a range of socioeconomic, situational, and social psychological factors. Survey data has been collected as part of research at the University of California, Los Angeles about the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of individuals in responding to earthquakes. In some cases, only the survey instrument is available. As data files for these instruments become publicly available, they will be added to this site. Please read the Disclaimer before downloading any materials.
For more information about these resources, contact the Center at 310-794-0864
or cphdplan@ucla.edu.