scope:

The 2nd edition of this landmark book consolidates important information on disaster-related resources into one source. It is designed to help the public health profession plan for tasks for which "on the job" is the chief teacher. The author has recognized striking improvements in disaster readiness in the United States, including inter-organizational cooperation and planning among response agencies, and greater technological capability for monitoring and response. Additional information has been added on morbidity and mortality for several new types of disasters; updated structure and organization to reflect changes in federal response and organization including national incident management system, public health incident command, volunteers, Geographic Information Systems and public health response; expanded disaster communications including working with the media, communication systems, information technology recovery; surge capacity and surge capacity planning; worker safety; handling human remains; ensuring food safety and feeding large numbers of displaced persons; organizing mental health services, including staff training, setting up assistance services; death notification; disasters and people with disabilities, including building preparedness, disaster planning councils; point of dispensing sites; updated laboratory response network; and maintaining the vaccine cold chain.