Annual Website Review

This year's website review focuses on sites related to disaster preparedness and serves as an online resource guide for natural disasters, terrorism and more. After experiencing multiple worst-case scenarios in recent years, emergency services personnel have learned they can never be too prepared. This review will help you navigate the Web to stay as informed as possible, and to get as ready as possible, for the next major emergency. To access this review online, go to www.emsworld.com. E-mail recommendations for websites that should be included in future reviews to Nancy.Perry@cygnusb2b.com.

GENERAL INFORMATION

EMSWorld.com
www.emsworld.com
The website for EMS Magazine is one of the most comprehensive and up-to-date resources for disaster news coverage and training information for EMS personnel.

Disaster News Network
www.disasternews.net
DNN is a news service following worldwide disaster response and providing information for assisting survivors.

EMS LIVE
www.EMSLive.com
This weekly online radio show features EMS-related news from around the world, delivers interviews with industry experts and allows listeners to send in questions via e-mail or live chat. You can listen to the show live or download it anytime.

EMS Close Calls
www.emsclosecalls.com
This recently launched website tracks the close calls, injuries and deaths of EMS providers, and examines solutions to help make the job safer.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

FEMA
www.fema.gov/emergency/index.shtm
FEMA's page for emergency managers and personnel includes daily national situation reports and information regarding the National Incident Management System (NIMS), as well as grants, training, contacts, response and recovery resources, planning and best practices.

Global Emergency Management System
www.fema.gov/gems/index.jsp
From FEMA, this searchable database contains links to websites related to emergency management.

National Disaster Medical System
www.ndms.dhhs.gov
NDMS is responsible for supporting federal agencies in the management of the federal medical response to major emergencies and disasters. This website describes the different types of response teams and how to get involved.

Metropolitan Medical Response System
www.mmrs.fema.gov/default.aspx
The primary focus of the MMRS program is to enhance emergency preparedness systems to effectively respond to a public health crises, especially WMD events. The website includes a program overview and tracks related news and resources.

Emergency Management Assistance Compact
www.emacweb.org
EMAC, administered by the National Emergency Management Association, is a congressionally ratified organization that provides form and structure to interstate mutual aid. The website includes information on intrastate mutual aid legislation and contact information for getting involved. Some additional resources require membership.

Emergency Information Infrastructure Project
www.emforum.org
This nonprofit educational effort provides emergency management professional development opportunities, primarily through presentations by experts in their fields by means of Internet-based 'live chat' (text) technology. There is no charge to participants and all are welcome.

International Association of Emergency Managers
www.iaem.com
The website of the IAEM tracks emergency management news, hosts an e-mail discussion group and provides additional related links.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE

CDC: Emergency Preparedness and Response
www.bt.cdc.gov
This page from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is organized by the following types of emergency: bioterrorism, chemical emergencies, radiation emergencies, mass casualties, natural disasters/severe weather and recent outbreaks. The site also includes a menu of related topics such as disaster mental health. Online training materials include video webcasts.

HHS: Disasters & Emergencies
www.hhs.gov/emergency/index.shtml
The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services provides links to internal and external resources organized by type of disaster. It also provides a specific section for emergency and disaster response workers

National Center for Disaster Preparedness
www.ncdp.mailman.columbia.edu
Research and resources for disaster preparedness are provided here by the NCDP of the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. The NCDP is an academically based resource center dedicated to the enhancement of the nation's ability to prepare for and respond to major disasters, including terrorism.

JumpSTART Pediatric Multiple Casualty Incident Triage
www.jumpstarttriage.com
Pediatric MCI field triage for disasters and terrorism, as provided by Lou E. Romig, MD, FAAP, FACEP, tailors treatment to the physiological differences in the pediatric population.

Ready.gov
www.ready.gov
This DHS website can be used to educate the public to prepare for a national emergency.

HAZWOPER Online Training Course
etraintoday.com
eTraining’s online 40 Hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) Course is designed for workers with the potential for exposure to hazardous substances. This includes clean-up or operations involving hazardous wastes at facilities, and the storage, treatment or disposal of hazardous substances, as well as emergency response operations.

NATURAL DISASTERS

National Weather Service
www.nws.noaa.gov
The NWS provides weather warnings and watches organized by type, timing and location. The warnings cover everything from marine, dust, flood, wind, frost, fire and freezing emergencies to air quality. The site also includes education and outreach materials and hosts the NWS Storm Ready Program at www.stormready.noaa.gov.

National Hurricane Center
www.nhc.noaa.gov
The NHC website provides weather outlooks, hurricane history and information, awareness and preparedness tips. It also includes materials for annual Hurricane Preparedness Week at www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/intro.shtml.

Alaska and West Coast (USA) Tsunami Warning Center
https://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov
This website is updated when a tsunami information message or tsunami warning message is issued. Messages are normally issued when smaller earthquakes (greater than magnitude 4.0, but less than 6.5) may be felt near coastal areas to assure residents and emergency managers that the earthquake was non-tsunamigenic.

Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
www.prh.noaa.gov/ptwc
The PTWC provides warnings for teletsunamis to most countries in the Pacific Basin, as well as to Hawaii and all other U.S. interests in the Pacific outside of Alaska and the West Coast. PTWC is also the warning center for Hawaii's local and regional tsunamis.

U.S. Geological Survey
www.usgs.gov
The USGS website includes information regarding earthquake, water, volcano and landslide emergencies, as well as the Natural Hazards Support System. This online resource enables viewers to monitor hazards as they are occurring, for example, to pinpoint the location of a hurricane and access real-time data on conditions.

USGS Earthquake Center
www.earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/index.php
Resources include earthquake feeds and data, an earthquake notification service, seismic hazard maps and regional information.

National Interagency Fire Center
www.nifc.gov
Monitor the progress of wildfire movement and suppression efforts in your region by checking the NIFC's National Fire News.

PANDEMIC

National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza: Implementation Plan
www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/pandemic-inflenza-implementation.html
The plan describes more than 300 critical actions, many of which have already been initiated, to address the threat of pandemic influenza.

PandemicFlu.gov
www.pandemicflu.gov
This site from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services includes planning and response information and outbreak monitoring. It also links to the HHS Pandemic Influenza Plan at www.hhs.gov/pandemicflu/plan/.

CDC: Influenza
www.cdc.gov/flu
Information on flu for health professionals.

WHO: Avian Influenza
www.who.int/topics/avian_influenza/en
Activities, reports, news and events, as well as contacts and cooperating partners in the various WHO programs and offices involved in this topic. Also shown are links to related websites and topics.

FDA: Flu Information
www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/flu.html
Topics include vaccines, antiviral drugs and personal protective equipment, including where to get the equipment and common questions regarding proper use.

OSHA: Guidance for Protecting Workers Against Avian Flu
www.osha.gov/dsg/guidance/avian-flu.html
A section for medical workers covers basic precautions and provides a link for more information.

International Association of Fire Firefighters (IAFF)
www.iaff.org/academy/online/modules/avian/01.htm
The IAFF has created a new online learning tool, Influenza Pandemic: What First Responders Need to Know about the Avian Flu, to help responders prepare before a flu outbreak. The learning module is broken into Avian Flu Facts, Planning for a Response, On the Scene, and Resources.

CIDRAP
www.cidrap.umn.edu
The University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy maintains its website daily with a wide range of information on influenza and bioterrorism. The site follows news, policies and issues, and offers resources organized by disease.

DISASTER RELIEF

DisasterAssistance.gov
www.disasterassistance.gov
This site provides information on how you might be able to get help from the U.S. Government before, during and after a disaster.

Red Cross: Disaster Services
www.redcross.org/services/disaster
Along with the Red Cross' history and capabilities, the site provides an online Introduction to Disaster Services course.