National Hurricane Preparedness Week May 23 - 29

The CDC sent me a message the other day asking that I post some information on Hurricane Preparedness.

Hurricane Hazards

•  The Atlantic Hurricane Season begins on June 1 and ends on November 30.

•  Hurricanes threaten health and safety in several ways -- storm surges, high winds, tornadoes, and flooding.

•  Knowing your risks before, during and after a storm, and what actions you should take, you reduce the effects of a hurricane disaster.

Steps for Consumers

•  Get a Kit – When preparing for hurricane season, consider your basic needs after a storm: fresh water, food, lifesaving medications, clean air and warmth.  Stock up on the supplies you would need if a hurricane disrupts power and services.

•  Make a Plan – Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to plan in advance: how you will contact one another; how you will get back together; and what you will do in different situations.  Remember to plan for the safety of all family members, including your pets.

•  Be informed – Learn more about hurricanes and other potential emergencies that could happen where you live and how to respond to them.  Find out about the emergency plans that have been established in your area by your state and local government.  Listen to weather reports and government sources to stay on top of developing storms that may threaten your community.

Additional Resources

• CDC’s National Hurricane Preparedness Week Page: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/HurricanePreparedness/
• Hurricane Health and Safety: http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/
• Emergency Preparedness and You: http://emergency.cdc.gov/preparedness/
• Government-wide Ready Campaign: http://www.ready.gov/

• Preparing for a Hurricane: Basic steps you can take now to ensure your safety should a storm hit.
• Emergency Supplies You Will Need: Stock your home and your car with supplies.
• Make a Plan: Learn the basic steps you can take to prepare for a storm
• Prepare to Evacuate: Never ignore an evacuation order.
• If You Are Ordered NOT to Evacuate: Things you can do to get through the storm in the safest possible manner.
• Protecting Pets: Ensure your pet's safety before, during, and after an emergency.

After you have read these tips, please review the other resources available on the CDC Hurricanes Web site.

CDC strongly recommends that you print all important resources before a hurricane strikes. Power outages during and after a hurricane can prevent you from accessing information online when you most need it. Preparing now can help keep you and your family safe.

You can receive weekly tips from CDC throughout hurricane season by signing up for the following:

• CDC Hurricane Health and Safety Updates — subscribe and get tips of the week sent to your email or mobile phone.
• CDC Hurricane Public Service Announcements (PSAs) and Podcasts

CDC Asks State and Local Health Departments to Vaccinate High Risk Groups First Against H1N1

The CDC recently put out a Letter to all State and local health officials urging them to restrict vaccinations to High Risk groups.

Currently demand for the vaccination is exceeding the supply currently available, though more is on the way.

The letter highlights the need to vaccinate those in high risk groups first, and the CDC is asking that State and Local Health departments ensure equitable access to the vaccine.

False Report of A patient With Both H1N1 (Swine Flu) and H5N1 (Avian Flu) Hits The Internet

Reports on the internet and in email boxes around the world were filled with false reports of a patient who tested positive for both the highly lethal bird flu virus, H5N1, and the novel H1N1, swine flu virus.

The electronic surveillance system Promed picked up the report, though it was unconfirmed at the time. Promed moderators also questioned the story and were unsure of its accuracy.

However, Promed is a widely used and read resource and the story was sent off to numerous other sources spreading the story.

The CDC is reporting that they do not believe that the man is infected with both of the above viruses yet, other reports also show the man is co-infected with H1N1 and H3N2 (a seasonal virus).