Public Health Preparedness

http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/2009/RAND_TR719.pdf

Public Health Preparedness and Response to Chemical and Radiological Incidents

Tom LaTourrette, Lynn E. Davis, David R. Howell,
Preethi R. Sama, David J. Dausey

Public health emergencies may arise directly or indirectly from a wide variety of events, including emerging diseases, natural disasters, industrial accidents, and terrorist attacks. One area that has not been examined in much detail is public health emergency preparedness for incidents involving the release of chemical orradiological agents. As part of RAND’s continuing research into public health emergency preparedness, this report characterizes the public health
service’s role in preparing for and responding to such incidents, describes practices in use by local public health departments, and identifies functional areas of public health emergency preparedness and response for chemical and radiological incidents that may warrant further practice development.
The research described in this report was prepared for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response and conducted within the RAND Health Center for Public Health Preparedness. In response to a realization both within the United States and abroad that public health is inextricably intertwined with security, RAND Health has woven together a unique group of researchers with the multidisciplinary skill sets to address these emerging challenges.