Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

Tornado-Specific Information | General Disaster Response
Special Populations: Children | Older Adults | Persons with Disabilities and Other Access and Functional Needs
Deployment Support Organizations | Psychological First Aid Training

Tornado-Specific Information

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Tornadoes
The CDC's mission is to collaborate to create the expertise, information, and tools that people and communities need to protect their health. The CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response website provides information on a host of hazards, including tornadoes.
http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/tornadoes

National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN): Tornadoes
NCTSN is a unique collaboration whose mission is to raise the standard of care and increase access to services for traumatized children and their families and caregivers. Its Tornadoes page provides resources that can assist parents and caregivers before, during, and after a tornado.
http://www.nctsn.org/nccts/nav.do?pid=typ_nd_torn_recovery&disasterType=torn&navPid=typ_nd_torn_desc

Ready: Tornadoes
This page includes safety information, tornado facts, and other helpful tips on what to do before, during, and after a tornado.
http://www.ready.gov/tornadoes

Hurricane Preparedness: Hazards: Tornadoes
This section of the Hurricane Preparedness website informs the public about tornadoes produced by hurricanes and shares knowledge that can be used to save lives at work, at home, on the road, or on the water.
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/tornadoes.shtml

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General Disaster Response

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
The ACF is responsible for Federal programs that promote the economic and social wellbeing of families, children, individuals, and communities.
http://www.acf.hhs.gov

CDC—Clinician Outreach and Community Activity (COCA)
COCA has established partnerships with national clinician organizations in order to quickly communicate information on disease outbreaks, terrorism events, and disaster response.
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/coca

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
FEMA is the U.S. Government's principal agency charged with building and supporting the nation's emergency management system.
http://www.fema.gov

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR)
ASPR serves as the HHS Secretary's principal advisory staff on matters related to bioterrorism and other public health emergencies. It also coordinates interagency activities responsible for emergency preparedness and the protection of the civilian population from acts of bioterrorism and other public health emergencies.
http://www.hhs.gov/aspr

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
HHS is the U.S. Government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves.
http://www.hhs.gov

U.S. Department of Homeland Security: FirstResponder.gov
The Department of Homeland Security's website for first responders provides a portal that allows federal, state, local, and tribal first responders to easily access and leverage federal web services; information on resources, products, standards, testing, and evaluation; and best practices in a collaborative environment.
http://www.firstresponder.gov

U.S. Public Health Service Office of Force Readiness and Deployment (OFRD)
OFRD is comprised of America's uniformed service of public health professionals. The Commissioned Corps achieves its mission through rapid and effective response to public health needs, leadership and excellence in public health practices, and the advancement of public health science.
http://ccrf.hhs.gov/ccrf

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Special Populations: Children

Children & Disasters: Disaster Preparedness to Meet Children's Needs
The American Academy of Pediatrics hosts this website and provides links to numerous disaster-related publications and guidance documents for pediatricians and families.
http://www2.aap.org/healthtopics/disasters.cfm

JoJo's Place
This website is designed for children who have survived a disaster. Materials are separated by age (10 and younger and 11 and older) and help children understand how to cope with having experienced a disaster.
http://www.jojosplace.org

Ready Kids
FEMA's Ready Kids page provides children with age-appropriate, all-hazards information. Tips for family preparedness, kits, and communications plans are included, and links to a host of related resources for children, parents and guardians, and teachers can also be found on this page.
http://www.ready.gov/kids

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Special Populations: Older Adults

AARP
AARP is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for older adults. AARP promotes positive social change and provides its members with information, advocacy, and services.
http://www.aarp.org

Eldercare Locator of the Administration on Aging
The Administration on Aging provides information for older adults, families, and caregivers on a variety of aging-related topics. This part of its website enables the user to locate local assistance by topic
http://www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare.NET

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Persons with Disabilities and Other Access and Functional Needs

Disabled People and Disaster Planning
This website contains many recommendations that were formulated to reduce or eliminate problems with accessibility that many disabled people experience during or following a disaster.
http://www.citycent.com/dp2/

Disabled World
This website provides a Disability News Service, articles, and informative videos related to health and disabilities around the world. This section of the website provides links to resources specific to disasters and emergency planning for seniors and people with disabilities.
http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/emergency/

Disaster Survival Resources
This website provides resources and encouragement for those with special needs to be prepared for disasters, and provides tools that may assist with survival and recovery from disaster.
http://www.disaster-survival-resources.com/special-needs.html

Office of Disability Integration and Coordination (ODIC), Federal Emergency Management Administration, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
This website provides information about ODIC's mission, resources, and other news related to FEMA's integration and coordination of emergency preparedness, response and recovery for children and adults with disabilities and others with access and functional needs before, during and after a disaster.
http://www.fema.gov/about/odic/

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Deployment Support Organizations

The Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project
The Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project promotes an awareness and understanding of compassion fatigue.
http://www.compassionfatigue.org

Emergency Wound Management for Healthcare Professionals
The CDC posted this page to help disaster victims and first responders avoid infection or other serious negative consequences of wounds after disasters.
http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/emergwoundhcp.asp

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Psychological First Aid (PFA) Training

PFA
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network published this manual which includes an introduction to PFA and information about "the Core Actions" including contact and engagement, stabilization, connecting with social supports, and linking with collaborative services. The manual is also available in in English, Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese.
http://www.nctsn.org/content/psychological-first-aid (PFA is also available as a mobile app https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pfa-mobile/id551079424?mt=8&ls=1)

Psychological First Aid Competencies for Public Health Workers
This training tool examines the change in public health policies related to PFA after September 11, 2001.
http://www.jhsph.edu/preparedness/training/online/dis_mtl_hlth_comp.html

PFA Online
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network published this "interactive course that puts the participant in the role of a provider in a post-disaster scene. . . . It features innovative activities, video demonstrations, and mentor tips from the nation's trauma experts and survivors."
http://learn.nctsn.org/course/category.php?id=11

PFA Online for Schools
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network developed this evidence-informed approach for assisting children, adolescents, adults, and families in the aftermath of school crisis, disaster or terrorism. This manual includes handouts and tips for survivors and providers.
http://www.nctsn.org/content/psychological-first-aid-schoolspfa

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Last updated 5/30/2013