Preparedness

Emergency preparedness is a programme of long-term development activities whose goals are to strengthen the overall capacity and capability of a country to manage efficiently all types of emergency and to bring about an orderly transition from relief through recovery and back to sustainable development.

Disasters can strike quickly and without warning. People and governments need to be prepared for the eventuality of a disaster happening.

The goal of emergency preparedness is to strengthen the capacity of governments, organizations, institutions and communities to withstand a disaster or emergency situation. Emergency preparedness can be achieved through:

• national legislation and policy for disaster management
• plans and procedures for disaster management and emergency response coordination
• strengthening institutional and human resources for disaster management
• establishing and managing stocks of relief supplies and equipment
• identifying transportation options
• public education, awareness and community participation in disaster management
• collecting, analyzing and disseminating information related to emergencies and disasters that are likely to occur in the region.

Key resources

WHO

• Accidentes quimicos: Aspectos relativos a la salud (1998) in Spanish [pdf 989kb]
• Emerging issues in water and infectious diseases (2003)
• Environmental health in emergencies and disasters: a practical guide (2002)
• Public health and chemical incidents. Guidance for national and regional policy makers in the public/environmental health roles (1999) [pdf 1.2Mb]
• Radiological dispersion device (dirty bomb) information sheet [pdf 20kb]

non-who

• Health aspects of chemical accidents: guidance on chemical accident awareness, preparedness and response for health professionals and emergency responders. OECD Environment Monograph No. 81 (1994)
• OECD guiding principles for chemical accident prevention, preparedness and response (2003) [pdf 1.34Mb]

Other resources

WHO

• Chemical safety information from intergovernmental organizations (including International Chemical Safety Cards, Poison Information Monographs, and Environmental Health Criteria Monographs)
• Environmental management for vector control (1988)
• Fact sheets on environmental sanitation
• Household water treatment and safe storage following emergencies and disasters [pdf 840kb]
• Vector-borne disease fact sheets
• Water and sanitation related diseases fact sheets
• Air quality guidelines for Europe (2000)
• Guidelines for drinking-water quality (2006)