Citation

Lovelace KA, Bibeau D, Gansneder B, Hernandez E, Cline JS. J. Public Health Manag. Pract. 2007; 13(5): 465-468.

Affiliation

Public Health Education, The University of North Carolina, Greensboro.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/01.PHH.0000285198.62049.1a

PMID

17762690

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: All-hazards preparedness was evaluated in North Carolina's 85 local health departments (LHDs). METHODS: In regional meetings, data were collected from LHD teams from North Carolina's LHDs using an instrument constructed from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's preparedness indicators and from the Local Public Health Preparedness and Response Capacity Inventory. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Levels of preparedness differ widely by disaster types. LHDs reported higher levels of preparedness for natural disasters, outbreaks, and bioterrorist events than for chemical, radiation, or mass trauma disasters. LHDs face challenges to achieving all-hazards preparedness since preparation for one type of disaster does not lead to preparedness for all types of disasters. LHDs in this survey were more prepared for disasters for which they were funded (bioterrorism) and for events they faced regularly (natural disasters, outbreaks) than they were for other types of disasters.

Language: en