Emergency and Disaster Resources
This guide serves as an online collection of resources and tools that are relevant to disaster and emergency management. If you would like to learn more about emergency preparedness resources, or explore training opportunities that are available through NNLM, find and contact your region for more information!
MedlinePlus
MedlinePlus is the National Library of Medicine’s website for patients and their families and friends with information about diseases, conditions and wellness in plain language. MedlinePlus offers reliable, up-to-date health information, anytime, anywhere, for free.
Ready.gov (Listo en español)
Resources for developing a preparedness plan, including publications, checklists, videos, and tool kits for community outreach.
Ready in Your Language (Ready.gov)
Ready also offers some content in additional languages such as Arabic, French, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Tagalog, Vietnamese and Simplified Chinese.
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness & Response (ASPR)
National Weather Service - Weather Prediction Center
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-Emergency Preparedness
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
FEMA Helpline: 1-800-621-3362
Write to FEMA:
FEMA
P.O. Box 10055
Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055
FEMA is comprised of 10 regions in the continental U.S. and territories. Each region has a regional office that work directly with states, territories, and tribes. Please note the regional and state designation under FEMA is different from the regional/state designation under the Network of the National Library of Medicine.
- Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
- General Contact: 877-336-2734 | Email: fema-r1-info@fema.dhs.gov
- New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands
- General Contact Email: FEMA-R2-ExternalAffairs@fema.dhs.gov
- Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, District of Columbia, West Virginia
- General Contact: 215-931-5500
- Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
- General Contact: 770-220-5200 | E-mail: FEMA-R4-Info@fema.dhs.gov
- Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin
- General Contact: 312-408-5500 | E-mail: fema-r5-info@fema.dhs.gov
- Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
- General Contact: 940-898-5399
- Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska
- General Contact: 816-283-7061 | Email: FEMARegion7info@fema.dhs.gov
- Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming
- General Contact: 303-235-4800
- Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Guam, American Samoa, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands
- General Contact: 510-627-7100
- Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington
- General Contact: 425-487-4600 | Email: FEMA-R10-Info@fema.dhs.gov
Preparedness
Planning, training and education
MedlinePlus (NLM)
For patients and their families and friends with information about diseases, conditions and wellness in plain language.
- Earthquakes Topic Page (Terremotos en español)
- Floods Topic Page (Inundaciones en español)
- Hurricane Topic Page (Huracanes en español)
- Tornadoes Topic Page (Tornados en español)
- Wildfires Topic Page (Incendios forestales en español)
- Winter Weather Emergencies Page (Emergencias causadas por el invierno en español)
Pet Safety in Emergencies (CDC)
Vulnerable Populations
Resources for “at-risk populations” whose needs are not fully addressed by traditional service providers or who feel they cannot comfortably or safely use the standard resources offered during preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.
- Emergency Preparedness-Information for Specific Groups (CDC)
- How To Prepare for Emergencies (Red Cross)
- Emergency Preparedness (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights)
- The National Resource Center on Advancing Emergency Preparedness for Culturally Diverse Communities (Drexel University)
Printable Guides
- Downloadable Publications (Ready.gov)
- Topic Collection: Continuity of Operations (COOP)/Business Continuity Planning (ASPR TRACIE)
- Ready Wrigley Resources for kids (CDC)
Response
Immediately after an emergency when normal life has been interrupted
Community and State Information (Ready.gov)
Volunteer
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) (FEMA)
Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) (ASPR)
Disaster Preparedness Volunteer (Red Cross)
Disaster Action Team (Red Cross)
Stay up-to-date
Conditions and information change quickly during an emergency.
- Find Emergency Alert resources.
- Learn the difference between an advisory, watch and warning.
- Follow trusted local, state and national accounts on social media.
Recovery
Getting back to normal
Rebuilding
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Recovering from Disaster (Ready.gov)
Coping with Disasters
Coping with Disasters: MedlinePlus (Enfrentarse con desastres MedlinePlus español) (NLM)
Disaster Distress Help Line (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA))
Coping with a Disaster or Traumatic Event (CDC)
Reunification of Family in the US and US Territories (Red Cross)
Printable Guides
- Technical Resources: Recovery Planning (ASPR TRACIE)
- Publications and Digital Products (SAMHSA)
NNLM Class Recordings
- Informal Weather Education Outreach (Sep. 28, 2023)
- Why Comics Work for Risk Communication (Sep. 20, 2023)
- ASPR TRACIE: A Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Information Gateway (Sep. 13, 2023)
- Creating a One-Page Disaster Plan (Sep. 14, 2023)
- OnTheMap for Emergency Management and My Community Explorer Data Tools (Sep. 12, 2023)
- Inclusive Disaster Planning: Considering the Needs of People with Disabilities (Sep. 27, 2022)
- Ransomware Attacks: What Medical Librarians Need to Know (Dec. 9, 2021)
- Creating a One Page Plan to Promote a Coordinated Response to a Disaster (Nov. 9, 2021)
- Less Ostrich, More Owl: Five Steps to Quickly Improve Your Library's Ability to Respond to a Sudden Disaster (Sep. 22, 2021)
- Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP) for Libraries Part 2: The Library Match Game (Feb. 10, 2021)
- Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP) for Libraries Part 1: Why We Plan (Jan. 27, 2021)
Other Trainings
In Case of Emergencies: Continuity of Operations (COOP) Planning (SAMHSA)
Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) Training (FEMA)
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills.
ASPR Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (ASPR TRACIE)
Find trainings, toolkits, technical resources and more from trusted sources including the CDC, HHS, and FEMA.
Rural Emergency Preparedness and Response Toolkit (Rural Health Information Hub)
The toolkit is made up of a series of 6 modules that compiles evidence-based and promising models and resources to support organizations implementing emergency planning, response, and recovery efforts in rural communities across the United States.