The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #36896

Miguel A. Cruz¹, Ron Burger¹, Edwin K. Gray¹, Daneen Farrow-Collier¹, Karen Cleveland¹, Keith M. Ring¹, Arnold F. Kaufmann, DVM¹, and Patrick Meehan, MD². (1) Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch, Division of Emergency and Environmental Health Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, MS F-38, Atlanta, GA 30341, 770-488-7100, mgc8@cdc.gov, (2) Division of Emergency and Environmental Health Services, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, MS-F30, Atlanta, GA 30341

On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked two passenger planes and used them as missiles against the World Trade Center Towers (WTC) in New York City---the largest act of terrorism ever committed on U.S. soil. The subsequent collapse of the towers resulted in numerous injuries and deaths. Within minutes after the second plane crashed into the WTC, the Atlanta-based Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch (EPRB), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), initiated one of the largest disaster responses in CDC's history. Some of the initial coordination issues addressed included: coordinating technical assistance with the assessment of hospital capacity, injury and disease surveillance activities, personal protective equipment issues, and the immediate delivery of emergency medical supplies and therapeutics. This incident highlighted the need for adequate planning for all potential scenarios involving the use of weapons of mass destruction and the importance of interagency and interdepartmental coordination in preparing for and responding to public health emergencies.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of this session the participant will be able to recognize the challenges posed to the public health emergency responders by large scale incidents.

Keywords: Public Health Agency Roles, Emergency

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Handout (.pdf format, 457.4 kb)