Environmental Health and Emergency Preparedness: Bridging the Gap

Speakers: Brian Golob, MS, CHMM

Senior Environmentalist

Environmental Health and Emergency Preparedness

Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department

Susan Kulstad

Consultant, Environmental Management and Safety

City of Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN

Level of Knowledge: Multi-Level

Abstract:

Under the nationally-funded Twin Cities Metro Advanced Practice Center (APC), Hennepin County, St. Paul–Ramsey County, and the City of Minneapolis have produced a number of products developed to strengthen local environmental health (EH) capacity to respond to public health emergencies. These include an online training curriculum developed for EH professionals, and an Emergency Handbook for Food Managers, with step-by-step protocols for food service establishments to follow in the case of a specific emergency.

This session will provide an overview of the APC project, an introduction to the training curriculum and the handbook, and a sneak preview of new tools being developed to:

1. Provide guidance for EH professionals in working jointly with local Red Cross chapters to ensure safe mass shelters during emergencies,
2. Provide EH field staff with a resource kit of technical information for emergency response, and
3. Support the development of local EH emergency preparedness and response plans.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the value-added role of the EH professional in emergency preparedness and response
2. Define emergency preparedness for the food service sector
3. Assess whether a variety of resources developed by APC for EH emergency preparedness is applicable to the needs of your jurisdiction