Healthy Homes

Hurricane and Flooding Disasters

Hurricane Resources

Resources & Links

CDC Emergency Partners Information Connection (EPIC) Conference Calls & Webinars

Hurricane Safety Tips & Resources

National Hurricane Center Website
 

Informative Blog Posts & Articles

Disaster Recovery and Hurricane Relief Efforts

Hurricane Irma and Emergency Preparedness

Flood Recovery

Resources to Protect and Restore Community Health

When flood waters recede, communities are often left with contaminated water supplies, nonfunctioning septic tanks, mold, increased vectors and pests, spoiled food, and temporary shelters and housing. Ensuring the proper information reaches community members and supports environmental health professionals is essential in the efforts to restore communities and protect public health. The following resources provide best practices around flood recovery related to environmental health.

Emergency Preparedness & Response Training 

CDC Environmental Health Training in Emergency Response Awareness level (online) and Operations level (in-person) training.

Food Safety

FDA Food and Water Safety During Power Outages and Floods

Risk Assessment Tools

Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA). Guidance for conducting a THIRA at all levels of government

Operational Plans: Guidance for creating these plans

National Incident Management Systems (NIMS): Systematic, proactive approach to guide organizations in managing all types of incidents

National Planning System: Provides a unified approach and common terminology to support the implementation of the National Preparedness System 

National Exercise Program

HURREVAC is the decision support tool of the National Hurricane Program, administered by FEMA, the USACE, and the NOAA National Hurricane Center

Hurricane Simulation

Septic Systems

Preparedness & Response for Septic Systems Toolkit (NEHA)

Floods and Public Health Resources

CDC WASH Emergency Communication Resources 

CDC Water Sanitation & Hygiene for Flood Waters

Flood Preparedness Factsheets

Vermont Before and After Flood factsheet

Available in Arabic, Burmese, Chinese, English, French, Nepali, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, and Vietnamese

Hospital and Healthcare Facilities

AHRQ Hospital Assessment and Recovery Guide (PDF)

Community Resources

CDC Flood Water Home Clean-up

Drinking Water

U.S. EPA Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water

CDC: FAQs on When and How to Boil Water

University of Nebraska: Drinking Water Treatment Emergency Procedures 

Private Wells and Septic Systems

NEHA's Flooding Preparedness and Response for Private Water Systems 

Mold

U.S. EPA Mold Clean-up After Floods

Flood Recovery Worker and Volunteer Safety

CDC Worker Safety After Floods

OSHA Natural Disaster Recovery

Vector Control

Pan-American Health Organization Vector Control in Disaster Situations

Infection Prevention

Infection Prevention and Control for Shelters During Disasters (PDF) by APIC Emergency Preparedness Committee

Rebuilding Homes

Rebuild Healthy Homes: Guide to Post-disaster Restoration for a Safe and Healthy Home (PDF) by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes

Storm Safety

https://www.ul.com/code-authorities/buildingsafetyprograms/storm-safety/ This site provides storm preparedness, safety after the storm, and rebuilding safely after a storm information. This is provided courtesy of Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

EH Topics: 
Air Quality
Food Safety
Healthy Homes
Preparedness
Vectors and Pest Control
Water Quality

HUD Secretary's Award for Healthy Homes - 2017 Award Winners

Award for Healthy HomesThe U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, in partnership with the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA), announces the annual Secretary’s Awards for Healthy Homes.

These awards recognize excellence in making indoor environments healthier through healthy homes research, education, and through program delivery, especially in diverse, low to moderate income communities.

The awards are presented at NEHA's Annual Educational Conference & Exhibition each year.

2017 Award Winners

Cross Program Coordination

Vermont Weatherization One Touch Program

Public and Multifamily Housing

Denver Housing Authority

Policy Innovation

Tribal Healthy Homes Network/Partnership for Air Matters

Research Innovation

Rutgers University, Urban Entomology Lab

2017 Press Release

HUD Announces Winners Of 2017 Healthy Homes Awards

2017 Award Review Panel

Thank you! The review panel volunteered their expertise and many hours of their time. 

  • Steven Ault, MSc, MRSB, REHS/RS (retired), NEHA Technical Advisor for Vector Control & Zoonotic Disease Control, Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (retired), Adjunct Instructor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Maryland
  • Tara E. Gurge, RS, CEHT, MS, NEHA Technical Advisor for General Environmental Health, Assistant Public Health Director, Needham Public Health Department, Needham, MA
  • Anna Jeng, MS, ScD, NEHA Technical Advisor for Children’s Environmental Health, Professor and Graduate Program Director, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA
  • Judeth Luong, NEHA Technical Advisor for Healthy Homes and Housing, Environmental Health Operations Officer, City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, Long Beach, CA
  • Timothy James Murphy, PhD, REHS/RS, DAAS, NEHA Technical Advisor for Sustainability, Associate Professor and Department Chair, The University of Findlay, Findlay, OH
  • Zia Siddiqi, PhD, BCE, NEHA Technical Advisor for Vector Control & Zoonotic Disease Control, Zia Siddiqi Consulting, LLC, Snellville, GA (retired Orkin/Rollins Pest Control Director of Quality Systems)
  • ML Tanner, NEHA Technical Advisor for General Environmental Health, EPA Certified Lead Risk Assessor, Investigator, South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation, Columbia, SC
  • Bob Uhrik, NEHA Technical Advisor for Radiation/Radon, Senior REHS, South Brunswick Township, Monmouth Junction, NJ

 

EH Topics: 
Healthy Homes

EPH Tracking Virtual Conference

Environmental Public Health Tracking Virtual Conference The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) has partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Environmental Health Tracking Branch (Tracking Branch) to host a virtual conference to 1) raise awareness and knowledge about the environment’s role in asthma and other chronic diseases and 2) highlight collaboration opportunities between state leaders, decision makers and practitioners working in environmental health and chronic disease prevention.

HUD Secretary's Award for Healthy Homes - 2016 Award Winners

Award for Healthy HomesThe U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, in partnership with the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA), announces the annual Secretary’s Awards for Healthy Homes.

These awards recognize excellence in making indoor environments healthier through healthy homes research, education, and through program delivery, especially in diverse, low to moderate income communities.

The awards are presented at NEHA's Annual Educational Conference & Exhibition each year.

 

2016 Award Winners

Cross Program Coordination among Health, Environment, and Housing

Seattle Housing Authority, Yesler Terrace Breathe Easy Program in Seattle, Washington

Public Housing/Multifamily Supported Housing

Boston Housing Authority, Boston Residential Investigation on Green and Healthy Transitions (BRIGHT) in Boston, Massachusetts

Public Policy

California Healthy Homes Coalition/Regional Asthma Management Program in Oakland, California

 

2016 Press Releases and Announcements

2016 HUD Secretary's Award for Healthy Homes Winners Announced: Model programs from Massachusetts, Washington, and California awarded

 

2016 Award Review Panel

Thank you! The review panel volunteered their expertise and many hours of their time. 

Tara Gurge, NEHA Technical Advisor for General Environmental Health, Environmental Health Agent, Needham Health Dept., Needham, MA

Timothy James Murphy, PhD, REHS/RS, DAAS, NEHA Technical Advisor for Sustainability, Associate Professor and Dept. Chair, The University of Findlay, Findlay, OH

Stephan Ruckman, NEHA Technical Advisor for Schools, Environmental Health Manager, Worthington City Schools, Dublin, OH

Bob Uhrik, NEHA Technical Advisor for Radiation/Radon, Senior REHS, South Brunswick Township, Monmouth Junction, NJ

Robert Washam, MPH, RS, NEHA Technical Advisor for Land Use Planning and Design, Jensen Beach, FL

EH Topics: 
Healthy Homes

Radon

Radon is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that can cause lung cancer. Radon can accumulate to dangerous levels inside homes, schools, and other buildings. Radon can be tested for easily and if high levels are found, it can be removed at a relatively low cost. 

Radon is a naturally occuring gas and comes from the decay of Uranium in the ground. As Radon decays, it releases radioactive byproducts that are inhaled and can cause lung cancer. Radon is not only found in selected areas, but is found throughout the world. 

Radon:

  • Is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers
  • Causes over 20,000 deaths per year in the U.S.
  • If you smoke and your home has a high radon level, your risk of lung cancer can increase

NEHA Radon Resources

Radon Data Standardization Webinar

Topics / Featured Speakers:

  • Radon Pilot Project, Michele Monti, MS, MPH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • Radon Communications Toolkit, Holly Wilson, MHSE, CHES, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • Radon Data Collection in Washington State, Tina Echeverria, PhD, Washington State’s Tracking Portal

View Radon Data Standardization Webinar

Environmental Health Saves Lives, Saves Money, and Protects Our Future

Environmental Health professionals ensure our air is safe by testing and mitigating radon in homes, schools and other buildings.

 

EH Topics: 
Air Quality
Healthy Homes

Built Environment and Climate Change

Built environment is the infrastructure of cities and towns that includes transportation, roadways, buildings, and land-use. Built environment design and development can help mitigate climate change, support adaptation, and improve environment and public health. The more resilient the built environment, the less impact from climate change.

Additional Resources:

EH Topics: 
Air Quality
Climate Change
Healthy Homes
Vectors and Pest Control

Climate and Health

Climate Change and Environmental/Public Health

Climate change impacts health and is a significant threat. According to the Lancet Commission, “climate change could be the biggest global health threat of the 21st century.” The health effects from climate change will affect most populations especially those most vulnerable: children, elderly, those with chronic health issues, and those living in poverty. 

Additional Resources:

EH Topics: 
Climate Change
Health Tracking
Healthy Homes

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