Description

This online, interactive session will bring presenters from Washington and Georgia together to discuss short and long term public health lessons of flood response. Presenters will provide a state level perspective on the public health system response to the Washington floods of December 2007, including a description of how events unfolded, responses to key public health issues, and lessons learned. The session will also explore the long term consequences of the July 1994 Tropical Storm Alberto floods in Georgia, including the initial impacts, the public health flood recovery program and its outcomes, and lessons for future public health practice.

Registration Information

Registration for live events is coordinated by individuals representing our partner organizations in the Northwest. See our registration information to find your nearest contact.

Presenters

Cindy Gleason is the preparedness section supervisor, emergency planner and health educator with the Washington Department of Health (WA DOH). She coordinates and develops the WA DOH comprehensive emergency management plan, including pan flu contingency planning, mass fatality planning and the agency emergency operations center. She is also the Health Alert Network coordinator for Washington and the learning liaison for emergency planning.

Gregg Grunenfelder is the assistant secretary of the division of environmental health for WA DOH. Prior to his current position Gregg served as the chief administrator for the environment health division and as director of the division’s office of drinking water. He has nearly 20 years of experience working in local health departments in Washington, and has worked overseas with the Peace Corps and with the International Rescue Committee as a public health adviser to refugee relief efforts.

Paul Newell, MD has been a public health consultant with Milne and Associates since November 2006, following a thirty-six year career in family medicine education and public health practice. His interests and experience include community and population health improvement, as well as strategic thinking and planning. As director of the Southwest Georgia Public Health District, 1994-2005, his was responsible for leading and supervising fourteen county boards of health, their employees and programs.

Learner Objectives

By the end of this session participants will be able to:

• Predict the key public health issues likely to arise during a major flood event in the US

• Prepare to respond in a timely manner and address community needs as part of a public health system
• Explain the need for a long-range public health view of the outcomes of natural disasters
• Summarize the difficult imperative of ongoing public health involvement in “the environmental web”

Target Audience

This session would be appropriate for the following audiences:

• Local and state public health practitioners
• Public health nurses
• Local and state emergency management staff

Slides and Related Resources

Presentation Slides

Play the recorded presentation [ 12 MB ]

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