The Public Health Emergency Response Guide for State, Local, and Tribal Public Health Directors

The guide is a reference tool for health professionals responsible for initiating the public health response during the first 24 hours (i.e., the acute phase) of any type of emergency or disaster. It provides useful information on the activation of a jurisdiction’s public health system and the existing overall emergency response structure during the acute phase of an incident. In addition to these general recommendations, it also contains guidance that is unique to specific types of incidents, such as floods, earthquakes, and acts of terrorism.