Be Informed

California residents need to be prepared for many different types of public health emergencies and disasters. Natural disasters such as earthquakes, wildfires and mudslides are all a part of life here in our state. Man-made disasters such as bioterrorism or chemical terrorism are also a fact of life that Californians must be prepared for.

Make sure that you and your family know about the various kinds of disasters that might occur in California and what to do should a particular crisis occur. Know what you can do to protect your health and the health of your family.

What is a Public Health Emergency?

Public health emergencies are events or disasters that threaten the health of communities or groups of people. Some examples are:

• Disease outbreaks such as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)
• Biological terrorist attacks such as an anthrax release
• Pandemic flu
• Chemical spills such as chlorine gas
• Severe weather such as extreme heat
• Natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods or wildfires
  

Professionals from state and local public health departments, hospitals, clinics and community organizations are working together to prepare us for these types of emergencies.