Prepare for the Next Disaster with Resources from ASPR

​When it came to natural disasters, 2017 was "one for the record books," said the authors of a May 9, 2018, blog post from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR). Hurricanes, floods, cold weather, droughts, and wildfires led to more than $1 billion in damages across the country last year. Meanwhile, ASPR said, more than 60% of state emergency response plans available online do not adequately prepare for behavioral health needs, a critical component of disaster response. ASPR identified four programs and methods found to promote successful outcomes that should be included in an emergency response plan. One is implementation of a Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program. Another is taking measures to ensure the continuity of medications after a disaster.