Emergency Preparedness

Emergency Preparedness — What RDs and DTRs Should Know

Background Information
During the course of the last seven years, Americans have witnessed an increase in disasters within the continental US. These disasters (i.e., 9/11, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, tornadoes) have heightened awareness of emergency preparedness among Americans. As a result of these disasters, the HOD Leadership Team determined the need to address the safety of the food and water supply for an emergency. Therefore, during the Spring 2006 HOD Meeting, a dialogue on this issue was conducted and resulted in the approval of a HOD motion which gave direction to the HLT on how to proceed. During summer 2006, the HLT reviewed all the documentation from the pre-meeting and meeting dialogues. Based on their review and assessment, the HLT recommended the establishment of a task force (Emergency Preparedness Task Force) of known experts to address a narrowed charge. The Emergency Preparedness Task Force was appointed in December 2006 and began to work on their charge in February 2007. The Task Force completed their work in April 2008 and presented a final report and recommendations to the House of Delegates on May 2, 2008. The following resources are the result of the efforts of the Task Force.

HOD Task Force Presentation
The Role of ADA Members in Preparedness and Emergency Response
Answers to frequently asked questions provide further clarification for preparing and responding to a disaster.
Member Wallet Card
This wallet-sized card is designed to be carried by you and your family members, and can also be distributed to basic clients for use in the event of an emergency.
ADA Emergency Preparedness and Response Tip Sheets
Conversation Resources
Glossary - a glossary of key terms used in emergency preparedness and response.
Acronyms - a list of key acronyms used in emergency preparedness and response.
The Flow of Response during a Disaster

Narrative: Flow of Response during a Disaster
Description of the chain of command in disaster response.

These diagrams provide a visualization of how federal, state and local governments and agencies/organizations respond in the event of a disaster.
Key Resources for Emergency Preparedness and Response
The Emergency Preparedness Task Force identified a list of key resources, including government and non-government agency resources, CPE offerings, professional educational resources and consumer educational resources.
Knowledge, Competencies, Skills and Roles of RDs and DTRs in Emergency Preparedness
To help members understand possible roles in emergency response, charts have been developed to guide members on what they "need to know" and what they may "need to do" in the event of a disaster in three primary focus areas: Clinical Nutrition; Public Health/Community Nutrition; and Food Management. Use this chart to plan education sessions for members, staff and students.