About U.S. Programs Disaster Preparedness & Response
While much of the focus of Medical Teams work has centered around crisis and emergencies unfolding internationally, U.S Programs has supported domestic disaster response for more than two decades. U.S Programs sent volunteer trauma counselors to comfort rescue workers after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. We deployed a team of medical professionals, in addition to a mobile clinic, to New Orleans Parish following Hurricane Katrina to provide support for the local medical community and those affected by the storm. We have sent hundreds of personal hygiene and health kits, as well as volunteer workers, to countless emergencies across the country. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we pivoted our mobile dental clinics to mobile COVID-19 testing and vaccination clinics, where we tested over 20,000 and vaccinated over 51,000 people.
Disasters are on the rise and will only continue to increase in frequency and complexity, with requests for aid doubling and even tripling in some regions. U.S Programs is well-positioned to continue playing a critical role in strengthening disaster response efforts across the U.S and because of Medical Teams’ robust network of partners, we also have the opportunity to build more resilient communities through disaster preparedness.
WHAT WE DO
In 2024, we launched a pilot program to help increase resilience and disaster preparedness within vulnerable Oregon communities.
Collaborating with local public health departments and community-based organizations across the state, Medical Teams provides:
- Mass care shelter training
- Emergency medical training & emergency supplies kits
- Disaster preparedness education
- Support to public health agencies as they assess vulnerabilities in emergency operations plans
- Network building opportunities poised to respond to the medically fragile in an emergency
WHERE WE ARE GOING
While we will continue our community preparedness work, our long-term objective is to respond to disasters in the Pacific Northwest and eventually nationwide to leave communities more resilient to respond to emergencies when they strike. Our goal is to alleviate suffering, mitigate the healthcare impact of disasters on healthcare systems and displaced populations, and ultimately, save lives.
Our preparedness and response work will focus on the needs of the medically fragile and will include:
- Comprehensive public health assessments
- Medical Needs Shelter management and support
- Delivery and coordination of essential medical supplies
- Trauma informed emotional and psychological support
Our approach
Training and Preparedness
Provide health systems strengthening and community systems strengthening through training local Public Health and Emergency Management departments, Community-Based Organizations, local responders and stakeholders. Focuses on coming alongside communities and existing systems to strengthen community resiliency.
Public Health Assessments
Rapid assessments conducted at the local level to support Emergency Management or Public Health departments. The aim is to quickly evaluate the impact of the event on the health of the affected population and guide effective response and recovery actions.
Essential Medical Supplies
Prepositioning, delivery of, or coordination of medical and/or emergency equipment and supplies to reach communities served by local actors and health providers.
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)
Offering emotional and psychosocial support to individuals, responders, responding organizations or local public health and emergency management departments. Examples could include Psychological First Aid and Trauma Informed First Aid Arts Toolkit training.
Medical Needs Shelters (MNS)
This is the most logistically complex and resource-intensive intervention. Could take the form of standing up and managing our own MNS or may consist of sending trained personnel to help staff and manage an existing MNS run by the American Red Cross, County Emergency Management or local Public Health department.
Training and Preparedness
Provide health systems strengthening and community systems strengthening through training local Public Health and Emergency Management departments, Community-Based Organizations, local responders and stakeholders. Focuses on coming alongside communities and existing systems to strengthen community resiliency.
Public Health Assessments
Rapid assessments conducted at the local level to support Emergency Management or Public Health departments. The aim is to quickly evaluate the impact of the event on the health of the affected population and guide effective response and recovery actions.
Essential Medical Supplies
Prepositioning, delivery of, or coordination of medical and/or emergency equipment and supplies to reach communities served by local actors and health providers.
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)
Offering emotional and psychosocial support to individuals, responders, responding organizations or local public health and emergency management departments. Examples could include Psychological First Aid and Trauma Informed First Aid Arts Toolkit training.
Medical Needs Shelters (MNS)
This is the most logistically complex and resource-intensive intervention. Could take the form of standing up and managing our own MNS or may consist of sending trained personnel to help staff and manage an existing MNS run by the American Red Cross, County Emergency Management or local Public Health department.
Volunteer with U.S. Programs Disaster Preparedness and Response
As our Disaster Preparedness & Response program continues to evolve, so do the opportunities for volunteers to make an impact. While our long-term goal involves deploying staff and volunteer teams of medical, public health, and logistics professionals to provide care for people impacted by disasters, our current work is in building resilient communities who are better prepared for disasters.
Volunteer skills needed
We’re looking for volunteers with the following skill sets:
- Basic Life Support (BLS): Teaches essential life-saving skills such as CPR.
- Basic First Aid: Fundamental skills for providing immediate medical assistance to injured individuals.
- Medical Triage Training: Teaches methods for quickly assessing and prioritizing patients based on the severity of their injuries or illnesses.
- Psychological First Aid: Focuses on providing psychological support and assistance to individuals affected by disasters.
- Be 2-Weeks Ready: Focused on importance of preparedness for 2 weeks following a disaster.
- Stop the Bleed: Training program that trains public to help in a bleeding Emergency before professional help arrives.
- Disaster Medical Operations: Training in triage, patient assessment, and basic medical care in disaster settings.
- Infection Control: Understanding and implementing protocols to prevent the spread of infectious diseases during disaster response.
- Medical Shelter Operations: Training on setting up and managing medical shelters, including patient intake, care, and coordination with medical resources.
- Communicable Disease Control: Understanding strategies to control the spread of diseases within affected communities.
- Crisis Communication: Training on effective communication strategies during emergencies, including disseminating information and managing public perceptions.
- Cultural Competency and Sensitivity: Learning to work effectively with diverse populations and understanding cultural considerations in medical care delivery during disasters.
If you are interested in exploring these opportunities or simply learning more about what we do and other ways you can get involved, click below to enter your information and learn about the next steps.