"Preparing people for emerging health threats is one of CDC's overarching goals. CDC contributes to national, state, and local efforts to prepare for and prevent public health disasters before they occur. When a disaster has occurred, CDC is prepared to respond and support national, state, and local partners in responding in order to improve public health outcomes. After response to a disaster has ended, CDC assists national, state, and local partners in the recovery and restoration of public health functions." (CDC Website)

In a disaster-level emergency NHF, through CDC, has committed to be part of the HTCs’ and chapters/associations’ disaster communications plan. An NHF Disaster hotline has been developed to facilitate this communication for any individual that will be in need of referrals to a clinician or a local entity that can be of assistance. NHF will contact the local HTC staff and chapter to collect all relevant contact information for services available in the community in order to provide the proper referrals through phone, e-mail and web site.

"The possibility of public health emergencies arising in the United States concerns many people in the wake of recent hurricanes, tsunamis, acts of terrorism, and the threat of pandemic influenza. Though some people feel it is impossible to be prepared for unexpected events, the truth is that taking preparedness actions helps people deal with disasters of all sorts much more effectively when they do occur." (CDC website)

• Disaster-level event—disaster implies "great or sudden misfortune (natural or man-made) that results in loss of life, property or is ruinous to an undertaking"
• Hemophilia Treatment Center(s) is/are out of commission; patients cannot receive prescriptions or medical services
• Chapter or association is out of commission; patients cannot receive services and/or information
• Pending categorization as, or already categorized as, a "declared state of emergency"
• State(s) is/are preparing residents for possible evacuation

• NHF Disaster Hotline team leaders are: Neil Frick and Angelina Wang. They will take the first shifts during off-hours. Depending on level of disaster, Jennifer Crawford and Kathleen Roach can relieve/assist the team leaders as needed. Leaders will have all contact information for the pharmaceutical compassionate factor donations, in the event that these are necessary.
• Team leaders will communicate with the affected areas and surrounding areas in order to compile all the key contact information for our NHF Web site and for follow-ups during the response phase.

• NHF will supply all Disaster Hotline responders with appropriate cell phone/PDA technology so that they can answer calls when needed and can check the "Disaster" email in-box as needed during times of a disaster
• NHF will develop a schedule for all Disaster Hotline workers during a disaster. All responders will be "on duty" for a period of 8 hours at a time
• NHF will change the main message on the toll free number during times of a disaster informing callers that the hotline is in operation and will give instructions for callers to access the hotline
• NHF will also post all relevant information on the webpage as soon as it is appropriate

• Local and state health department

www.hhs.gov, 1-877-696-6775

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

www.cdc.gov, 1-800-232-4636

• FEMA/ National government

www.fema.gov, 1-800-621-FEMA

• Local Red Cross chapters

www.redcross.org, 1-800-RED CROSS

• Federal Regional Director and Coordinators

Contact NHF for this information www.hemophilia.org

• United Way www.unitedway.org