Volume 11 | April 2020
Aligning Action for Health
As we approach National Hurricane Preparedness Week (NHPW) 2020 , which runs from May 3 - 9, it is important to look at emergency preparedness through a COVID-19 lens. Each day of NHPW has a different theme, which is listed below, and now is the time to get prepared.

We encourage you to personally prepare and share these preparedness steps with your communities as well.

  1. May 3: Determine Your Risk - Know the difference between a watch and a warning. Sign up with your state and/or local emergency management office to receive emergency alerts and notifications. Visit ready.gov.alerts. 
  2. May 4: Develop an Evacuation Plan - Consider if neighboring states have travel restrictions that require individuals to self-quarantine for 14 days or the duration of time in the state, if shorter than 14 days. Make a written list of contact names and numbers and keep it in your wallet. Cell phones may not work in an emergency, and you may have difficulty recharging them. 
  3. May 5: Assemble Disaster Supplies - Visit Get A Game Plan for a list of supplies. Ensure that you have supplies for a two-week period. Remember to include face masks and disinfectants. Lists are also available in Spanish and Vietnamese. 
  4. May 6: Get an Insurance Check Up - You must have flood insurance to be covered for flood damages. Visit Floodsmart.gov to learn more. 
  5. May 7: Strengthen Your Home - Cut tree branches that are weak or hang over structures. Inspect and repair your roof. Make sure caulking around windows and doors is in good shape. Clear blocked drains.
  6. May 8: Help Your Neighbor - Collect supplies for them or offer to perform chores that strengthen their homes.
  7. May 9: Complete a Written Plan - Take photos or video of your valuables. Keep your important documents together for quick access.

We continue to compile and update resources on the Louisiana Public Health Institute's COVID-19 page . Our goal is to provide you with accurate, effective, and timely information. During this rapidly changing situation, it is important to pay attention to the factual information from the Office of the Governor, Louisiana Department of Health, New Orleans Health Department, and CDC.

We will continue to provide important updates and relevant information on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
Partner Spotlight: Best Friends Animal Society
Best Friends Animal Society is a leading national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters. Founded in 1984, they are a pioneer in the no-kill movement and have helped reduce the number of animals killed in shelters nationwide from 17 million per year to around 733,000. They are determined to bring the country to no-kill by the year 2025.

Best Friends realizes that pets are family and a foundational part of our communities. When preparing for disasters, pets' needs must be considered and planned for along with the rest of the family. Best Friends' disaster preparedness checklist for pets includes steps you can take right now to be prepared for a disaster.

Best Friends also has resources for COVID-19 and pets, including FAQs , building a COVID-19 pet preparedness plan , remote access to veterinary consultations , and options for helping neighbors with pets .
How Can We Support You?
Our recovery from COVID-19, hurricanes, and other natural disasters is strengthened when we work together, share resources, and identify and respond to needs of impacted communities, particularly communities impacted by inequities.
 
We want to hear from you: what assistance do you need to address your organization’s needs and those of the communities you serve?  Examples of assistance include:

  • Facilitating connections to people or organizations
  • Providing access to training and educational opportunities
  • Identifying relevant resources

We are working with the CDC, Tulane University School of Public Health, and other state and federal partners to address your needs.
 
Your feedback is important. Please email us directly ( mlackovic@lphi.org or kepps@lphi.org ) or fill out a request form here . The form is also available in Spanish here .
Training Information
LPHI utilizes Tulane's Learning Management System (LMS) to provide free online hurricane, emergency, and public health preparedness-related courses. TRAIN Learning Network is another platform that offers courses for public health, healthcare, behavioral health, preparedness, and other health professionals.

Those interested in taking LMS trainings can fill out and submit the new user form here . Please note that new accounts may take up to one business day (24 hours) for approval. Once an account has been set up, users have access to the full library of trainings. For information on TRAIN courses, click here .

Courses listed below are through LMS, unless otherwise noted, and include but a re not limited to:


Additional courses are being created and will be announced as they become available. More frequent updates are available via the LA-HRH Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Third Edition of The Hub Speaks
NNPHI has released a new quarertly edition of The Hub Speaks , a quarterly publication that is part of our partnership with the National Coordinating Center for Public Health at NNPHI and several other partners across the country. The issue of our newsletter includes:

  • A compelling article on the identity of resilience during COVID-19 
  • An urgent article from the Texas HRH discussing the importance of protecting the mental health of first responders and public health professionals 
  • A discussion about the positive impact of partnerships between non-governmental organizations and private and public entities for public health professionals
  • An introduction to our NEW ECHO series that launches June 2020

… and so much MORE!

Click here to read the latest issue of The Hub Speaks , and be sure to sign up for the HRH email list to get the next issue delivered directly to your inbox.
Funding for this project has been provided to the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI) through a Cooperative Agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC – NU1ROT000004-01-00). NNPHI is collaborating with the CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health on this project. The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

The LPHI, founded in 1997, is a statewide 501(c)(3) nonprofit and public health institute that translates evidence into strategy to optimize health ecosystems. Our work focuses on uncovering complementary connections across sectors to combine the social, economic, and human capital needed to align action for health. We champion health for people, within systems, and throughout communities because we envision a world where everyone has the opportunity to be healthy. For more information, visit www.lphi.org .