New Academy Resource Aims to Help FPs Prepare for Disaster

Surely you've heard the English proverb, "Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst," but have you really taken it to heart? If there's one thing that the horrific events of Sept. 11, 2001, and -- later -- the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina clearly spotlighted, it's the need to plan for disasters before they ever touch our lives.

Now the AAFP can help you do that. A new online resource, AAFP Preparedness Manual for Disasters and Public Health Emergencies (Members Only), breaks the potentially daunting preparation process for these types of events into three manageable pieces.

Spawned by a May 2006 meeting that brought together representatives from various AAFP commissions to discuss how to help Academy members prepare for and respond to natural and manmade disasters, this comprehensive resource offers practical tips and tools to help you, your family, your practice and your community weather unforeseen events ranging from large-scale catastrophes to localized pubic health emergencies.