U.S. Government Documents
on Public Health Preparedness

This is our working compendium of biosecurity-related U.S. government documents in the public domain. To recommend a government document for inclusion, please email the Webmaster.

Department of Defense

• Strategy for Homeland Defense and Civil Support (2005)

Department of Health and Human Services

• Guidance on Allocating and Targeting Pandemic Influenza Vaccine (2008)
• Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act Progress Report (2007)
• Correctional Facilities Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist (2007)
• Law Enforcement Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist (2007)
• HHS Plan to Combat Bioterrorism and Other Public Health Emergencies (2005) (external link)
• State and Local Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist (2005)

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

• Adapting Community Call Centers for Crisis Support (2007)
• Emergency Preparedness Atlas: U.S. Nursing Home and Hospital Facilities and Nursing Homes in Public Health (2007) (external link)
• Nursing Homes in Public Health Emergencies: Special Needs and Potential Roles (2007)
• Providing Mass Medical Care with Scarce Resources: A Community Planning Guide (2007)
• Pediatric Terrorism and Disaster Preparedness: A Resource for Pediatricians (2006) (external link)
• Reopening Shuttered Hospitals to Expand Surge Capacity (2006)
• Altered Standards of Care in Mass Casualty Events (2005)
• Community-Based Mass Prophylaxis: A Planning Guide for Public Health Preparedness (2004)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• Public Health Preparedness: Mobilizing State by State - A CDC Report on the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement (2008)
• Public Health Emergency Response Guide for State, Local, and Tribal Public Health Directors (2006)
• Protecting Emergency Responders, Volume 3 - Safety Management in Disaster and Terrorism Response (2004)
• Interim Recommendations for Firefighters & Other First Responders for the Selection & Use of Protective Clothing & Respirators Against Biological Agents (2001)
• Public Health Response to Biological & Chemical Terrorism: Interim Planning Guidance for State Public Health Officials (2001)

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

• FDA Science and Mission at Risk (2007)

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

• Federal Tort Claims Act Coverage for Health Center Program Grantees Responding to Emergencies (2007)  
• Health Center Emergency Management Program Expectations (2007)

National Institutes of Health/National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

• The Jordan Report: Accelerated Development of Vaccines (2007)

Office of Inspector General

• Allowability of Costs Claimed for Reimbursement Under Florida's Bioterrorism and Emergency Preparedness Programs for the Period August 31, 2004, through August 30, 2006 (2008)
• Review of New Hampshire’s Bioterrorism and Emergency Preparedness Funds for the Period July 1, 2003, through June 30, 2007 (2008)
• Audit of Unobligated Balances of Funds Awarded Under the Public Health Preparedness and Response for Bioterrorism Program (2006)
• Review of Arkansas Department of Health’s Public Health Preparedness and Response for Bioterrorism Program Funds (2005)
• Audit of Costs and Reporting of Funds Under the Public Health Preparedness and Response for Bioterrorism Program District of Columbia (2005)
• Audit of the State of Massachusetts' Costs and Reporting of Funds Under the Public Health Preparedness and Response to Bioterrorism Program for the Period August 31, 1999 - August 30, 2004 (2005)
• Audit of Costs and Reporting of Funds Under the Public Health Preparedness and Response for Bioterrorism Program by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (2005)
• Audit of Costs and Reporting of Funds Under the Public Health Preparedness and Response for Bioterrorism Program, Ohio Department of Health (2005)
• District of Columbia Efforts to Account for and Monitor Sub-Recipients' use of Public Health Preparedness and Response for Bioterrorism Program Funds (2004)
• Nationwide Audit of State and Local Government Efforts to Record and Monitor Subrecipients' Use of Public Health Preparedness and Response for Bioterrorism Program Funds (2004)
• Review of the State of North Carolina’s Efforts to Account for and Monitor Sub-Recipient’s Use of Public Health Preparedness and Response for Bioterrorism Program Funds, North Carolina Division of Public Health (2003)
• Los Angeles County's Efforts to Account for the Use of Public Health Preparedness and Response to Bioterrorism Program Funds and Monitoring of Subrecipients (2003)
• State of California: Review of Public Health Preparedness and Response for Bioterrorism Program Funds (2003)
• City of Chicago's Efforts to Account for and Monitor Sub-Recipients' Use of Public Health Preparedness and Response to Bioterrorism Program Funds - Department of Public Health (2003)
• State of Florida's Efforts to Account for and Monitor Sub-Recipients' Use of Public Health Preparedness and Response for Bioterrorism Program Funds (2003)
• State of Georgia's Efforts to Account for and Monitor Sub-recipients' Use of Public Health Preparedness and Response for Bioterrorism Program Funds (2003)
• State of Illinois' Efforts to Account for and Monitor Sub-Recipients' Use of Public Health Preparedness and Response to Bioterrorism Program Funds, Illinois Department of Public Health (2003)
• Review of the State of Massachusetts' Efforts to Account for and Monitor Sub-Recipients' Use of Public Health Preparedness and Response to Bioterrorism Program Funds (2003)
• State of Maryland, Efforts to Account For and Monitor Sub-Recipients' Use of Public Health Preparedness and Response for Bioterrorism Program Funds (2003)
• State of Michigan's Efforts to Account for and Monitor Sub-Recipients' Use of Public Health Preparedness and Response to Bioterrorism Program Funds (2003)
• Review of New Jersey's Efforts to Account for and Monitor Sub-Recipients' Use of Public Health Preparedness and Response for Bio-Terrorism Program Funds (2003)
• Review of New York State's Efforts to Account For and Monitor Sub-Recipients' Use of Public Health Preparedness and Response to Bio-Terrorism Program Funds (2003)
• Review of New York City's Efforts To Account For and Monitor Sub-Recipients' Use of Public Health Preparedness and Response To Bio-Terrorism Program Funds (2003)
• State of Ohio's Efforts to Account for and Monitor Sub-Recipients' Use of Public Health Preparedness and Response to Bioterrorism Program Funds (2003)
• Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Efforts to Account For and Monitor Sub-Recipients' Use of Public Health Preparedness and Response For Bioterrorism Program Funds (2003)
• State of Texas’ Efforts to Account for and Monitor Subrecipients’ Use of Public Health Preparedness and Response for Bioterrorism Program Funds (2003)
• Commonwealth of Virginia, Efforts to Account For and Monitor Sub-Recipients' Use of Public Health Preparedness and Response for Bioterrorism Program Funds (2003)

Department of Homeland Security

• Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Events and the Critical Infrastructure Workforce Report and Recommendations (2008)
• National Response Framework (2008)
• National Preparedness Guidelines (2007)
• Target Capabilities List (2007)
• Draft National Response Framework (2007)
• Emergency Support Function Annexes to the Draft National Response Framework (2007)
• Incident Annexes to the Draft National Response Framework (2007)
• Support Annexes to the Draft National Response Framework (2007)
• National Incident Management System (2004)
• Top Officials (TOPOFF) Exercise Series: TOPOFF 2 – After Action Summary Report For Public Release (2003)

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA became part of DHS effective March 1, 2003)

• Disaster Assistance Policy 9523.17 - Emergency Assistance for Human Influenza Pandemic (2007)
• State and Local Guide to All Hazards Emergency Operations Planning (1996)

Office of Inspector General

• A Review of the Top Officials 3 Exercise (2005)

Government Accountability Office (formerly the General Accounting Office)

• Testimony--Emergency Preparedness: State Efforts to Plan for Medical Surge Could Benefit from Shared Guidance for Allocating Scarce Medical Resources (2010)
• Food and Drug Administration: FDA Faces Challenges Meeting Its Growing Medical Product Responsibilities and Should Develop Complete Estimates of Its Resource Needs (2009)
• Disaster Recovery: Past Experiences Offer Recovery Lessons for Hurricanes Ike and Gustav and Future Disasters (2009)
• Food and Drug Administration: FDA Faces Challenges Meeting Its Growing Medical Product Responsibilities and Should Develop Complete Estimates of Its Resource Needs (2009)
• Disaster Recovery: Past Experiences Offer Recovery Lessons for Hurricanes Ike and Gustav and Future Disasters (2009)
• Veterinarian Workforce: Actions Are Needed to Ensure Sufficient Capacity for Protecting Public and Animal Health (2009)
• Emergency Preparedness: State Efforts to Plan for Medical Surge Could Benefit from Shared Guidance for Allocating Scarce Medical Resources (2008)
• Avian Influenza: USDA Has Taken Important Steps to Prepare for Outbreaks, but Better Planning Could Improve Response (2007)
• Emergency Management: Most School Districts Have Developed Emergency Management Plans, but Would Benefit from Additional Federal Guidance (2007)
• Emergency Management: Status of School Districts’ Planning and Preparedness (2007)
• Emergency Management Assistance Compact: Enhancing EMAC’s Collaborative and Administrative Capacity Should Improve National Disaster Response (2007)
• Federal Oversight of Food Safety: High-Risk Designation Can Bring Needed Attention to Fragmented System (2007)
• Federal Oversight of Food Safety: High-Risk Designation Can Bring Attention to Limitations in the Government’s Food Recall Programs (2007)
• Homeland Security: Observations on DHS and FEMA Efforts to Prepare for and Respond to Major and Catastrophic Disasters and Address Related Recommendations and Legislation (2007)
• Public Health and Hospital Emergency Preparedness Programs: Evolution of Performance Measurement Systems to Measure Progress (2007)
• Small Business Administration: Response to the Gulf Coast Hurricanes Highlights Need for Enhanced Disaster Preparedness (2007)
• Disaster Preparedness: Limitations in Federal Evacuation Assistance for Health Facilities Should be Addressed (2006)
• Disaster Preparedness: Preliminary Observations on the Evacuation of Hospitals and Nursing Homes Due to Hurricanes (2006)
• Emergency Preparedness and Response: Some Issues and Challenges Associated with Major Emergency Incidents (2006)
• Bioterrorism: Information on Jurisdictions’ Expenditure and Reported Obligation of Program Funds (2005)
• Continuity of Operations: Agency Plans Have Improved, but Better Oversight Could Assist Agencies in Preparing for Emergencies (2005)
• Homeland Security: DHS’ Efforts to Enhance First Responders’ All-Hazards Capabilities Continue to Evolve (2005)
• Homeland Security: Managing First Responder Grants to Enhance Emergency Preparedness in the National Capital Region (2005)
• Homeland Security: Much Is Being Done to Protect Agriculture from a Terrorist Attack, but Important Challenges Remain (2005)
• Emergency Preparedness: Federal Funds for First Responders (2004)
• Emerging Infectious Diseases: Review of State and Federal Disease Surveillance Efforts (2004)  
• HHS Bioterrorism Preparedness Programs: States Reported Progress but Fell Short of Program Goals for 2002 (2004)
• Homeland Security: DHS Needs a Strategy to Use DOE’s Laboratories for Research on Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Detection and Response Technologies (2004)
• Homeland Security: Effective Regional Coordination Can Enhance Emergency Preparedness (2004)
• Infectious Disease Preparedness: Federal Challenges in Responding to Influenza Outbreaks (2004)
• Public Health Preparedness: Response Capacity Improving, but Much Remains to Be Accomplished (2004)
• Bioterrorism: Information Technology Strategy Could Strengthen Federal Agencies' Abilities to Respond to Public (2003)
• Bioterrorism: Preparedness Varied across State and Local Jurisdictions (2003)
• Bioterrorism: Public Health Response to Anthrax Incidents of 2001 (2003)
• Bioterrorism: A Threat to Agriculture and the Food Supply (2003)  
• Infectious Disease Outbreaks: Bioterrorism Preparedness Efforts Have Improved Public Health Response Capacity, but Gaps Remain (2003)
• Infectious Diseases: Gaps Remain in Surveillance Capabilities of State and Local Agencies (2003)
• SARS Outbreak: Improvements to Public Health Capacity Are Needed for Responding to Bioterrorism and Emerging Infectious Diseases (2003)
• Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome: Established Infectious Disease Control Measures Helped Contain Spread, But a Large-Scale Resurgence May Pose Challenges (2003)
• Smallpox Vaccination: Implementation of National Program Faces Challenges (2003)
• Combating Terrorism: Critical Components of a National Strategy to Enhance State and Local Preparedness (2002)
• Combating Terrorism: Enhancing Partnerships Through a National Preparedness Strategy (2002)
• Combating Terrorism: Intergovernmental Cooperation in the Development of a National Strategy to Enhance State and Local Preparedness (2002)  
• Homeland Security: New Department Could Improve Coordination but May Complicate Public Health Priority Setting (2002)
• National Preparedness: Integration of Federal, State, Local, and Private Sector Efforts is Critical to an Effective National Strategy for Homeland Security (2002)
• Public Health: Maintaining an Adequate Blood Supply Is Key to Emergency Preparedness (2002)
• Bioterrorism: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Role in Public Health Protection (2001)
• Bioterrorism: Coordination and Preparedness (2001)
• Bioterrorism: Federal Research and Preparedness Activities (2001)
• Bioterrorism: Public Health and Medical Preparedness (2001)
• Bioterrorism: Review of Public Health Preparedness Programs (2001)
• Chemical and Biological Defense: DOD Should Clarify Expectations for Medical Readiness (2001)
• Chemical and Biological Defense: DOD Needs to Clarify Expectations in Medical Readiness (2001)
• Combating Terrorism: Considerations for Investing Resources in Chemical and Biological Preparedness (2001)
• Combating Terrorism: FEMA Continues to Make Progress in Coordinating Preparedness and Response (2001)
• Food Safety: CDC Is Working to Address Limitations in Several of Its Foodborne Disease Surveillance Systems (2001)
• Food Safety and Security: Fundamental Changes Needed to Ensure Safe Food (2001)
• Homeland Security: Need to Consider VA's Role in Strengthening Federal Preparedness (2001)
• Influenza Pandemic: Plan Needed for Federal and State Response (2000)
• West Nile Virus Outbreak: Lessons for Public Health Preparedness (2000)

The White House

• White House FY 2009 Budget Amendment (2008)
• National Strategy for Combating Terrorism (2003)
• Homeland Security Presidential Directive/HSPD 21: Public Health and Medical Preparedness (2007)