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)
• See full list

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)

• Electronic Health Records: DOD and VA Interoperability Efforts Are Ongoing; Program Office Needs to Implement Recommended Improvements (2010)
• 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)
• 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)
• See full list

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)