http://worldcat.org/entity/work/id/654667662

When every drop counts : protecting public health during drought conditions--a guide for public health professionals

"In April 2008, CDC, the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) committed to collaboratively creating a guide for public health and other professionals concerned with the health implications of drought. Several key processes were employed over a period of months to help inform the writing of the drought document. CDC first conducted a review of the existing drought-related public health guidance, information, and literature, and identified a need for a consolidated drought planning resource for public health. A working group was then organized composed of both internal subject-matter experts and external experts representing diverse fields, including all levels of public health, environmental protection, and water-related sciences. Over the course of several months, the working group held a series of conference calls to discuss and prioritize the type of information that should be included in the proposed drought document, along with the appropriate format and structure. The research and consultations culminated in a 3-day workshop, which took place on September 17-19, 2008, in Atlanta, Georgia. The Public Health Effects of Drought Workshop was attended by experts from diverse disciplines, including federal, state, and local public health; environmental engineering and science; coastal ecology; regulatory engineering; water-related research; risk communication; water systems management; and emergency management (see Acknowledgments section for a list of participants and their affiliations). Participants were presented with several tasks during the 3-day meeting. They worked together through a computer-based communications/facilitation tool and engaged in discussions to identify and prioritize drought-related public health issues, identify research gaps and needs in the area of public health as it relates to drought, and develop recommendations to ensure that the nation's public health system is better prepared for drought. Workshop participants also shared personal experiences with drought within their regions, including lessons learned, best practices, and challenges. The recommendations contained within this document are based on the experience and knowledge of the working group members who participated in numerous conference calls, the experts who attended the 2008 Public Health Effects of Drought Workshop, and the literature and data that have been collected regarding the impact of drought on health. The document has been reviewed and vetted by CDC, AWWA, EPA, NOAA, and other stakeholder agencies and organizations, including the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), the National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH), and the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)." - p. 13

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