February 1, 2007 FEMA Emergency Management Higher Education Project Activity Report

(1) PANDEMIC:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention held a Press Briefing on Pandemic Flu Preparedness today to release information on "two new initiatives to advance the nation's pandemic influenza preparednessefforts: 1) new PSAs designed to encourage people to learn more about pandemic flu and 2) New CDC guidelines for implementing public health measures and actions in response to a pandemic (i.e. non-pharmaceutical actions such as dismissing students from school, voluntary isolate of ill people, and social distancing measures like teleworking)." For information, go to:

A 2nd Press Release from the CDC today on "Small Changes in 1918 Pandemic Virus Knocks Out Transmission" can be accessed at:

This release reminds us that: "The 1918 pandemic caused an estimated 675,000 deaths in the United States and up to 50 million worldwide, in the worst pandemic of the past century."

(2) TEMPLEUNIVERSITY, PHILADELPHIA & SPECIAL POPULATIONS:

Received today from George Heake, Jr, Center for Preparedness Research, Education and Practice at TempleUniversity, the following note:

"I am pleased to announce the establishment of a listserv and web site for Special Populations Analysis and Research with GIS. The short name for this initiative will be SPAR-GIS. A supporting web site can be found at which is in its beta form and is literally being updated as I write this email. The primary focus will be within the emergency management topic area utilizing GIS as a planning and/or response tool for the well being of members of Special Populations. But researchers, students and professionals from any of the associated topic areas are welcomed. The purpose of the listserv, web site and included forum is to foster a dialogue among the various project coordinators and participants so that best practices and past mistakes can be shared and learned from. For the purpose of this initiative Special Populations will be defined as any part of the population that has a disability or special requirement in terms of an emergency or disaster such as hearing impaired, visually impaired, the elderly, language challenges, physical disabilities etc. I encourage you all to subscribe to the listserv and forum and share your thoughts and ideas..and please forward this information to all interested parties. If there are any problems or comments, please send them to George Heake at . Here is the link for the listserv -- -- ."

George A. Heake Jr.

Director of Special Operations

Center for Preparedness Research, Education and Practice (CPREP) Department of Public Health Temple University 1700 N Broad StPhiladelphia, PA19122

Emergency Management Coordinator

Institute on Disabilities

215-204-7177

TTY: 1-866-2680579

That's all.

B.Wayne Blanchard, Ph.D., CEM

Higher Education Project Manager

Emergency Management Institute

NationalEmergencyTrainingCenter

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Department of Homeland Security

16825 S. Seton, K-011

Emmitsburg, MD21727

(301) 447-1262, voice

(301) 447-1598, fax

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