Responding to a Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene (WASH)-related Emergency
This page contains links to webpages, fact sheets, posters, toolkits, and other relevant information to help public health professionals, water utilities, first responders, health care professionals, and others respond to WASH-related emergencies.
Responding to a WASH-related Emergency
- EPA. Drinking Water Systems: Emergency/Incident Information. Information to help in emergency/response efforts.
- CDC. Boil Water Advisories. For Cryptosporidium, but applies to other organisms as well.
- CDC. Water Advisory Planning Resources and Case Studies. Drinking water advisory planning and communications for water systems, both before and after an event.
- The Connecticut Department of Public Health. Bulk Water Hauling Guidelines. [PDF – 4 pages]
- The World Health Organization (WHO). Cleaning and Disinfecting Water Storage Tanks and Tankers. [PDF – 4 pages]
- CDC. Hygiene, Handwashing, & Diapering. Information on good hygiene, handwashing, and diapering practices after an emergency.
- CDC. Cleaning and Sanitizing. Information on cleaning and sanitizing containers and surfaces after an emergency.
- CDC. After a Hurricane or Flood: Cleanup of Flood Water. Information on cleaning up flood water inside and outside of the home.
- CDC. Community Wastewater Systems. Information on what to do with community wastewater systems after an emergency.
- CDC. Potential Sanitation Solutions During an Emergency Response. Information on how to handle sanitation issues to minimize the spread of disease in emergency response situations.
- CDC. Septic and Onsite Wastewater Systems.
- CDC. Potential Sanitation Solutions During an Emergency Response. Information on how to handle sanitation issues to minimize the spread of disease in emergency response situations.
- CDC. Guidance for Reducing Health Risks to Workers Handling Human Waste or Sewage.
- CDC. Floods. Guidance on the risks of infectious disease, chemical hazards, and injuries associated with exposure to flood waters or flooded buildings.
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CDC. Guidance for Reducing Health Risks to Workers Handling Human Waste or Sewage. Information on how first responders and others can protect themselves from human waste after an emergency.
- CDC. Natural Disasters: Response, Cleanup & Safety for Workers. A list of emergency response resources for workers at natural disaster sites.
- CDC. Infection Control Guidance for Community Evacuation Centers Following Disasters. Recommendations for basic infection control guidance to prevent exposure to or transmission of infectious diseases in temporary community evacuation centers.
- CDC. Shelters. Shelters provide a safe place for individuals affected by emergency events to reside. These shelters can provide a variety of services such as water, food, sleeping quarters, sanitation facilities, and medical care. Many critical functions occur in shelters; examples include conducting shelter assessments, testing drinking water supplies, conducting food safety inspections, and evaluating general safety and sanitation.
- CDC. Public Health Surveillance After a Disaster: Shelter Assessment Tool. CDC has developed an Environmental Health Shelter Assessment Tool to assist environmental health practitioners in conducting a rapid assessment of shelter conditions during emergencies and disasters. The tool is an assessment form that covers 14 general areas of environmental health, ranging from basic food safety and water quality to pet (companion animal) wellness, and allows for the documentation of immediate needs in shelters. It can be easily modified to meet local needs.
- CDC. Global WASH-Related Diseases and Contaminants.
- CDC. Infectious Disease after a Disaster.
- CDC. A to Z Index. Topical index that includes specific diseases or pathogens, listed alphabetically.
Drinking Water: Fact Sheets
Make Water Safe
Drink Safe Water
Hygiene and Handwashing: Fact Sheet
Diapering: Posters
- Diapering in Emergency Situations
Wound Care: Podcast
Emergency Wound Care After a Disaster (0:29)
Summary: This podcast discusses how to care for a wound after an emergency or disaster.