Emergency WASH Planning, Training, and Response Resources

What to know

In some cases, emergency situations can be anticipated and planned for accordingly. Other times, professionals can only respond to emergencies after they have happened. This section provides resources for professionals to plan for, train for, and respond to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)-related emergencies.

A street with homes on it that is flooded after a natural disaster.

Emergency WASH-related resources

Preparedness and training resources

General topics

  • Environmental Health Training and Response (CDC) Training to help environmental health professionals and other emergency response personnel address the environmental health impacts of emergencies and disasters.
  • Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene Preparedness Resource Library (NACCHO) Anticipating, preventing, and responding to WASH emergencies are critical functions carried out by local health departments. This resource library contains background information on common drinking water contaminants, as well as templates and examples for public notification, educational materials, and more.
  • Public Health Response to Large Scale Water Contamination (CDC TRAIN) Training on how to identify major water contamination incidents in the US, how to describe potential water contamination–related risks, and how to evaluate the public health response to large–scale water contamination.
  • Emergency & Disaster Readiness (NEHA) Information on preparing for emergencies and disasters.
  • Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene Emergency Preparedness resources (NACCHO) WASH-related emergency preparedness and response resources for local health departments, who are at the forefront of preparing for and responding to these events.
  • Environment, Climate Change, and Health (WHO) News, technical information, resources, videos and other information on WHO's environment, climate change, and health programs.
  • Environmental Health in Emergencies and Disasters: A Practical Guide. 2002 (WHO) This book deals with emergency response and measures designed to reduce the impact of disasters on environmental health infrastructure, such as water supply and sanitation facilities. It also aims to strengthen the ability of people to withstand the disruption of their accustomed infrastructure and systems for environmental health.

Water security

Natural disasters

  • Drought Resources (CDC) Resources to assist public health officials, practitioners, and other stakeholders in their efforts to understand, prepare for, and respond to drought in their communities.
  • Environmental Health Issues in Disasters (CDC TRAIN) Training on how to address issues with water quality, wastewater and sewage treatment, food safety, insects, debris, hazardous waste, and indoor and outdoor air quality during environmental health emergencies.
  • Natural Disasters: Hurricanes (CDC TRAIN) Guidelines for emergency response workers related to personal protective equipment (PPE), hurricane hazards, and public health–related issues during and after a hurricane.

Healthcare

Response resources

Drinking water and drinking water advisories

Floods

  • Floods and Your Safety (CDC) Information on preparing for and responding to floods, including cleaning up flood water inside and outside the home.

Sanitation and wastewater

Worker safety

Cleaning and infection control

Mass shelters

  • Disaster Shelter Assessment (CDC) Environmental health assessment form to help environmental health practitioners conduct a rapid assessment of shelter conditions during emergencies and disasters.