Preparing the Americas: The Outlook for 2009's Emergen...( Panel to Discuss America's Preparedne...),Health

Panel to Discuss America's Preparedness Efforts for the Upcoming Hurricane and Flu Seasons

WASHINGTON, June 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Over the next six months, communities in the United States and the Caribbean may be hit by both hurricanes and a severe flu season simultaneously. National and international response organizations are undertaking extensive preparedness efforts, to ensure that supplies, trained personnel and detailed plans are in place to lessen the impact of any emergency. Simple preparedness activities by communities and families can also minimize the devastation of these disasters.

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    WHAT:    Panel discussion: Preparing the Americas: The Outlook for
             2009's Emergency Threats
    WHO:     Dr. Richard Besser, Director, Coordinating Office for Terrorism
             Preparedness and Emergency Response, Centers for Disease
             Control and Prevention (Acting Director, CDC during the
             outbreak of H1N1); Joe Becker, Senior Vice President of
             Disaster  Services, American Red Cross; Guillermo Garcia,
             Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean,
             American Red Cross
    WHEN:    Tuesday, June 16
             10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
    WHERE:   National Press Club (Lisagor Room)
             529 14th St. NW, 13th Floor

The panel event coincides with the release of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies' 2009 World Disasters Report, which focuses on the importance of "early warning and early action" - preparing for and notifying communities about disasters in order to minimize damage. Staff members are
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