Resource Library
Public health emergencies, including infectious disease outbreaks and natural disasters, are issues that every community faces. To address these threats, it is critical for all jurisdictions to understand how law can be used to enhance public health preparedness, as well as improve collaboration and coordination across jurisdictions. This Resource Library is designed to provide relevant resources to Tribal Nations seeking to enhance their legal preparedness capacity. While most resources have a Tribal focus, some resources are included that are generally applicable to legal preparedness for public health emergencies and natural disasters.
Government Documents
After the Flood: Mold-Specific Resources
This resource provides public messages, fact sheets, checklists, guidance documents, and other educational resources related to mold. HHS ASPR, the Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE) (August 2017)
ASPR TRACIE Factsheet
This fact sheet provides information about the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), which sponsors the ASPR Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE). ASPR TRACIE is a healthcare emergency preparedness information gateway that ensures that all stakeholders—at the federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial government levels; in nongovernmental organizations; and in the private sector—have access to information and resources to improve preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation efforts. Each domain (TR, AC, and IE) provides users with unique support. In the dynamic environment of a disaster. HHS ASPR, the Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE)
Avian Influenza (Including Asian H7N9): Resources at Your Fingertips
This document provides healthcare system and public health preparedness professionals, emergency managers, and other stakeholders with resources and information to consider when improving their readiness for potential human infections with avian influenza A viruses. HHS ASPR, the Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE) (October 6, 2017)
CMS and Disasters: Resources at your Fingertips
This document provides information and resources for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) disaster and emergency related programs. HHS ASPR, the Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE) (October 11, 2017)
Disaster Behavioral Health: Resources at Your Fingertips
This document provides information on and links to select disaster behavioral health programs and resources. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list, but a selection of programs and resources that can be of immediate use to emergency healthcare providers, emergency management stakeholders, and other professionals and survivors affected by naturally-occurring or human-caused incidents. HHS ASPR, the Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE) (March 24, 2017)
FEMA and Tribal Nations: A Pocket Guide
This document provides a quick reference about Federal Emergency Management Agency programs and the agency’s engagement with Tribes. Federal Emergency Management Agency (September 2014)
FEMA’s Disaster Declaration Process: A Primer
This primer discusses the evolution of the disaster declaration process, how it is administered, and recent changes enacted in law that authorized Native American Tribal groups to directly request disaster assistance from the President rather than only requesting through a state governor. Congressional Research Service (November 12, 2014)
FEMA Disaster Declarations Summary
This website is a summarized dataset describing all federally declared disasters. Federal Emergency Management Agency (January 8, 2018)
Guidance for Preparing Tribal Emergency Response Plans
This document is a tool for resource managers of federally recognized Tribes within Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 for developing and implementing their own emergency response plans (ERPs). Environmental Protection Agency (September 2004)
Hurricane Resources at Your Fingertips
This document provides numerous hurricane-related resources applicable to a variety of stakeholders and audiences. HHS ASPR, the Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE) (August 28, 2017)
Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible to Receive Services from the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs
This document lists the federally recognized Tribes in the United States. Government Publishing Office- Federal Registrar (2016)
Indian Health Services Chapter 32 State Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs
This chapter establishes and defines participation of the Indian Health Service with State Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs. Indian Health Service
Legal Preparedness for Public Health Emergencies: A Model for Minimum Competencies for Mid-Tier Public Health Professionals
This document presents a model set of Minimum Competencies in Public Health Emergency Law for mid-tier public health professionals. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2012)
Local Mitigation Planning Handbook
This handbook provides guidance to local governments on developing or updating hazard mitigation plans to meet the requirements of Title 44 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §201.6 for Federal Emergency Management Agency approval and eligibility to apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant programs and offers practical approaches and examples for how communities can engage in effective planning to reduce long-term risk from natural hazards and disasters. Federal Emergency Management Agency (2013)
Menu of Selected Tribal Laws Related to Infectious Disease Control
This document is an inventory of select Tribal laws related to infectious disease control. This menu informs Tribal public health practitioners, policy makers, and attorneys about Tribes’ use of law as a tool to address infectious disease control. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014)
Menu of Selected Tribal Laws Related to Mosquito and Vector Control
This document is an inventory of select Tribal laws related to mosquito and vector control laws. This menu offers examples of selected Tribal laws related to mosquito and vector control that can be used by jurisdictions interested in developing or updating their own vector control laws to respond to vector-borne disease threats. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016)
Mitigation Ideas: A Resource for Reducing Risk to Natural Hazards
This document provides a resource that communities can use to identify and evaluate a range of potential mitigation actions for reducing risk to natural hazards and disasters. The focus of this document is mitigation, which is action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to hazards. Federal Emergency Management Agency (2013)
Public Health Emergency Response Guide for State, Local, and Tribal Public Health Directors - Version 2.0
This document is intended to assist state, local, and Tribal public health professionals in the initiation of response activities during the first 24 hours of an emergency or disaster. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (April 2011)
Resources for Emergency Health Professionals
This website provides a variety of resources for clinicians, communicators, laboratorians, emergency planners and responders, and disaster relief volunteers to prepare them to respond to a public health emergency. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (May 8, 2017)
Prescription Drug Abuse and Illicit Substance Use: A Crisis in Indian Country United States Attorneys' Bulletin
This bulletin highlighting threats brought by fentanyl and related substances, and describes the various illicit opioids on the black market and the various channels through which they are entering the United States. United States Department of Justice Executive office for United States Attorneys (July 2018)
Request for Presidential Disaster Declaration Major Disaster or Emergency
This document is the form required to request an emergency or major disaster declaration. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (2016)
SAMHSA’s Disaster Kit
This document arms disaster recovery workers with materials that aid in responding effectively to the general public during and after a disaster, and in dealing with workplace stress. The toolkit includes SAFE-T practice guidelines, and suicide prevention wallet cards. It also includes guides for parents, caregivers, teachers, and others. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2011)
Selected Federal Legal Authorities Pertinent to Public Health Emergencies
This document is an annotated list of selected, commonly cited federal legal authorities for reference by public health officials, legal counsel, and others. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (August 2017)
The Epidemic/Pandemic Flu Topic Collection
This website includes resources that can help healthcare professionals and emergency medical planners prepare for the next influenza epidemic or pandemic. HHS ASPR, the Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE) (January 8, 2018)
Tribal Declaration and Disaster Assistance Resources
This website provides a number of resources to help Tribes understand the disaster declaration process, as well as the various disaster assistance programs they may receive. Federal Emergency Management Agency (April 20, 2016)
Tribal Declarations Pilot Guidance
This document serves as a comprehensive resource for Tribal governments on Stafford Act declarations, disaster assistance, and related requirements. It also includes the criteria Federal Emergency Management Agency will use to evaluate declaration requests from Tribal governments and make recommendations to the President regarding whether to declare an emergency or major disaster. Federal Emergency Management Agency (2017)
Tribal Declarations Pilot Guidance Fact Sheet
This document is a fact sheet on the Federal Emergency Management Agency Tribal Declarations Pilot Guidance. Federal Emergency Management Agency (2017)
Tribal Emergency Preparedness Law
This website introduces Tribal emergency preparedness law by first outlining Tribal emergency preparedness authorities and gives examples of these authorities across Tribal law. It then discusses federal Indian law and the principles governing the relationships among Tribes, states, and the federal government in the context of emergency preparedness. The brief concludes by discussing cross-jurisdictional coordination between Tribes and other jurisdictions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Last revised 2017)
Tribal Epidemiology Centers Designated as Public Health Authorities Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
This document describes Tribal Epidemiology Centers and explains the impact of their designation as public health authorities under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015)
Tribal Multi-Hazard Mitigation Planning Resources
This website assists Indian Tribal governments and other Tribal entities to identify and assess their risk to natural hazards through the Federal Emergency Management Agency multi-hazard mitigation planning process. Federal Emergency Management Agency (March 2010)
Tribal Policies and Legislation
This document highlights some of the Department of Homeland Security resources available to Tribal Nations. This document summarizes and provides links to training, publications, guidance, alerts, newsletters, programs, and services available to Tribal Nations from across the department. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (2013)
Tribal Public Health and the Law: Selected Resources
describes and discusses topics related to Tribal public health law. The resources include general ones related to Indian health policy and Tribal public health law, as well as substantive legal discussions of public health topics that relate to Tribes or American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016)
U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme Delivers Remarks to the Indian Country Drug Trafficking Training Conference
This news release provides U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme’s remarks as prepared for delivery to the Indian Country Drug Trafficking Training Conference. The United States Department of Justice (June 27, 2018)
Using the Hazard Mitigation Plan to Prepare Successful Mitigation Projects
This website shows how a community can move from the hazard mitigation plan to developing mitigation projects that may be implemented fully using Federal Emergency Management Agency Hazard Mitigation Assistance.Federal Emergency Management Agency (August 2008)
Zika: Resources at Your Fingertips
This document provides Zika virus disease resources and an overview of public health and healthcare system considerations and implications that are applicable to professionals in those systems, emergency management stakeholders, and other audiences. HHS ASPR, the Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE) (September 29, 2017)
The contents of this website have not been formally disseminated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ChangeLab Solutions, and the Center for Public Health Practice. The contents should not be construed to represent any agency/organization determination or policy. These website materials are for instructional use only and are not intended as a substitute for professional legal or other advice. While every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of these materials, legal authorities and requirements may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and change over time. Always seek the advice of an attorney or other qualified professional with any questions you may have regarding a legal matter.
