Forum on Medical and Public Health Preparedness for Disasters and Emergencies: 2024 Annual Report (2025)

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Reflecting Back: Forum Activities and Publications in 2024 FORUM MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS Winter/Spring Meeting February 15, 2024 The forum’s winter/spring meeting, held virtually, included discussions on social and behavioral science (SBS) lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other past public emergencies. Speakers discussed how SBS lessons, concepts, and theories could be leveraged to inform and be incorporated in future medical and public health preparedness and response efforts. Forum members representing the Association of Public Health Laboratories gave updates about the future of the nation’s laboratory systems and a representative from the U.S. Fire Administration gave a presentation on wildfire preparedness. Summer Meeting June 5–6, 2024 During the forum’s summer meeting, forum members examined frameworks, models, approaches, and strategies for medical and public health preparedness that build resilience to climate-related disasters, like wildfires, and compound risks. Participants explored health care system vulnerabilities and resilience to climate-related disasters and how health care and public health systems can partner with other organizations to mitigate these threats. There were also discussions around the limitations and opportunities for improvement of current federal disaster management systems, structures, and policies. Fall Meeting October 16–17, 2024 The forum’s fall meeting examined progress made, existing gaps and challenges, and future opportunities on critical issues and recommendations from the 2016 National Academies report A National Trauma Care System: Integrating Military and Civilian Trauma Systems to Achieve Zero Preventable Deaths After Injury. Other relevant topics were explored, including progress made with the National Disaster Medical System pilot; regional health care preparedness and coordination including medical operation coordination cells; and mass casualty planning especially in rural settings. 4 | 2024 Annual Report 

WORKSHOPS AND PUBLICATIONS Strengthening Indigenous America: Building Resilience Through Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery July 8–9, 2024 The forum organized a workshop to explore opportunities to support the capacity of Indigenous American and Tribal communities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and public health emergencies. Workshop participants shared stories of strength and resilience, highlighted tools and best practices, and identified priorities and gaps where partners can strengthen and support the capacities and capabilities of Indigenous American and Tribal communities. Workshop discussions examined public health authorities and agreements, innovative research collaborations with Indigenous American and Tribal communities, data sovereignty, and data governance within the context of disasters and public health emergencies. Strengthening Indigenous America: Building Resilience Through Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief summarizes the discussions held during this workshop. 2024 Annual Report | 5 

Enhancing the Resilience of Healthcare and Public Health Critical Infrastructure: A Workshop December 9–10, 2024 The forum organized a workshop to examine strategies, policies, and innovative actions to improve the resilience of healthcare and public health (HPH) critical infrastructure to impacts from disasters and other emergencies. Speakers and attendees explored the evolution of the HPH critical infrastructure sector from infrastructure, technology, and operational perspectives; assessed the evolving threat landscape, including emerging risks and vulnerabilities specific to HPH critical infrastructure including the built environment, water and wastewater, energy, IT and communications, supply chain, and workforce; evaluated strategies to enhance resilience, including risk reduction and mitigation strategies needed to address the changing infrastructure and threat landscapes; and defined the characteristics of a resilient HPH critical infrastructure sector and outline the steps necessary to achieve this resilience. The publication summarizing the discussions held during this workshop will be published in 2025. ACTION COLLABORATIVE ON DISASTER RESEARCH Under the auspices of the forum, the Action Collaborative on Disaster Research (Action Collaborative), sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, brings together experts from academic, governmental, and non-governmental sectors to advance the field of disaster research. The Action Collaborative creates an active space for experts to elevate important issues and discuss strategies to improve the quality of research that informs the U.S. capacity to prepare for and respond to health threats. The objectives of the Action Collaborative are to: • Enhance research across the disaster management framework via a trans-disciplinary and integrated approach. • Foster improved processes and platforms for developing and implementing time-critical data collection and research in response to disasters. • Identify evidence-based mechanisms and opportunities for conducting and sharing information gathered from public health research before, during, and after disasters. • Engage cross-sector stakeholders in development, refinement, and dissemination of disaster research opportunities and best practices. • Provide a venue to support the development and maintenance of a rapid response mechanism to continue to meet sponsor needs for convening, idea generation, and information sharing during the initial stages of a public health emergency. 6 | 2024 Annual Report 

Symposium on Disaster Data Science April 2, 2024 The Action Collaborative hosted the Symposium on Disaster Data Science, which convened federal and non- federal stakeholders and subject matter experts to scope perspectives and share information related to the state of U.S. disaster data science. Drawing from several use cases, participants discussed prevailing disaster science questions and shared federally and non-federally supported disaster and auxiliary data sources which can be leveraged for collaboration and scientific inquiry. Participants also examined opportunities to increase access and utilization of disaster and auxiliary data sources and streamline interoperability and integration of data for science and improved understanding. Action Collaborative Meeting September 17, 2024 In September, the Action Collaborative convened to identify and discuss facilitators and key factors, approaches, technology, and partnerships for multidirectional disaster research between public health, research, and disaster-affected communities. 2024 Annual Report | 7