A consortium of universities and other organizations has been awarded a grant for emergency preparedness training for the states of Hawaii and California as well as the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI). The grant, approved for approximately $4.14 million over three years, will foster the development of the Pacific Emergency Management, Preparedness and Response Information Network and Training Systems (Pacific EMPRINTS).

The U.S. Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded the grant. The purpose of the grant is to fund the development of a health care workforce with knowledge, skills, abilities, and core competencies to recognize indications of terrorist attack; meet acute care needs of patients; participate in coordinated, multidisciplinary response to health events and to rapidly and effectively alert the public health system and local communities of such an event.

As part of Pacific EMPRINTS, GIS mapping and spatial analysis training will be provided to health professionals involved in management, preparedness, and response to terrorist events and other emergencies. GIS training will include the standardized use of GIS for data collection, management, and distribution in the field and in forward command centers. As part of the grant, ESRI will provide software and training. In addition, ESRI staff will serve on the Pacific EMPRINTS advisory board and supply geographic information system (GIS) expertise in program planning and delivery.
KW