The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and other agencies have developed handbooks, training materials and other guidance for emergency management personnel:

• Directives 
• Handbooks 
• Education and Training 
• Guidance from Other Agencies and Organizations 

Directives

• VHA Directive 0320, Comprehensive Emergency Management Program (CEMP) (7/5/2007)(41 KB, PDF)
  Policy for VA-wide comprehensive emergency management programs and responsibilities for implementing in the Veterans Health Administration
• VHA Directive 2003-052, Disaster Emergency Medical Personnel System (DEMPS) (9/23/2003) (219 KB, PDF)
  Policy for the Disaster Emergency Medical Personnel System (DEMPS) Program, which identifies and collects information on Veterans Health Administration personnel who may be available to be deployed in an emergency

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Handbooks

• VHA Handbook 0320.03, DEMPS (84 KB, PDF)
• VHA Handbook 0320, Appendix F, Emergency Operations Procedures (509 KB, PDF)
  Operational guidelines for Veterans Health Administration staff responsible for emergency management

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Education and Training

Read education and training materials developed to help health care facilities be safer and more effective in providing health care during emergencies.

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Guidance from Other Agencies and Organizations

• National Incident Management System (NIMS)*
  Standardized, comprehensive framework to help government offices, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector to work together to manage emergencies
• Strategic National Stockpile Coordination (121 KB, PDF)
  Department of Health and Human Services letter instructing Strategic National Stockpile Coordinators to include VA facilities in their strategic national stockpile distribution plans

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