Resources You Can Use

Ohio Train Derailment Resources

Click the link for information from Pennsylvania on the Ohio Train Derailment.  Acting Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced a hotline to accept complaints from people who might be experiencing a lasting impact from the train derailment – Phone: 724-858-4689. Email: [email protected]
Learn more at these links:

Click here for the DHS webpage.

COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is planning for the federal Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 (PHE), to expire on May 11, 2023. The CMS fact sheet will help consumers and providers know what to expect at the end of the PHE so that they can continue to feel confident in how consumers will receive health care. The fact sheet provides coverage information on COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and treatment.  

From SAMHSA: Overview of the Impacts of Long COVID on Behavioral Health.

The Public Health Emergency and National Emergency declarations for COVID-19 will end on May 11, 2023. Many of the programs will end. However, the end of the declarations will not affect the application period for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance or the eligibility period for COVID-19-related funeral expenses. FEMA will release more information when a deadline for the end date is established. The American Red Cross has also indicated that their Virtual Family Assistance Center program will be ending on May 11.

Are your children prepared for winter? The CDC provides this helpful resource – Ready Wrigley Prepares for Winter.

The CDC has created Ready Wrigley to provide young children, parents, guardians, and teachers with tips, activities, and a story to help the whole family prepare for emergencies. The family can join Wrigley as she helps her family prepare for emergencies by staying informed, packing emergency kits, and making a family communication plan. The activity book is designed to provide an interactive tool to further a child’s education and promote disaster preparedness. Download it here.

Be Prepared to Stay Safe and Healthy in Colder Weather 

Here is the CDC’s EPIC Exchange with helpful information on staying safe inside and out doing the winter.

https://m.emailupdates.cdc.gov/rest/head/mirrorPage/@YO8NwylPwo7-l-ANOmeMFIOVlT-DWYI-alkr1T5IoNblX39MHUtjgz-7pvzYMEsfjaFVgIyVPd7yF4CJloQl77tRL6TM97UXP_gHN0r-D8In7SEz.html

INSURANCE RESOURCES

🔺United Policyholders has set up a Hurricane Ian Help Library to assist impacted households with current information and resources. United Policy Holders also has these resources:

The PA Department of Human Services has a new website for Mass Care. You can read about the Task Forces and other resources available to support mass care needs in the Commonwealth at www.dhs.pa.gov/MassCare.

Do you need up-to-date winter travel information?

Do you know that you can get information on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting 511PA.  511PA is free and available 24 hours a day; it provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. You can also see plow truck statuses and travel alerts along a specific route using the “Check My Route” tool. Motorists can sign up for alerts on 511PA by clicking on “Personal Alerts” in the left-hand menu. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices by calling ☎️ 5-1-1 or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

Implicit Bias

The Office of Health Equity in the PA Department of Health has developed an Implicit Bias Toolkit. This is toolkit, which is intended for those working in healthcare settings, can provide a lot of great resources and information surrounding the reduction of implicit and explicit bias in our work as well. You can find the toolkit at Implicit Bias Toolkit. Other useful resources can be found online to help you consider the manifestation and impact of biases in our daily lives. One example is Harvard University’s Project Implicit.

Emergency Preparedness Summits

The PA Family Network is hosting a series of Emergency Preparedness Summits throughout the Commonwealth.  These are open to the public and intended to help people prepare for all kinds of emergencies. These summits will be held from 8:30 AM to 4 PM ET in these locations: Learn more and register.