When preparing and responding to emergencies, it is crucial to embed health equity from the start to ensure that all people have equal access to life-saving information, services, and programs. Emergencies, such as a natural disaster or a pandemic, can have devastating impacts on whole communities. People in racial and ethnic minority communities, people with disabilities, people living in geographically isolated areas, and other groups often face systemic barriers and health disparities that are exacerbated during an emergency.

Join CDC’s Office of Health Equity (OHE) and our partners to learn about the importance of health equity in emergency response and preparedness. OHE and CDC’s Office of Readiness and Response will present on its emergency response work, including the establishment of the Chief Health Equity Officer (CHEO) unit in CDC emergency responses. Additional presenters include subject matter experts from Choose Healthy Life and National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS).