Presenters share research results related to mass evacuation to rural areas, practical tips to deal with mass evacuees, as well as a tool developed by the Western New York Public Health Alliance Rural Advanced Practice Center to predict community population surge following potential urban disasters.

Objectives:
At the conclusion of the presentation, the participants will be able to:

1. Recognize potential issues related to spontaneous evacuation to rural areas
2. Identify actions rural planners can take to mitigate the impact of a spontaneous evacuation
3. Utilize a tool to predict community population surge following potential urban disasters

Program Description:
Please join Advanced Practice Center Program Managers from Montgomery County, Maryland and King County, Seattle, along with the Chief Program Officer for Public Health Practice for the Association of State & Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) for discussion surrounding recent efforts and guidance regarding communicating with vulnerable populations during public health emergencies. Speakers will share their experiences and specific information gathered during the ASTHO-led At-Risk Populations during Pandemic Engagement Meetings, and will provide insight regarding key relationships developed with other jurisdictions and community-based organizations.

Objectives:
At the conclusion of the presentation, the participants will be able to:

1. Identify tools and resources developed by Montgomery and Seattle King County Advanced Practice Centers to help prepare at-risk populations for a public health emergency
2. Describe how the tools and resources can be integrated into your own program/plan
3. Implement new approaches to reach vulnerable populations during a public health emergency
4. Describe key findings from the ASTHO-led At-Risk Populations Engagement Meetings