Rx Response partners include the private organizations and trade associations that make up the biopharmaceutical supply system.  However, protecting the biopharmaceutical supply system requires collaboration and coordination with the federal, state, and local agencies responsible for responding to an event.

The state Emergency Management Agencies (EMAs) and Departments of Health (DOHs) have key insight into an event’s impact on local jurisdictions, as well as knowledge on their state’s specific and unique laws and regulations, all of which affect the private sector’s response capabilities, limitations and needs.

To aid in information-sharing, Rx Response encourages all state EMAs and public health officials take the following steps:

• Use Rx Response as a resource for questions related to all-hazards preparedness and Critical Infrastructure Protection: Rx Response is always available as a resource for you.  For general administrative or technical questions, please contact admin@rxresponse.org.  If your needs are more immediate / severe in nature, please email alerts@rxresponse.org and we will respond within 24 hours.  For immediate attention, feel free to call our Operation Center line at 866-247-2694.
  


• Consider an outreach call with Rx Response Director: Rx Response spends significant time and effort reaching out to each of the 50 state EMAs and DOHs to provide education on Rx Response’s mission and resources.  State EMA and DOH directors are encouraged to set up a meeting with Rx Response to discuss how both agencies can work with Rx Response before and during an event, and how such interactions can benefit both parties.
  


• Conduct joint exercises with Rx Response: Rx Response has participated in joint exercises with a few select EMAs and DOHs to better understand how interactions and information sharing will occur during a major disaster or incident.  In addition, Rx Response has participated in DHS’ National Level Exercises (formerly known as TOPOFF) 2008, 2009, and 2010.
  


• Review the draft State Interaction Document: Rx Response has developed a document titled “Rx Response Integration with State Emergency Management” that is designed as a quick-reference overview of the program.  This document provides background information on the Rx Response program and details our capabilities during a disaster.  Most importantly, it provides a roadmap for state emergency management and public health agencies to utilize Rx Response.  Because every state’s operations are different, we have intentionally left this document in draft form.  Let us know what methods of communication and coordination work for you – and we will incorporate those specifications in our communications with you.
  


• Update names and contact information in InfoCenter, Rx Response’s online forum that enables information-sharing and problem-solving capabilities between all response partners.  Updating your contact information in the program’s online information-sharing portal will ensure that we are able to reach out in the event of an emergency.  In events where Rx Response monitors or engages to respond to an event, all relevant, registered state representatives will receive situation reports from Rx Response detailing the event’s impact on the biopharmaceutical supply system.  If there are additional people you feel should be in our database (or an emergency-specific email account you would like us to send our communications to), please send us their information and we will add them to your agency’s contact list.