After earning broad praise for its rapid response to hurricanes, ice storms and other disasters, Rx Response leaders are now working with key federal agencies to improve national preparedness by enhancing pre-disaster planning.  

The Department of Homeland Security, in its recently released National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP), has updated a framework to facilitate pre-disaster planning and post-disaster response between the federal government and private industry, which owns and operates approximately 85% of the critical infrastructure in the United States.  The heart of this coordination effort rests with 18 private sector councils that will liaise with government counterparts in critical areas such as healthcare, energy, transportation, water, food and agriculture. Rx Response Director Erin Mullen will serve as a Co-Chairperson of the Healthcare Sector Coordinating Council.

“Because of Erin Mullen’s leadership role on the Healthcare Sector Coordinating Council, the entire health care sector is today working more cohesively with our partners in the federal government to enhance America’s overall preparedness,” said Billy Tauzin, President and CEO of PhRMA, a co-founder of Rx Response. “Enhancing pre-disaster planning will go a long way towards improving our ability to respond to future disasters.”