SRDRS - Southern Regional Disaster Response System

06/01/2026

Advancing disaster virtual care in HHS Region 4 through innovation and partnership.
On May 28, 2026, the Southern Regional Disaster Response System (SRDRS) for HHS Region 4 conducted a disaster exercise in Polk County, NC to validate its Disaster Virtual Care Model for Disaster Shelters. Designed for general population shelters, the model integrates virtual care into disaster shelter ESF-8 operations through structured workflows, clinical protocols, escalation pathways, and coordination with public health, healthcare, and emergency partners.

The exercise successfully demonstrated the model’s ability to support patients through triage, virtual consultation, escalation, and referral - even during patient surge conditions.

A key milestone was the integration of ASPR’s federal disaster telemedicine platform and federal telehealth providers, confirming the model’s operational viability from the local disaster shelter level through federal support.

Thank you to our exercise partners and their collaborative efforts: Polk County Health & Human Services Agency - Public Health (host site), Buncombe County Public Health Department, Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC), Mountain Area Healthcare Preparedness Coalition (MAHPC), NC Poison Control, and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness & Response (ASPR), and SRDRS partners working together to strengthen disaster health resilience, advance innovative approaches to disaster virtual care, and mitigate disaster medical surge across HHS Region 4.

As disasters continue to challenge healthcare systems, disaster virtual care will play a critical role in extending clinical capacity, improving access to care, and supporting communities when traditional healthcare resources are strained.

Polk County Health Department Buncombe County Government HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response

05/27/2026

The Serious Communicable Diseases Program at Emory University and the Southern Regional Disaster Response System for HHS Region 4 are hosting the ECHO for Region 4 Readiness Program February - October 2026. The purpose of this program is to build a nationwide network of national, regional, and state leaders and practitioners focused on improving emergency preparedness and response through peer learning, equitable systems thinking, and real-time collaborative problem solving.

We invite you to join our upcoming ECHO session on June 17, 2026, from 11:00 - 12:00 pm ET where we will discuss Healthcare Facility HCID Capacity Planning: System, Space, Staff, Supplies.

Registration link: https://iecho.org/public/program/PRGM176522796314220NV162LP6

We encourage you to share this information with applicable preparedness stakeholders in Region 4.

GA Poison Center Emory University Emory Emergency Medicine National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center Emory Healthcare Georgia Department of Public Health UGA Institute for Disaster Management Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency

05/27/2026

The Southern Regional Disaster Response System for HHS Region 4 and Serious Communicable Diseases Program at Emory University are hosting the ECHO for Region 4 Readiness Program February - October 2026. The purpose of this program is to build a nationwide network of national, regional, and state leaders and practitioners focused on improving emergency preparedness and response through peer learning, equitable systems thinking, and real-time collaborative problem solving.

Our upcoming ECHO session on June 16, 2026, from 12:00 - 1:00 pm ET will discuss preparing for infectious diseases in advance of World Cup 2026.

Registration link: https://iecho.org/public/program/PRGM176522796314220NV162LP6

We encourage you to share this information with applicable preparedness stakeholders in Region 4.

GA Poison Center Emory University Emory Emergency Medicine National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center Emory Healthcare Georgia Department of Public Health UGA Institute for Disaster Management

05/20/2026

This , the SRDRS proudly recognize the extraordinary EMS personnel who serve with courage, compassion, and unwavering dedication. Thank you for being the calm in moments of crisis and for providing lifesaving care when communities need it most. Your service does not go unnoticed. Today and every day, we celebrate you!

05/19/2026

Take a listen to SRDRS's Dr. Alexander Isakov discuss at https://www.ems1.com/infectious-diseases/special-report-andes-hantavirus-risk-assessment Emory Emergency Medicine Emory Healthcare


GA Poison Center Emory University Emory Emergency Medicine Emory Healthcare National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center UGA Institute for Disaster Management
Georgia Department of Public Health
Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency

NETEC’s Dr. Alex Isakov downloads a cruise ship hantavirus outbreak timeline, PPE guidance and public health resources

05/19/2026

Did you miss our GAME PLAN: Chemical Emergency Readiness for FIFA World Cup 2026 Webinar? No problem! Take a look at the recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk1m-KvNUS0 or for more resources visit us at
https://srdrs4.org/resources/clinical-primers-subpage.html

GA Poison Center Emory University Emory Emergency Medicine Emory Healthcare National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center UGA Institute for Disaster Management Georgia Department of Public Health Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency

05/13/2026

SRDRS attended the Federation of State Medical Boards Conference and during this session, we explored how a U.S. National Telehealth Registry could enable cross-state licensure by learning from Canada’s Atlantic Registry experience. It focused on key design elements—eligibility, data sharing, oversight, and funding—to inform practical, scalable approaches to license portability.

DVC Poster Contents: Disaster Virtual Care (DVC) expands surge capacity, preserves ED function, and enables scalable care delivery across settings using models like Tele-EMS and Virtual ER. However, state-based licensure remains a key barrier to cross-state deployment—highlighting the need for streamlined national policies to support rapid disaster response.


GA Poison Center Emory University Emory Emergency Medicine Emory Healthcare National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center UGA Institute for Disaster Management Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency Georgia Department of Public Health

05/04/2026

Don’t wait for a storm to get serious. Hurricane Awareness Week is the time to check your supplies, know your evacuation route, and make a plan with your family because being prepared makes all the difference when it matters most.

Emory University Emory Emergency Medicine Emory Healthcare National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center UGA Office of Emergency Preparedness Emory University School of Medicine Georgia Department of Public Health Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency

04/22/2026

SRDRS is hosting the Game Plan: Chemical Emergency Readiness for FIFA World Cup 2026 webinar!

This webinar will be designed to provide a practical, clinically focused overview of the recognition and management of chemical exposures in preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Through focused discussion of common chemical toxidromes, PPE selection, decontamination strategies, and available support resources, participants will gain essential knowledge and confidence to respond safely and effectively to chemical emergencies.

Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026
Time: 1:00pm-2:00pm ET
*CE has been applied for and is pending
Register Here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2hF2ydI_R5eOeKXhaJj4jQ #/registration

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. List 6 chemical toxidromes
2. Discuss the selection of Personal Protection Equipment
3. Discuss decontamination procedures
4. List resources available to assist in managing chemical emergency victims

Speakers:
Ziad Kazzi, MD
Mark Kirk, MD
Emily Kiernan, DO
Ricky Schutter

Moderator:
Nikolas Foresteire, DO


GA Poison Center Emory University Emory Healthcare Emory Emergency Medicine National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center UGA Institute for Disaster Management Augusta Health Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agencyy

04/21/2026

At the Emergency Management Association of Georgia Conference (April 1–3, 2026), innovation in disaster healthcare delivery took center stage through a compelling presentation by Stephanie Payne of the Southern Regional Disaster Response System (SRDRS) and Suleima Salgado of the Southeastern Telehealth Resource Center (SETRC) and Global Partnership for TeleHealth.

Their session introduced the Disaster Medical Reserve Corps Telehealth Strike Team Model, a forward-thinking approach designed to integrate deployable telehealth capabilities directly into Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) units. This model establishes agile telehealth strike teams that can be rapidly mobilized during disasters to enhance healthcare system resiliency, bridge gaps in disrupted care pathways, and alleviate pressure from overwhelmed medical facilities.

In addition, the presenters highlighted the broader SRDRS Disaster Virtual Care (DVC) portfolio, an interconnected suite of virtual care solutions aimed at addressing medical surge during emergencies. These initiatives span Disaster Virtual Care in Disaster Shelters, Disaster Tele-EMS, and the development of the Disaster Coalition of Observation Medicine's (DCOM) Emergency Department Observation Unit (EDOU) Disaster Manual and supporting Functional Annex. A key focus of the DCOM EDOU Disaster Manual in development is how to leverage EDOUs to decompress overcrowded emergency departments in disaster scenarios.

Across all disaster virtual care models, the shared mission is clear: maximize limited resources, expand care capacity, and ultimately reduce patient mortality during disaster incidents. These scalable, adaptable virtual care strategies represent a critical evolution in disaster response.

To learn more about these innovative models, visit: https://srdrs4.org/_includes/images/sections/telemedicine/vcprogress.html



Georgia Department of Public Health Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agencyy Emory Emergency Medicine Emory Healthcare Emory University