FDA exec talks agency's role in disaster relief post-Sandy

When storms like Hurricane Sandy hit, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assumes the center stage in disaster relief, but it’s not the only federal agency providing emergency support. When natural disasters strike, the FDA works behind the scenes to address the harmful effects.

“You may think that the FDA is simply an organization that reviews medical products or works to keep your food safe,” wrote FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, MD, in a November blog on the agency's website. “But FDA’s broad public health mission includes mobilizing to protect Americans when natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy strike. We often think of major storms like Sandy in terms of the risk of life and damage to property, but at FDA we also have to focus on the effects of natural disasters on the safety of products we regulate and that consumers and patients depend on.”

Flooding, extreme temperatures and power outages can harm the facilities that produce and store the products, whether fresh produce or medical devices, under the purview of the FDA, Hamburg continued. For this reason, the agency creates a map every hurricane season to pinpoint  the location of FDA-regulated facilities vulnerable to severe weather, which helps the FDA prepare for immediate action when storms hit. Additionally, the FDA maintains an ever-ready emergency operations center staffed with emergency management professionals.

While the FDA coordinated through the storm with local and federal agencies, such as the FEMA, much of its most important work began in the storm’s aftermath, according to Hamburg. “The first priority might be a damaged plant that manufactures complex monoclonal antibodies to treat cancer, a flooded facility that produces medical devices or a cold storage food warehouse that has lost power. As we assess the damage, we need to inspect facilities and focus on situations that pose the greatest risk to public health and safety.”

Following large-scale natural disasters like Sandy, the agency can provide relief resources unavailable anywhere else. For instance, local governments normally responsible for performing restaurant, school and hospital inspections can benefit from a team of expert FDA inspectors during emergencies when resources a spread thin.

“Fortunately, storms like Sandy occur rarely,” Hamburg concluded. “But when they do, FDA employees are on the job.”

Read the complete post on the FDA Voice blog.