What to know
During an emergency, rapid information flow is critical. Traditional means of communication can be limited, and paper-based assessments can be a time-consuming burden on staff.
CDART Disaster Toolkit
During an emergency, rapid information flow is critical. Traditional means of communication can be limited, and paper-based assessments can be a time-consuming burden on staff.
To help public health agencies prepare for disasters, ATSDR helped create the Comprehensive Disaster Assessment and Readiness Toolkit (CDART). CDART is a suite of scenario-driven, app-based surveys and tools that standardize the evaluation of public service centers and healthcare facilities in terms of emergency preparedness. CDART consists of three main tools:
- Readiness Check
- Rapid Disaster Assessment
- Comprehensive Disaster Assessment
CDART provides real-time information sharing before and during catastrophic events or emergencies. It can provide a picture of public health assessment activities and track team members in the field. The toolkit allows public health facilities to communicate and rapidly display information before, during, and after catastrophic events and emergencies. Any local, territorial, or state agency can adapt or modify the tools for a community's specific needs. Using CDART instead of paper-based surveys delivers higher data quality and saves hours of staff time per week.
ATSDR developed these tools with the Puerto Rico Department of Health when both agencies worked on a coordinated Health and Human Services response to Hurricane Maria.
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