Office of Readiness and Response

About The Office of Readiness and Response A public health emergency is an event that can cause harm to a person’s health or to the health of a community. These events can happen at any time, anywhere and include: - Outbreaks, such as COVID-19, Zika, and flu - Accidental releases of industrial chemicals that can harm people’s lungs, skin, and overall health - Intentional acts with biological, chemical, radiological, or nuclear agents - Natural disasters, such as tornadoes, floods, wildfires, and hurricanes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Office of Readiness and Response (ORR) is America’s public health defense hub. Our staff work alongside our CDC peers, other federal partners, and state, local, tribal, and territorial health departments to continuously monitor for risks to the health of communities and the nation. When a concern is identified, we put decades of public health emergency expertise to work to get the right experts and resources in place to address the emergency and protect the health of Americans and people around the globe. While a public health emergency can happen at any moment, building and sustaining a workforce with the right knowledge and skills takes time and commitment. ORR staff work at CDC offices and in health departments to guide communities and the nation through a public health crisis. We also help fund health departments, so they are prepared and able to lead a local response to an emergency. Additionally, we foster research and innovation in how to best prepare for and respond to public health emergencies.