About CEPAR

Mission

The Johns Hopkins Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR) serves as the command center for enterprise-wide planning for, and reaction to, a disaster. CEPAR’s objectives are:

• To create and implement effective Johns Hopkins enterprise-wide planning and preparedness for critical events.
• To develop a model disaster response plan integrated with local, regional, military and federal entities.
• To serve as a model disaster planning and response system adaptable to other major metropolitan areas nationally and worldwide.

Structure

CEPAR is an office of the Johns Hopkins Institutions. It oversees an enterprise-wide, inter-entity effort to coordinate the efforts of Johns Hopkins to enhance Homeland Security and to address potential disasters.

• See the CEPAR Staff
• See the CEPAR Board

CEPAR is not meant to supplant the existing disaster-response command and control structures of individual Johns Hopkins University/Johns Hopkins Medicine enterprises. Although each component of the Johns Hopkins Health System and University maintains its own disaster plan, CEPAR sets priorities for all Johns Hopkins Institutions if a disaster overwhelms one entity or involves two or more of them. It has the authority to tap every asset of the Hopkins enterprise – and to speak as the official, unified voice on behalf of all of Johns Hopkins.>

CEPAR is directed by the chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine and supported by the Emergency Department Chief Administrator. Daily activity is managed by the Director of Operations.

History

After the tragedy of September 11, 2001, Dr. William Brody, then President of The Johns Hopkins University and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Johns Hopkins Medicine, offered the services of all Hopkins Institutions to assist in the development of a Homeland Security Plan. To provide guidance for such undertakings, as well as coordinate disaster preparedness and response efforts at Hopkins, Dr. Brody directed the establishment of an Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR).

CEPAR combines the talents of Johns Hopkins Medicine with the tactical planning capabilities of the Applied Physics Laboratory, the investigative skills of the School of Public Health, and the faculty and facilities of the Johns Hopkins University.

Since its founding, CEPAR has demonstrated its leadership within the Hopkins community and nationwide. It spearheaded the creation of the 24-member consortium of academic, business and government entities that comprise the National Center for the Study of Preparedness and Catastrophic Event Response (PACER). Funded in 2006 by a $15 million grant from the Department of Homeland Security, PACER is working to ensure that this nation’s immense technological, medical and physical resources can be coordinated effectively in response to any disaster.

CEPAR's Research Arm: PACER

The Johns Hopkins National Center for the Study of Preparedness and Critical Event Response is CEPAR's research arm. PACER is engaged in research projects which will improve national security and response to major disasters. Among its projects, PACER has developed disaster planning and flu forecasting apps. The web-based apps are free on the PACER web site.

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Disaster Preparedness Training and Expertise

CEPAR has expertise available for:

• Disaster training and response.
• Organizing table-top exercises.
• Consulting on emergency preparedness and more.

Review the Catalogue