Public health and drought.

Editor’s note: NEHA strives to provide up-to­ date and relevant information on environmen­ tal health and to build partnerships in the pro­ fession. In pursuit of these goals, we feature a column from the Environmental Health Ser­ vices Branch (EHSB) of the Centers for Dis­ ease Control and Prevention (CDC) in every issue of the Journal. In this column, EHSB and guest authors from across CDC will highlight a variety of concerns, opportunities, challenges, and successes that we all share in environmen­ tal public health. EHSB’s objective is to strengthen the role of state, local, and na­ tional environmental health programs and professionals to anticipate, identify, and re­ spond to adverse environmental exposures and the consequences of these exposures for human health. The services being developed through EHSB include access to topical, rel­ evant, and scientific information; consulta­ tion; and assistance to environmental health specialists, sanitarians, and environmental health professionals and practitioners. The conclusions in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily rep­ resent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Martin A. Kalis is a public health advisor for emergency preparedness and response in EHSB. He is also the vice chair of NEHA’s Terrorism and All-Hazards Preparedness Technical Section. CAPT Mark Miller is a senior environmental health officer in EHSB. He is also the coordinator for CDC’s Envi­ ronmental Health Training in Emergency Response (EHTER). Rachel Wilson is a freelance medical writer and editor who is working with EHSB to draft When Every Drop Counts: Protecting Public Health During Drought Conditions—A Guide for Public Health Professionals. Public Health and Drought