The Example Public Health Emergency Dark Site

Click on this link to see the Santa Clara County Public Health Emergency Example Site. This site was activated during the 2009 H1N1 influenza outbreak, updated with new information, such as vaccine distribution.

The example site displays headings and content for the H1N1 emergency. The design and function of this site will work for any public health emergency because you can easily adjust the headings and content in the site generated from the template.

Important features that make this web site useful as an emergency dark site include:

  • Minimal branding, color and page design focuses the viewer on clear, concise emergency information.
  • The department logo at the top of the page lets the viewer know that they have been re-directed to the official public health emergency information site.
  • Headings are bold and simple.
  • Three columns organize information for the viewer.
  • The first level and largest font heading directs the viewer to important information in bold text.
  • The second level headings separate information for:
    • The General Public
    • Health Care Providers.
  • Links to translated sites (Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese) are shown in the upper right corner. These links use Google Translate (translate.google.com) to automatically translate the content in the site. Translation is currently available in over 50 languages.
  • The left side column directs the viewer to:
    • A hotline phone number.
    • Questions or comments (feedback to the Public Health Department).
    • Email updates, RSS or Atom subscriptions, and Twitter.
    • Links to state and federal web sites and hotlines.
  • Information can be easily composed, edited, saved and published through a simple “what you see is what you get” editor through the web browser, which PIO staff can use with minimal training.

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