Emergency Preparedness
Every day, public health works to prolong life and promote community health through disease prevention, control of environmental health hazards, and attention to the health needs of vulnerable population groups. Public Health Emergency Preparedness is the process of planning, training, collaborating, responding and evaluating to ensure that people and communities are protected when extraordinary or large-scale events threaten public health and safety
First responders practice pandemic triage protocols in a training drill
Western U.P. Health Department works with local hospitals, emergency medical teams, county emergency planners, and regional, state and federal authorities to develop and exercise procedures to protect public health in the face of a wide range of possible emergencies, including natural disasters, contaminated food or water supplies, communicable disease outbreaks such as SARS or pandemic influenza, and the unlikely use of biological, chemical or radiological weapons.
For more information on your local public health emergency preparedness program, contact Pete Baril, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, at (906) 482-7382.
A list of links to emergency preparedness information from State and Federal sources including Michigan Office of Public Health Preparedness, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Red Cross and other agencies.