Public Health Emergency Preparedness And Response
The Emergency Preparedness and Response program focuses on preparing for and responding to incidents that pose a substantial risk to the health of residents. In the event of an emergency that impacts the health of the public, Walla Walla County Department of Community Health will play an integral role in the local response and will coordinate with local, state and national agencies.
Our Staff continuously works to improve its capacity to respond to public health emergencies by enhancing its agency response as well as its ability to work closely with local partners, Department of Emergency Management and elected officials to develop plans and strategies for dealing with the possible public health impacts of natural and human-caused disasters.
The Department of Community Health is involved in community-wide planning around potential emergency threats, such as: natural disasters, contaminated water or food supplies, airborne exposure to infectious diseases, pandemic influenza, or bioterrorism. Our staff works closely with the hospital and emergency planners to develop strategies for dealing with the possible impacts of such events.
Through migration activities, preparedness plans, response to emergencies, and recovery operations, local government serves as a link between its community members and state and federal agencies in the emergency management network.
The Emergency Preparedness & Response Program promotes the planning, surveillance, training, infrastructure development, and communication development of our emergency response capabilities by:
- Maintaining and exercising the public health emergency response plan and other specific plans
- Maintaining and testing a 24/7 response system
- Alerting the community of health protective measures
- Receiving and dispensing of the Strategic National Stockpile (medications & supplies)
Resources