Emergency Preparedness

National Preparedness Month is a nationwide effort held each September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, and schools. Emergency preparedness also involves a set of plans and procedures to prepare local communities to cope with natural or man-made disasters. To accomplish this, representatives from the Preble County General Health District meet regularly with local and regional partners to coordinate response plans and participate in training events. While the chance of a terrorist attack in Preble County is low, our county is not immune to natural or environmental disasters. Communities across the nation are developing plans that prepare communities to respond to emergencies as quickly as possible.

For specific information on biological, chemical, or radiation agents/fact sheets visit the following website: www.bt.cdc.gov

Emergency Response Plan
Review the Preble County General Health District's Emergency Response Plan below.

• Reponse Plan
• Annex A Natural Disaster Plan
• Annex B NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) Plan
• Annex C Continuity of Operations Plan
• Annex D Medical Countermeasures Plan
• Annex E Epidemiological Response Plan
• Annex F West Central Ohio Epidemiological Response Plan
• Annex G Isolation and Quarantine Plan
• Annex H Public Information and Communication Plan
• Annex I Pandemic Flu Plan
• Annex J Workforce Development Plan
• Annex L Functional Needs Plan
• Annex M Community Long Term Revovery Plan

If you have any comments, please email Suzy Cottingim at suzy@preblecountyhealth.org.

What is the Health District doing to protect the public and prepare for Public Health Emergencies?

The Preble County General Health District is working with representatives from Law Enforcement, the Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Medical System, Fire Departments, Red Cross, county agencies, school districts, and elected officials to develop plans that minimize the effects of an event, improve the response times of the agencies and maximizes the recovery of the community. Plans are continuously improved by "exercising" them. Exercising has many benefits that improve response during any emergency. Exercises provide responder training, plan evaluation, and the inclusion of expert assistance and resources that would be available during an emergency. The health district hosted an exercise on March 28, 2006. Pre-exercise activities included an informational display by the Ohio National Guard's 52nd Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team at Eaton Fire Division, Station #2. ONG 52nd WMD CST highlighted their capabilities and specialized equipment including laboratory capabilities, mapping and communications systems for use during a WMD incident.The Health District also presented an educational session concerning inhalation anthrax.

The role of public health is to promote health in the community and to prevent and control the spread of disease. The Preble County General Health District maintains on-call personnel 24/7 to respond to public health emergency situations.

How can I prepare my family?

Evacuating
In an evacuation scenario, a family should plan to evacuate by car with the maximum amount of supplies, including a tent for shelter. The plan should also include equipment for evacuation on foot with at least three days of supplies and rain-tight bedding (a tarp and a bedroll of blankets is the minimum). Likely scenarios include flooding, extreme weather, tsunami, chemical and radiological accidents, and war. Due to world wide events, the US Department of Homeland Security has issued grants to local and state health departments to develop emergency plans of action. These response plans are designed to maximize resources and effectively train and prepare communities for disasters. Public health emergencies may be the result of natural disasters or those created by terrorist groups. It is important to have plans in place that address any type of scenario.
Although the Ohio Department of Health does not recommend specific precautions for the public, it is recommended that families have a disaster plan in place for any event such as flood, tornado, and blizzard.
The following supplies are recommended:

• Three day supply of water
• Clothing, blankets and sleeping bags
• First aid kit including prescription medications
• Battery powered radio and flashlight with extra batteries
• Sanitation supplies
• Special needs items for infants, older adults or disabled family members

Should an event occur it is important that you listen to the instructions of emergency and public health workers. They will need your cooperation to perform their duties as rapidly and successfully as possible. For more information visit the following websites at: www.pandemicflu.gov, www.cdc.gov.

Shelter in Place (During a Hazardous Material Emergency)

What Is It?
If a toxic gas or airborne biological agent were to be released in your neighborhood, would you know what to do? Shelter In Place is a safety procedure designed to help protect you and your family during a serious airborne hazardous material emergency. It means taking shelter inside your home, work place, school or other building until the danger has passed. The goal of Shelter In Place is to prevent contaminated outside air from entering your home or other shelter for the duration of the incident. Incidents usually last a few hours, not days or weeks.

What Do I Do?
If you are told to Shelter In Place by local authorities, please take the following safety actions:

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• Close and lock all windows and exterior doors
• Turn off all air conditioners, fans and heating systems, etc, that draw in outside air
• Close the fireplace damper
• Get your Disaster Supply Kit and make sure your radio is working
• Go to a room with the fewest windows and doors on the highest story of your home or other shelter
• DO NOT go to the basement. Many chemicals are heavier than air and can seep into a basement.
• Bring your pet(s) with you along with food and water for them.
• Do not overload the phone system. Use your phone (or mobile phone) for emergency purposes only.
• Use duct tape and plastic sheeting to seal windows, doors, vents, outlets, etc. Wet towels can also be used if you do not have plastic.
• Stay inside this room and listen to your radio or television until local authorities tell you the emergency is over or you care told to evacuate.
• When local authorities announce the end of the emergency, ventilate your home by opening doors and windows. Go outside until your home is aired out.

What Do I Need?
You are encouraged to prepare a Disaster Supply Kit with emergency supplies that will last at least three days. The kit should be stored in a box or duffel bag in the room in which you plan to Shelter In Place. It is a good idea to hang the bag on your bed or have it tucked in under your bed for quick retrieval during emergencies. The Kit should contain the following items:

• Keys
• Money
• Food
• Identification
• Insurance Cards
• Battery operated radio and extra batteries
• NOAA weather radio
• Water (1 gallon/person/day) and ready to eat food
• First Aid Kit
• Gloves, Goggles and dust mask<
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Plastic sheeting (Consider measuring and cutting the plastic in advance.)
• Duct tape
• Scissors
• Towels
• Kitchen items (non-electric can opener, eating utensils)
• Hygiene items (Plastic bucket with tight lid, garbage bags)
• Specialty items (medication, diapers, books games)

How Will I Be Notified?
You will be notified of a serious hazardous material emergency by one or more of the following methods:

• Television
• NOAA weather radio
• Outdoor warning sirens
• Door to door notification
• Public address systems on vehicles
• The Preble County 119 emergency notification phone call system

Confinement at home

In a home confinement scenario, a family should be prepared to survive and treat moderate medical problems for a minimum of three days (two weeks is better) without deliveries of entertainment, food, fuel, utilities, water, or power, or pickups of trash and sewage. Likely scenarios include flood, loss of bridges or roads, extreme weather, earthquakes (which occur in all parts of the world), and civil disorder.

Entertainment is helpful. Have a selection of favorite non-electronic toys, books and games, and enjoy them at other times so they seem familiar and fun. Musical instruments are helpful. Inexpensive long-lasting lighting is also helpful.

A simple balanced diet can be constructed from vitamins, whole-kernel wheat, beans, dried milk, corn, and cooking oil (see www.fema.gov). One should add vegetables, fruits, spices and meats, both prepared and fresh-gardened, if possible.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security www.ready.gov

Community Preparedness Toolkit helps citizens create a service project to prepare their family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues for disasters in their local community.   For more information and to download the toolkit, visit http://www.serve.gov/toolkits/disaster/.