Emergency Prep & Response

What You Can Do

1. Put a kit together for emergencies.

Ready.gov Checklist

Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks

2. Make a plan with contact numbers of family, extended family, friends

3. Be informed of weather related and terrorist activities.

Sign up for NY Alert (New York State’s All-Hazards Alert & Notification System)

Start here: Preparing for Storms PLUS Weathering Floods & Power Outages

4. Consider Pet Evacuation/Planning

5. Consider joining Essex County Medical Reserve Corps

Our Required Activities

A component of local health department responsibility to promote and protect the health of their residents is the planning for and responding to health emergencies.  Emergencies may be naturally occurring, accidents or deliberate acts.  Examples include:

• Communicable Disease Outbreak (such as pandemic flu, pertussis, Hep A, etc.)
• Natural Disaster (such as super storms or hurricanes)
• Bioterrorism Incident (such as anthrax or smallpox)
• Radiological Disaster (such as a dirty bomb or nuclear accident)

Our program ensures the:

• maintenance of an All Hazards Preparedness and Response Plan;
• readiness to provide medical countermeasures to the public;
• training & education of staff and community partners;
• participation & implementation of drills & exercises; and
• response to actual public health emergencies and support of other emergencies as appropriate.

Our work is accomplished largely through partnerships with Government-local, state & federal; Hospitals; and Community Based Organizations.

Additional Resources

New York Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN)

CDC’s Natural Disasters and Sever Weather Page

CDC’s Emergency Preparedness and You Page

CDC’s Emergency Preparedness for Special Groups Page

Ready.gov

American Red Cross