Breastfeeding Day Care Education Communicable Diseases Immunizations

Obesity Epidemic Stress and Chronic Disease Super-size Wise Breast Cancer Prevention Fact Sheets School Wellness

Asthma Food Safety Household Safety Indoor Air Quality Lead Poisoning Prevention Rabies Waste and Recyling West Nile Virus

Public Health Solutions
District Health Department
995 East Hwy 33, Ste 1
Crete, NE 68333-2562
888.310.0565

Webmail »

Emergency Preparedness

While it will never be possible to fully be prepared for every potential threat, it is possible for our nation to strengthen its general defense through working together in preparedness planning. Becoming prepared to a level in which we can minimize, if not prevent the potential consequences. While this is happening at a national and state level, preparedness begins at home and on a local level. Public Health Solutions District Health Department has teamed up with county Emergency Management, Law Enforcement, Government Officials, and other key community players to create preparedness plans for their communities.

What does Public Health Do in a Disaster?

A Public Health Disaster may surround issues regarding clean water, sanitation or infectious disease. Early detection, investigation and control, rapid communication of essential information and the assurance of environmental safety are primary concerns of Public Health.  Response and recovery will take the collaboration of many local agencies. Public Health Solutions is committed to working locally with key groups to ensure that the citizens of each county will be protected and cared for. Our goal is to develop strategies to improve the ability of the local health care and response system to rapidly increase emergency capacity and provide necessary drugs, vaccines or other medical equipment or materials where needed throughout a county.

What is happening in our area?

Public Health Emergency Response Teams (PHERT) enlist key community players who can provide response and resources in the time of a disaster or terrorism event. Planning is taking place on a regular basis to address the vulnerabilities and needs of each community. This group is designed to bring together decision-makers of a community to plan for and be prepared to respond to a disaster or terrorism event.

Vaccines and Medication Distribution

In the event of an outbreak of infectious disease, whether it is a biological agent or influenza, plans are in place in each county to protect our communities through mass dispensing clinics where vaccines or medication can be distributed. Through Public Health Solutions, our district would receive the supplies and medication needed to administer protection or treatment to reduce or prevent the spread of a virus or disease. These clinics will be established on an as needed basis and will be identified through press releases or news briefings.

What can I do to help?

Working together and stepping up to the plate is what makes living in rural Nebraska a worthwhile experience. Rural residents understand the importance of helping your neighbor and in the event of a disaster; volunteers are what will make a county response happen. If you would like to learn more about how you could assist in a disaster response or support a mass clinic in your county you can visit www.region5systems.net and click on Emergency Response Volunteer tab for more information or to register with the Southeast Nebraska Disaster Volunteer Registry.

Links for more information

Become more prepared at home or work:

www.bt.cdc.gov/preparedness

www.ready.gov

www.redcross.org

Bioterrorism and preparedness efforts nationwide:

www.cdc.gov

www.naccho.org

Mass Dispensing Clinic Locations    (link active during emergencies)

Pandemic Influenza (links active during emergencies)

Influenza Clinic Locations - Triage Criteria (Should I see a physician?)

How to care for yourself at home

Hotlines (211)

Forms(links active during emergencies)

Vaccination Criteria/Education

Vaccination Registration Form

Clinic Inventory Sheets

Volunteer Tracking Form