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 the people in Kittitas County. Public Health Emergencies may include:

• Gas leak or toxic substance spill.
• A food borne illness outbreak.
• Influenza outbreak.
• White powder or suspicious package sent through the mail.
• Contaminated drinking water.
• Methamphetamine lab investigation.
• Exposure to dangerous chemicals.
• Bioterrorism incidents.
• Manmade or natural disasters:
  • winter storms
  • power outages
  • explosions
  • earthquakes
  • volcanoes.

The Emergency Preparedness and Response Program focuses on:

• Educating the public about disasters that can affect the public's health and encouraging the public to become prepared by making a plan, being informed, assembling a disaster supply kit, and getting involved in community planning
• Preparing plans that outline how Public Health will respond to emergencies. These plans include Pandemic Flu, Strategic National Stockpile, Risk Communication, and an overall Emergency Response Plan.
• Facilitating meetings between emergency response agencies to prepare for future public health incidents
• Exercising Public Health Emergency Response Plans
• Educating and training staff in using the Incident Command System to manage emergencies
• Participating at a regional and local level in health care coalition meetings
• Maintaining and participating in state and local emergency communication systems
• Maintaining a Special Needs Client Registry and Disaster Volunteer Program

Pandemic Influenza - Are you prepared?

What is pandemic flu?

An outbreak of Influenza that occurs throughout the world is known as a pandemic. History shows that pandemics occur approximately every 30-50 years. Pandemics can be widespread, affecting as much as 25-40% of the population. The influenza virus that emerged in 2009, known as H1N1 flue, was classified as a pandemic flu by the World Health Organization. It was widespread but not severe. If a pandemic is severe there is the potential for great loss of life. It is not known when the next pandemic will occur. Now is the time for individuals, families, and businesses to prepare.

Steps you can take to prepare for pandemic flu

• Buy an N-95 mask for each of your family members from any hardware/department store
• Make an emergency supply kit (3 days to two weeks of food and water)
• Cover your cough95kb (en español95kb); practice good respiratory etiquette habits
• Wash hands frequently and use hand sanitizer
• Get a flu shot
• Stay home when you are sick

More about influenza

• Washington State Department of Health
  http://www.doh.wa.gov/panflu/
• The official U.S. government Web site for information on pandemic flu and avian influenza
  http://www.pandemicflu.gov/
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Influenza
  http://www.cdc.gov/flu/

Bioterrorism

What is bioterrorism?

Bioterrorism is the calculated use or threat of biological weapons against citizens in order to attain goals that are political, religious, or ideological in nature.

What is Kittitas County Public Health Department doing to prepare for a response to a bioterrorist event?

Kittitas County Public Health Department is upgrading communication, training employees in the Incident Command System, assembling response plans, and participating in emergency response drills to prepare for a bioterrorist event.

Natural Hazards

What are Natural Hazards?

A natural hazard is a naturally occurring event that is dangerous to people or places. Natural hazards include floods, landslides, earthquakes, volcanoes, fires, and outbreaks/epidemics.

The following list indicates some of the different types of natural and manmade hazards that may occur in Kittitas County:

Get Involved

In a disaster, Public Health depends upon volunteers to support staff activities. From data entry to vaccinating a client, people with a range of skills and certifications are necessary. Public Health has developed a Disaster Volunteer Program that offers county Emergency Management supervision and quarterly continuing education. If you are interested in becoming a disaster volunteer, call 509-962-7515.

Resources & Links

• CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response
• Washington State Department of Health Emergency Preparedness and Response
• Ready.gov
• Federal Emergency Management Agency
• WA Department of Emergency Management Resource Guide 2007

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