Public Health Preparedness

Coordinating With Disease Experts

PHEP coordinates with disease experts to ensure the early detection of outbreaks. PHEP achieves this by:

• Facilitating the exchange of information between the health department and disease experts for early detection of health threats.
• Cultivating partnerships with local hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and research institutions.
• Collaborating with disease experts to facilitate timely responses to potential health threats.
• Conducting regular preparedness exercises and drills to ensure a well-coordinated response when a real emergency occurs.

Identifying Ways to Get Accurate, Breaking Information to the Public

PHEP identifies effective ways to disseminate accurate and timely information to the public during health emergencies. This infrastructure includes multiple channels such as social media, emergency alert systems, press releases and websites to ensure accurate information reaches a wide audience.

Developing Plans for Mass Distribution

PHEP develops plans for the mass distribution of medicines or vaccines when and where they are needed. Here’s how:

• Collaborating with pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors to establish a streamlined process for the rapid production and distribution of medicines or vaccines.
• Identifying and establishing distribution points in the community to enhance accessibility and promote widespread coverage.
• Planning for mobile distribution units that can be rapidly deployed to provide on-the-spot administration of medicines or vaccines.
• Fostering partnerships to facilitate the efficient transportation of medical supplies.
• Addressing equity concerns in distribution to ensure that vulnerable populations and underserved communities have access to medicines or vaccines.

Planning for Urgent Interventions like Isolation and Quarantine

PHEP takes a proactive approach to plan for urgent interventions, such as isolation and quarantine, to halt or slow the spread of diseases. This includes:

• Developing response plans for urgent interventions like isolation and quarantine.
• Collaborating with stakeholders including healthcare providers, emergency responders, law enforcement and community organizations to effectively respond to health emergencies.
• Establishing systems to disseminate clear and timely communication with the public during emergencies.
• Conducting regular training sessions and drills with stakeholders to ensure that everyone understands their roles and responsibilities in an emergency.
• Planning for the allocation of resources including medical supplies, personnel and facilities.
• Continuously monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of interventions.

All these activities are funded by the federal PHEP Cooperative Agreement. Preparedness activities funded by this agreement are targeted specifically for the development of flexible, adaptable and emergency-ready local, state, tribal and territorial public health departments.

The Role of Public Health in Preparedness

A healthier population leads to a resilient population during and after a disaster. By focusing on the overall health of a population, Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health  aims to prevent and mitigate the effects of hazards. Healthier residents are less vulnerable to the risks of hazards; therefore, the hazard is less devastating to the community.

Working With Local Partners

The Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health works with local partners to ensure that local public health capacities are in place to address large-scale disease outbreaks, illness or bioterrorism events in Lawrence and Douglas County. Services provided include:

• Preparedness and response planning and risk assessments
• Communication enhancement between public health and response partners
• Increased capacity to conduct epidemiological and surveillance activities
• Practicing public health emergency response plans

Be Prepared

A tornado flattens your neighborhood. A fire destroys your home. A pandemic strikes your region and half of your family is separated. What will you and your family do in emergency disaster situations? Are you prepared?

Whether it’s a natural disaster, public health emergency or man-made event, by being prepared now, you and your family can have the necessary tools in place during an emergency. Two of the most important things you can do are:

• Make a Kit
• Have a Plan
• Sign up for Emergency Alerts
• Understand Your Risk Factors.

To learn more, read our Disaster Preparedness Tips (PDF).