Foothills Health District Preparedness Program

 

The Foothills Health District prepares for public health emergencies that may affect our community. Public Health Preparedness uses an all-hazards approach for emergency planning, focusing on situations that specifically affect the health of the public including pandemic flu, mosquito-borne diseases, bioterrorism events, and other disease outbreaks. This includes sharing information on ways residents can protect themselves and a plan to set up medication clinics, as necessary. We also participate with the emergency response community to work together on any public health emergency.
Preparedness for public health emergencies is a priority. We continually plan, train, and exercise activities to be able to respond quickly to natural disasters, bioterrorism, or disease outbreaks. Public health emergencies can include natural events (flooding, hurricanes, winter weather, etc.) and planned acts (weapons used for mass destruction and bioterrorism). Specially trained staff from our Epidemiology Team (EPI Team) are available to respond to communicable disease outbreaks and public health threats.


 

Image of supplies for Strategic National Stockpile. Image from the Centers for Disese Control

 

STRATEGIC NATIONAL STOCKPILE (SNS)

CDC’s Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) has large quantities of medicine and medical supplies to protect the American public if there is a public health emergency (terrorist attack, flu outbreak, earthquake) severe enough to cause local supplies to run out.
The Preparedness Coordinator for the Foothills Health District constantly updates the Strategic National Stockpile Plan (Medical Countermeasure Operational Readiness Review) or better known as the “SNS” MCM-ORR. The SNS refers to the CDC’s (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) large quantity of medications and PPE that can be used during a public health emergency such as a flu outbreak when local resources are exhausted.

When Disaster Strikes – North Carolina Residents and the Strategic National Stockpile discusses the SNS and what to do and where to go if there is ever a need for SNS supplies.

PREPAREDNESS RESOURCES

Screenshot Image of ReadyNC App

Ready NC.org is North Carolina’s campaign to prepare for all types of emergencies. Their website has multiple resources and lists to help you prepare. ReadyNC also has a mobile app for iPhone and Android users (ReadyNC mobile app


ReadyNC

Image showing screen of FEMA App

The FEMA App: Helping Your Family Weather the Storm


FEMA App