Welcome to Public Health Preparedness at Southwest District Health!
Public health emergencies could happen at any time. Whether it is a natural disaster such as flooding, infectious disease, or manmade threat, public health emergencies can affect our families, communities, and businesses.
The Office of Public Health Preparedness (PHP) at Southwest District Health was developed in 2002 in response to acts of terrorism within the United States initially but has evolved into more of an all hazards approach to protect the public health for Southwest Idaho residents in Adams, Canyon, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, and Washington counties.
PHP works in cooperation with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and six other Idaho Public Districts to develop local, regional, and statewide strategies for response to any Idaho public health emergency.
Please see the following sections to learn more information about emergency preparedness.
- Citizen Preparedness
- What To Do For Public Health Emergencies
- Medical Reserve Corps
A Citizen’s Guide to Preparedness – How You Can Be Ready
Below are web links to resources with helpful information on how to prepare your family for a disaster. A family disaster plan should include a disaster supply kit with basic items that you will need in case of emergency and a family communication plan which may include a meeting place or a way to contact one another during an emergency.
- ready.gov – Information on how to make a preparedness kit and a family plan for at home, in your car or at your place of work
- redcross.org – Information during a disaster to find an open shelter or locate loved ones, and emergency preparedness resources
- fema.gov – Information on current National Hazards and Disaster Events and how the National Preparedness System can be used
What to do for Public Health Emergencies
Public Health may be involved in either natural or man caused emergencies such as earthquakes, tornados, disease outbreaks, and man made threats. It is important that you become educated on how to best prepare you and your family for such an event. You can become educated on being prepared whether it is taking classes, individual research, or reaching out to Southwest District Health.
For Public Health emergencies in the Southwest Idaho region (Adams, Canyon, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, and Washington counties), please call the Idaho State Communications Center at 1-800-632-8000 and a Southwest District Health employee will be notified.
Medical Reserve Corps
Looking for a way to volunteer your skills to support our community?
NO MEDICAL TRAINING REQUIRED!
The Southwest Idaho Medical Reserve Corps provides opportunities for health care professionals and others to support public health initiatives and respond to local emergencies. If you are a health care professional, Student, or lay person who just wants to help, consider becoming a part of our team. Imagine yourself participating in any of the
DURING AN EMERGENCY
- Assisting with mass distribution of pharmaceuticals
- Supporting surveillance and notification efforts
- Delivering health education materials/information
- Supporting medical functional needs in a shelter or alternate care site
Sign up now at:
Click Here to visit South West Idaho Medical Reserve Corps Facebook Page
For information about the MRC, Contact:
Molly Smith, Southwest Idaho MRC Coordinator
[email protected]
(208) 455-5372
DURING TIMES OF NON-EMERGENCY
- Train and exercise on emergency response skills
- Administering vaccine
- Distributing emergency preparedness information