County Ready

The Office of Public Health Preparedness at the Pima County Health Department is engaging in collaborative, community focused emergency health planning to address biological, chemical, radiological, or natural disaster events that result in public health threats or emergencies. The Pima County Health Department is working:

• To develop effective plans and resources during emergencies to protect the community.
• To develop and maintain public health emergency capacity.
• To coordinate with community, county, state, tribal, and federal partners to develop a plan to provide mass prophylaxis and treatment to all people in the county.
• To develop the capacity to rapidly identify diseases and initiate prevention and control activities.
• To develop effective, secure communication infrastructure for rapid communication among public health and its partners.
• To develop the capacity to effectively communicate health/risk information to the public and key partners.
• To develop a public health workforce (including volunteers).
• To better prepare the community for an emergency.

Even a small amount of preparation before an emergency can make a huge difference and can save lives. That is why the PCHD Office of Public Health Preparedness is doing its part. We are creating plans, practicing them, and conducting training to better protect the residents of Pima County.

Below you can find summarized versions of the plans the Office of Public Health Preparedness has developed and maintain in order to keep Pima County prepared for a public health emergency:

PCHD All Hazards Plan PCHD Continuity of Operations Plan PCHD SNS and Mass Clinic Plan PCHD Public Health Surge Plan

PCHD Pandemic Flu Plan PCHD Preparedness Exercise and Training Plan PCHD Environmental Health Response Plan PCHD Agency Communications Plan

Pima County Health Department is Honored as "Public Health Ready"

The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) recognized the Pima County Health Department for its ability to respond to public health emergencies. This recognition affirms that the Health Department has a comprehensive emergency response plan in place; staff is well-trained to execute the plan; and the plan is exercised and used during public health emergencies. To read the full statement regarding PPHR.

Family Ready

Preparedness is the key to saving lives in an emergency. Even the smallest amount of preparation can make a huge difference.

Being prepared has three steps: Being Informed, Making a Plan, and Making a Disaster Supply Kit.

FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO HELP YOUR FAMILY BE BETTER PREPARED:

• Be sure your house address clearly visible from the street.
• Post emergency numbers near every telephone.
• Know how and when to dial 9-1-1 in an emergency.
• Be sure all family members know the location of the first aid kit.
• Be sure working flashlights are located on every level of the house.
• Be sure smoke detectors are installed throughout the house and batteries are changed two times a year.
• Keep health insurance and family's medical needs information readily available.
• Identify at least two escape routes and an outside meeting place.
• Practice the plan!

Make a Plan There are well-developed and well-rehearsed emergency response plans at all levels of government. At the core of this effort is citizen preparedness. You and your family can plan, prepare, practice, and protect each other.

If a disaster strikes, relief workers may not be able to reach everyone immediately. You might be asked to evacuate your home or may need to "shelter-in-place." It is important that you and your family know what to do during different types of emergencies. By planning and practicing, you and your family will be more prepared if an emergency occurs. Planning Guides and additional information are at: www.Ready.gov

Once you are informed about the potential emergencies in Pima County, your next step is to make a plan to deal with each emergency. Remember that it is not necessary to make one plan for each kind of emergency. One or two well thought out plans can generally be effective during any situation.

Remember communications. During a crisis, you will want to know where your loved ones are, and if they are safe. Be sure to include several ways to contact the people who are important to you. An out of town family contact may be helpful if the utilities in your area are damaged.

Members of your household may have specific planning considerations such as:

• A chronic medical condition that requires prescriptions? Be Proactive! Take a moment now and talk with your medical provider about having an extra supply stored at home.
• A medical condition that requires medical equipment that needs electricity to operate?
• Have you planned to provide for any medical conditions that requires treatment appointments outside of the home? Take a moment now and talk with your medical equipment supplier to learn of the back up power sources you may require such as batteries, generator, etc.
• How about in-home care? Do you or a household member or neighbor require home health care service? Take a moment now and talk with your medical provider about how these needs would be met if an emergency prevented your access to these necessary services.

Essential medical items ALL households want to consider having:

• Items for seniors, disabled persons, children, or anyone with serious allergies including special foods
• Denture items
• Extra eyeglasses
• Hearing aid batteries
• Several day supply of prescription and non-prescription medications, including insulin, that are used regularly
• Inhalers and other essential equipment and back up power supply if these items require electricity or water

Making a Disaster Supply Kit
The Health Department recommends you have an Emergency Supply Kit: An emergency may interfere with normal supplies of food, water, heat, and other necessities. Keep a stock of emergency supplies on hand that will last for at least 3 days.

Update your kit regularly.

Contents of an Emergency Supply Kit can be found at: http://www.redcross.org/prepare/buildakit.html.

When an emergency strikes, you may not have time to gather all the necessary supplies. Making an emergency kit ahead of time can make all the difference. An emergency supply kit should include items to help you survive an emergency for several days. Things you take for granted every day may become extremely valuable to you during a crisis.

Business Ready

Widespread flu or infectious disease outbreak, monsoon flooding, power outages, and fire are all types of major events that may affect your daily routine.

Events such as these could impact your workplace and your personal business operations. Fluctuations in personnel, inventory, and potential power disruption are just some of the possible scenarios you will need to consider.

But how can businesses plan for widespread Flu? Below are online tools, checklists, and guides that will help you become more knowledgeable about business preparedness.

Business Resources

• Small Business guidance and practical tools to help you respond to the Novel H1N1 pandemic - Sept. 15, 2009 // http://www.flu.gov/
• Pandemic planning resources from HHS - July 9, 2009 // www.flu.gov
• Specific guidance for pandemic planning // www.PandemicFlu.gov
• NEW Business and Workplace Guidance for H1N1 from ADHS// www.azdhs.gov
• It's Good Business to Plan for Disaster // www.fema.gov
• Workplace Planning // www.PandemicFlu.gov
• Prepare Your Workplace and Employees // www.RedCross.org
• Further planning tools from the American Red Cross's program Ready Rating
• Business Continuity Planning // www.HomelandSecurity.AZ.gov

Checklist Sections

• Tips to plan for and modify business practices and policies in the event of an influenza pandemic at work // www.fas.org/ReallyReady
• Prepare Your Workplace and Employees // www.RedCross.org
• Communicate, educate, and provide resources for employees and enrollees
• CDC Promotes Partnerships in Emergency Response

Taking a few moments to read this material, NOW, may make a big difference in how you or your employer manage the unexpected if it occurs in Pima County.

School Ready

Widespread flu or infectious disease outbreak, monsoon flooding, power outages, and fire are common types of major events that may affect your daily routine.

Did you know your neighborhood school may be a designated emergency shelter? It may also serve as a designated community disaster shelter or point of dispensing (POD) emergency medicine or vaccines.

Schools are the heart of a neighborhood and emergency events may impact whether or not our children attend school. Do you have a plan for how to take care of your children, if their school or daycare operation is affected?

A few moments now, a few extra items you put aside at home and special discussions you have now with your family, neighbors, co-workers, and local community may make a big difference if the unexpected occurs in Pima County.

Parent resources

• New Pandemic planning resources from HHS
• Tips about talking to children, based on their age about emergencies and disasters.
• Next step resource for recognizing signs of stress by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
• Advice from the American Red Cross about how to prepare and respond to children who may be affected by an emergency or disaster.

School and care giver resources

• Disaster preparedness resources designed to address children's specific needs
• Handwashing stickers [PDF - 492 KB] Print on Avery #5160 labels
• Emergency planning tools, planning templates and aides to guide school emergency planning
• FEMA and Discovery Channel launch new web resource for schools - Ready Classroom!

School resources for planning for Pandemic Flu or widespread infections disease outbreak

• School Planning
• Child Care and Preschool Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist
• School District (K-12) Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist
• Colleges and Universities Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist
• Novel H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) Public Service Announcements (PSAs)