Public Health Emergency Preparedness & Response
The Emergency Preparedness and Response program focuses on preparing for and responding to incidents that pose a substantial risk to the health of residents. In the event of an emergency that impacts the health of the public, Walla Walla County Department of Community Health will play an integral role in the local response and will coordinate with local, state and national agencies.
Our Staff continuously works to improve its capacity to respond to public health emergencies by enhancing its agency response as well as its ability to work closely with local partners, Department of Emergency Management and elected officials to develop plans and strategies for dealing with the possible public health impacts of natural and human-caused disasters.
The Department of Community Health is involved in community-wide planning around potential emergency threats, such as: natural disasters, contaminated water or food supplies, airborne exposure to infectious diseases, pandemic influenza, or bioterrorism. Our staff works closely with the hospital and emergency planners to develop strategies for dealing with the possible impacts of such events.
The Emergency Preparedness & Response Program promotes the planning, surveillance, training, infrastructure development, and communication development of our emergency response capabilities by:
- Maintaining and exercising the public health emergency response plan and other specific plans
- Maintaining and testing a 24/7 response system
- Alerting the community of health protective measures
- Receiving and dispensing of the Strategic National Stockpile (medications & supplies)
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Ready.gov
- Washington State Department of Health - Emergency Preparedness
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Air Quality |
Bioterrorism |
Chemical Emergency |
Cold |
Earthquake |
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Flood |
Heat |
Lightning |
Pandemic Influenza |
Power Outage |
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Thunderstorm |
Safe Drinking Water |
Wildfire |
Wind |
Winter Weather |
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Event Specific Information
- Build a Kit
- Ready.gov: Build A Kit
- Washington Emergency Management: Personal Preparedness
- Emergency Shelters
- Shelter in Place Plan
- Sign up for Citizen Alert
Special Populations Emergency Planning
PET (ANIMALS) SHELTER PLANNING
- Domestic Pets
- Ready.gov: Pets and Animals
- Washington Emergency Management: Preparing for Pets
- Livestock: Ready.gov
- Pet Checklist
- Shelter in Place
- https://emergency.cdc.gov/planning/shelteringfacts.asp
- Walla Walla Emergency Management: How to shelter in place
- CDC: Chemical Emergencies
POISON CONTROL CENTER
- Regional Poison Control Centers: 1-800-222-1222
- Washington State Department of Health
- Ready.Gov
- FEMA Power Outage
- Pacific Power Outage
- Columbia REA Outage
EXTREME TEMPERATURES
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SEVERE WEATHER
- CDC Severe Weather (all)
- Thunderstorms & Lightning
- CDC
- National Weather Service
- Flooding
- CDC
- National Weather Service
- Washington State Department of Health
- Walla Walla County Flood Response Plan
- National Weather Service: Air Quality (general)
- Volcanic Ash
- Dust Storms
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STRATEGIC NATIONAL STOCKPILE
SAFE DRINKING WATER during an EMERGENCY
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