Emergency Preparedness

Overview:  In 2002 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released grant funding to the State of Iowa to increase emergency preparedness activities around the state.  In August of 2002 local public health agencies received some of this grant money through the Iowa Department of Public Health.

This money is to be used to help agencies be more prepared in the event of a man-made or natural disaster.  Hancock County Public Health has received money from the grant since it was awarded in 2002.  HCPHS has used the money for some of the following activities:

• Working with other emergency preparedness partners such as Hancock County Sheriff, Hancock County Emergency Management, Hancock County Memorial Hospital, Local Businesses, etc. to become better prepared to respond to an emergency situation.
• Writing preparedness plans and exercising parts of this plan with other response partners
• Presenting educational programs to various groups in the county about personal and county emergency preparedness
• Training staff in emergency preparedness

Hancock County Public Health Services encourages all citizens to be personally prepared for any man-made or natural disaster by doing the following:

Be Ready.  Make a Plan.  Prepare a kit.

Your kit should include:

• Bottled water
• Non-perishable food
• Clothing or bedding
• First aid kit
• Cash or travelers checks, change
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Battery powered radio
• Tools
• Toiletries
• Medications
• Important family documents
• Soap and sanitation products
• Plastic garbage bags

Make family plan that includes an evacuation strategy and meeting place

For additional information on how to be prepared click on the following links

http://www.protectiowahealth.org/

You can also contact:
Betty Mallen bmallen@hancockpublichealth.org or