Emergency Preparedness

A public health emergency is any event or situation demanding immediate action on the part of the public health system in order to prevent disease and injury or to help maintain public health within the community. Emergencies can be natural or man-made.  All of us face the possibility of natural disasters, accidents, power outages or intentional acts to disrupt our daily lives. We cannot control the weather or prevent disasters from happening, but there are steps you can take to minimize risks from known hazards. Planning now can help save lives later.

What we do to help prepare for an emergency:

• Help local communities with preparedness planning and response efforts
• Help find medicine and medical supplies during a large community emergency
• Coordinate the Cuyahoga County Medical Reserve Corps
• Take part in disaster preparedness training and exercises to evaluate local emergency response during and after disasters (such as floods, blizzards, earthquakes, tornados), accidents (such as fires, chemical spills, and broken water or sewer structures), and acts of terrorism.
• Participate as a member of the Cuyahoga County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)
• Coordinate planning efforts with local health departments in the five county Northeast Ohio region (Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Lorain counties)

Personal and Family Preparedness

There are steps that you and your family can take now to prepare for any type of emergency. Putting together a family plan will ensure that you and your family know where one another are in the event of an emergency, hear important instructions from local officials, and respond in a way that keeps you and your family safe. You can click on this link to learn more about Personal and Family Emergency Preparedness.

Preparedness for People with Developmental Disabilities

For organizations and volunteers who, during a disaster or emergency situation, expect to interact with people who have developmental disabilities and/or functional needs, we offer the following information:

• Audio Presentation – Working with the Developmentally Disabled
• Overview of Developmental Disabilities (Powerpoint file)
• Disaster Preparedness for People with Developmental Disabilities (Powerpoint file)
• Developmental Disability Etiquette

Working with People with Functional Needs During a Disaster

• Audio Presentation – Red Cross Shelters and People with Mental Illness in Disaster Shelters
• Slide Presentation – People with Functional Needs in Red Cross Shelters (Powerpoint file)
• Slide Presentation – People with Mental Illness in Disaster Shelters (Powerpoint file)
• Audio Presentation – Caring for People with Cancer
• Slide Presentation – Caring for People with Cancer (Powerpoint file)

Assisting Dialysis Patients During a Disaster

• Audio Presentation – Red Cross Shelters and Dialysis Patients
• Slide Presentation – Hemodialysis Patients During a Disaster (Powerpoint file)
• Slide Presentation – Peritoneal Dialysis Patients During a Disaster (Powerpoint file)

Managing Diabetes in Emergency Situations

• Audio Presentation – Diabetes in Emergency Situations
• Flow Chart/Medication – Diabetes in Emergency Situations
• Flow Chart/Testing Supplies – Diabetes in Emergency Situations
• Slide Presentation – Diabetes in Emergency Situations (Powerpoint file)

Caring for People with Physical Problems During Emergencies

• Audio Presentation – Respiratory/Breathing Issues
• Slide Presentation – Respiratory/Breathing Issues (Powerpoint file)

Behavioral and Mental Prep for Children in Disasters

• Audio Presentation
• Slide Presentation (Powerpoint file)

Dementia – Normal Behaviors

• Audio Presentation
• Slide Presentation (Powerpoint file)