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.

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:

• Assist local communities with preparedness planning and response efforts
• Locate 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 (floods, blizzards, earthquakes, tornadoes), accidents (fires, chemical spills, and broken water or sewer structures), and acts of terrorism.

• Coordinate planning efforts with local health departments in the five-county Northeast Ohio region (Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Lorain)
• Participate as a member of the Cuyahoga County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)

Personal and Family Preparedness

There are steps that you and your family can take now to prepare for different types of emergencies. Putting together a family plan will help your family know where each other are when something happens.

It is important that your family is also prepared to listen to instructions from local officials and can respond in a way that keeps you all safe.

You can click on this link to learn more about Personal and Family Emergency Preparedness.

RESOURCES FOR SPECIAL NEEDS POPULATIONS

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)

Behavioral and Mental Prep for Children in Disasters

• Audio Presentation
• Slide Presentation (PowerPoint file)

Caring for People with Physical Problems During Emergencies

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

Dementia – Normal Behaviors

• Audio Presentation
• Slide Presentation (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)

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
• Developmental Disability Etiquette
• Disaster Preparedness for People with Developmental Disabilities (PowerPoint file)
• Overview of Developmental Disabilities (PowerPoint file)

Working with People with Functional Needs During a Disaster

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