| Where
does a health department begin? The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) suggests that health departments begin
by developing a health-related EOP. It can provide the conceptual
foundation upon which more specific plans dealing with biological
and chemical terrorism can be built. However, plans can be
developed in any order. If a health department has no emergency
response plan at all, CDC says that it may be best to develop
a terrorist response plan while undertaking the overall emergency
planning effort. Planning
tips
- Health
departments have the legal responsibility to identify public
health concerns and control disease outbreaks. These duties
form the foundation for a health department's role in emergency
preparedness and response.
- Use
a team approach to planning. An EOP is more likely to be
followed if the responsible organizations have a sense of
ownership.
- Conduct
a hazard assessment. Build scenarios from the assessment.
CDC recommends focusing on a more localized terrorist event
for planning purposes to make it easier to see how various
agencies can coordinate without being overwhelmed.
- Determine
the resource base. Plan around existing resources. Identify
shortages and explore agreements with other jurisdictions
or private suppliers to meet needs.
Emergency
Preparedness
Emergency Operations Plan
"All Hazards" Approach
Health-related EOP
Planning Checklist
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