EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Public Health partners with Emergency Management and other community partners to prepare for all-hazard response and recovery. The public health department is responsible to fulfill grant duties established by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and is governed by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Preparedness includes planning, training, evaluating, and exercising; this is done with local and regional partners. Cook County Public Health and Human Services plans for response and recovery involving the health of the people.
Plans
Plans include, but are not limited to, mass care/sheltering, medical countermeasure dispensing, and isolation & quarantine. To carry out response and recovery activities, the coordinator relies on volunteers to supplement the workforce to fill needed roles. MN Responds Medical Reserve Corps is one available option for members of the community to become active volunteers in public health emergencies. To find out more, or to register, please visit the following website: https://www.mnresponds.org/.
Emergency Response
County and Tribal Public Health Departments, along with northeastern hospitals, clinics, local emergency planners, EMS, Red Cross, law enforcement, military, and human services departments have planned and trained for their responses to emergency situations. This joint planning will help result in fast, coordinated responses in case of bioterrorism, chemical emergencies, or radiation terrorism.
Contact
Grace Grinager: Public Health Supervisor