Health

Emergency Preparedness

Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response

Polk County Public Health prepares, plans, responds, mitigates, and assists the community in recovery from a natural or man-made incident that threatens or creates a risk to the health of the public. The ability to recover from such events requires the preparation of not only Public Health but also our community members.

You can keep yourself and your family safe by following the below information and resources:

Stay Healthy:

  • Make sure you are current on all your recommended vaccines to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. (Recommended vaccine list)  
  • Personal hygiene is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of diseases. By washing your hands frequently and practicing good hygiene, you're taking a proactive step in reducing the risk of disease and infectious outbreaks. Remember to keep a sanitizer handy for situations when handwashing isn’t possible.
  • Stay home if you or your children are sick. This is the best way to prevent spreading illness to others. When many people have an illness like a pandemic, it could disrupt daily life and lead to significant social and economic costs.
  • Build resilience for your mental health. An emergency or Pandemic can be very stressful and challenging for individuals and communities. This can have long-lasting effects on your mental health and well-being. Stay connected with family and friends to feel more supported. Recognize when you need help and seek support from healthcare professionals.
  • Maintain health habits, such as exercising, eating well, and getting enough sleep so that you are more resilient to handle an emergency and your immune system is healthier during a pandemic.

 

Be Prepared: Polk County Emergency Management's website contains information about how to prepare for disasters of any type.

Alert Iowa: During emergencies, staying informed and following local authorities' guidance is important to protect you and your family. Alert Iowa

Rapid SOS: Inform dispatchers and emergency responders of your health profile so they may act quickly to meet your individual health needs, especially when you cannot verbalize the information. Learn more about the program here. Sign up for Rapid SOS here.

Make a Plan: Creating a plan before a disaster will leave you confident you are prepared to help you and your family through any emergency. There are several different types of plans. Here are a few different types to fit your style:

 

Be Informed:

Understanding your risks and how to prepare for and mitigate them before an emergency will help you and your family stay safe and healthy. This section provides information on several potential threats you could encounter and actions public health or public safety may ask you to take.    

Biological Threats and Disease:

Public Health Emergencies may occur from natural or intentional actions. The threat may not always be immediately known. It could be a pattern noticed by several healthcare workers reporting an illness. It could also be an intentional attack, which will be quicker to detect. In an emergency, Public Health Officials may not have all the information right away. It’s important for you to stay calm, review your plans, check your kit, and be prepared to receive further details. When watching TV, listening to your radio, or reading official news, expect to hear some of the following actions or information.

  1. Do you or your family members fit the group or area that authorities suspect in danger?
  2. What are the signs and symptoms of the threat or disease?
  3. Are Medications or vaccines required? Where and when, and who should get them?
  4. What happens if you need medical attention? Where do you go?
  5. Do you and your family need to shelter in place or leave your location?

Following the Authority's recommendations will provide the best information to keep you and your family safe.

Sometimes, people may be asked to quarantine or isolate themselves to contain the disease. If you are asked to do so, a Public Health Official will contact you.

These links will provide you with further information and resources on the above topics:

Biological Threats and Disease

Isolation and Quarantine Information

Polk County Quarantine and Isolation Ordinance

 

If you would like to learn more information about potential emergencies, please visit the Polk County EMA website.