In the event of a terrorism incident or other emergency in Clark County, our public safety and health officials are prepared to quickly respond to protect you and your family. If a bioterrorist event or other major emergency occurs in Clark County, the public would be informed through the news media, and the Clark County Web site http://www.clark.wa.gov/ regarding the best steps to take to protect one's health.
The Region IV Medical Reserve Corps (Southwest Washington) is actively seeking medical and non-medical volunteers to assist with public health emergencies. High school and college students are also welcome.
For more information:
Volunteers Building Strong, Healthy, and Prepared Communities.
Other Web sites shown below provide useful, timely information on various emergency topics and situations for the general public, including vulnerable populations, and for health care providers.
For the General Public
The Centers for Disease Control
Contains preparedness information and latest news on bioterrorism agents, chemical emergencies, natural disasters, and recent outbreaks.
www.bt.cdc.gov
Information for providers and the public on bioterrorism agents and response measures.
www.doh.wa.gov/bioterr
How people with special needs can prepare for emergencies
http://www.preparenow.org/
Federal Emergency Management Agency
www.fema.gov/areyouready/
The American Red Cross provides disaster services in all 50 states. The Web site explains how to prepare for emergencies. Descriptions are available in English and 13 foreign languages.
www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_319_,00.html
For Providers
Washington State Medical Association, resources on bioterrorism education and links to other sites.
www.wsma.org/News_chem_agents.html
Emergency telephone numbers, information for providers and the public on bioterrorism agents and response measures
www.doh.wa.gov/bioterr
AMA Disaster Preparedness and Medical Response Information and resources for physicians and patients coping with the aftermath of terrorist attacks
www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/6206.html
U.S. Army courses on medical management of biological agent casualties
www.usamriid.army.mil/education/
eMedicine.com Disaster and Trauma eBook
www.emedicine.com/specials
Water and Food Safety
Floods and earthquakes can contaminate both tap and well water. Power outages can threaten the safety of your food. For tips on preparing for and responding to such events, click on http://www.clark.wa.gov/health/environmental/drinking/disaster.html
Staying Warm Safely
Power outages can also lead to carbon monoxide poisoning when people try to heat their homes with generators or other heat sources. Information on avoiding carbon monoxide poisoning can be found at http://www.clark.wa.gov/health/carbonmonoxide.htmlEmergency Response Plan
The Clark County Public Health has developed an Emergency Response Plan to coordinate emergency activities of the Health Department with those of local, state, and federal agencies during a bioterrorism, chemical, nuclear, and/or radiological incident, communicable disease outbreak, or other public health emergency. These activities are being coordinated on a regional concept, and the counties of Clark, Cowlitz, Skamania, and Wahkiakum are working closely on all aspects of emergency preparedness and response.
Special effort is being made to develop efficient and effective communications between the Clark County Public Health, local emergency management services such as the Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency http://www.cresa911.org, local hospitals, government, vulnerable populations, law enforcement, community organizations, and local businesses with other relevant local, state and federal government agencies.
DOH web page on general Emergency Preparedness and Response
www.doh.wa.gov/phepr/pheprgeninfo.htm
The Washington Military Department's Emergency Management Division Web site contains information on several systems related to disaster medical information.
