Victim’s Rights

The public health emergency preparedness (PHEP) program is funded through a grant provided by the Ohio Department of Health.  The PHEP grant allows the Holmes County Health Department the opportunity to work with local partners and agencies to plan for and mitigate against local public health emergencies such as disease outbreaks and environmental public health hazards. 

HCHD Role

The Holmes County Health Department (HCHD) role is to effectively prepare for, respond to, and recover from a public health emergency caused by a natural or man-made disaster. The HCHD works closely at the local level with all Emergency Services, other County Departments, Health Care Partners and community agencies to:

Develop and integrate all-hazards public health response plans:

• Integrated Shelter Support
• Isolation and Quarantine
• Mass Fatality
• Mass Vaccination and Mass Prophylaxis
• Medical Surge
• Strategic National Stockpile Plan
• Educate the public and train the county response partners
• Conduct drills and exercises to test plans
• Recruit, train and deploy a Public Health Emergency Response Team
• Collaborate with our community partners

Even a small amount of preparation before an emergency can make a huge difference which can save lives. That is why the HCHD creates plans, practices them, and conducts training to better protect the residents of Holmes County.

Medical Surge: Medical Surge is the capability to rapidly expand the capacity of the existing healthcare system (long-term care facilities, community health agencies, acute care facilities, alternate care facilities and public health departments) in order to provide assessment and subsequent medical care.

Education and Trainings: Public Health personnel, in addition to medical and emergency personnel, are intensively trained to be alert, prepared, ready, and able to respond to these potential threats. Public Health Emergency Preparedness is in place and is constantly being strengthened to assure our ability to deal with emerging infectious diseases, as well as chemical attacks. The Public Health System (Federal, state and local) works jointly with numerous other organizations to prepare for such threats.

HCHD participates in local, regional, state, and federal training.

Your Role

Preparedness is the key to saving lives in an emergency. Even the smallest amount of preparation can make a huge difference. Being prepared has three steps: Being Informed, Making a Plan, and Making a Disaster Supply Kit.

FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO HELP YOUR FAMILY BE BETTER PREPARED:

1. Be sure your house address clearly visible from the street.
2. Post emergency numbers near every telephone.
3. Know how and when to dial 9-1-1 in an emergency.
4. Be sure all family members know the location of the first aid kit.
5. Be sure working flashlights are located on every level of the house.
6. Be sure smoke detectors are installed throughout the house and batteries are changed two times a year.
7. Keep health insurance and family’s medical needs information readily available.
8. Identify at least two escape routes and an outside meeting place.
9. Practice the plan!

Build a Basic Emergency Preparedness Kit on a Budget:

MAKE A DISASTER SUPPLY KIT

The HCHD recommends you have an Emergency Supply Kit: An emergency may interfere with normal supplies of food, water, heat, and other necessities. Keep a stock of emergency supplies on hand that will last for at least 3 days.

Update your kit regularly.

Contents of an Emergency Supply Kit can be found here.

When an emergency strikes, you may not have time to gather all the necessary supplies. Making an emergency kit ahead of time can make all the difference. An emergency supply kit should include items to help you survive an emergency for several days. Things you take for granted every day may become extremely valuable to you during a crisis.

MAKE A PLAN

There are well-developed and well-rehearsed emergency response plans at all levels of government. At the core of this effort is citizen preparedness. You and your family can plan, prepare, practice, and protect each other.

If a disaster strikes, relief workers may not be able to reach everyone immediately. You might be asked to evacuate your home or may need to “shelter-in-place.” It is important that you and your family know what to do during different types of emergencies. By planning and practicing, you and your family will be more prepared if an emergency occurs. Planning Guides and additional information are at: www.Ready.gov

Once you are informed about the potential emergencies in Holmes County, your next step is to make a plan to deal with each emergency. Remember that it is not necessary to make one plan for each kind of emergency. One or two well thought out plans can generally be effective during any situation.

Remember communications. During a crisis, you will want to know where your loved ones are, and if they are safe. Be sure to include several ways to contact the people who are important to you. An out of town family contact may be helpful if the utilities in your area are damaged.

Members of your household may have specific planning considerations such as:

1. A chronic medical condition that requires prescriptions? Be Proactive! Take a moment now and talk with your medical provider about having an extra supply stored at home.
2. A medical condition that requires medical equipment that needs electricity to operate?
3. Have you planned to provide for any medical conditions that requires treatment appointments outside of the home? Take a moment now and talk with your medical equipment supplier to learn of the backup power sources you may require such as batteries, generator, etc.
4. How about in-home care? Do you or a household member or neighbor require home health care service? Take a moment now and talk with your medical provider about how these needs would be met if an emergency prevented your access to these necessary services.

Essential medical items ALL households want to consider having:

1. Items for seniors, disabled persons, children, or anyone with serious allergies including special foods
2. Denture items
3. Extra eyeglasses
4. Hearing aid batteries
5. Several day supply of prescription and non-prescription medications, including insulin, that are used regularly
6. Inhalers and other essential equipment and backup power supply if these items require electricity or water

Additional Information for Special Needs

Here are some Emergency Preparedness Topics accessible to people who are deaf, blind, or have limited sight.

Visit the American Red Cross’s web site for people with disabilities for tips on how to survive a disaster. Visit the ready.gov website on information and videos for helping people with special needs.

Reporting an Emergency Event:

During Normal business hours:

By fax: 330-674-2528

By Phone:  330-674-5035

After Normal Business Hours:

By Phone:  330-674-5035 and you follow the prompts to report an emergency event. 

Please contact Jennifer McCoy (jmccoy@holmeshealth.org) if you have any questions regarding emergency preparedness or reporting an emergency.