Public Health Preparedness
Introduction
Protecting our community’s health in times of crisis is our top priority. Durham County's Public Health Emergency Preparedness program is designed to protect the health of our residents by preparing for and responding to all public health hazards, whether they are natural, accidental, or intentional. We focus on creating and maintaining emergency plans, conducting regular training, and collaborating with local partners to ensure readiness.
Our program is built on six key domains:
Community Resilience
Community resilience is the foundation of our preparedness efforts. By working together with residents, organizations, and businesses, we can build a stronger community that can withstand and recover from public health emergencies. Here are some things you can do to increase your resilience:
Be Prepared for an Emergency!
- Stay informed by signing up for AlertDurham
- Be proactive by downloading the Federal Emergency Management Agency app (available on Android and iOS
- Be aware of weather hazards, buy a NOAA Weather Radio.
- Know your alerts and warnings
- You are the help until help arrives! Learn first aid and other safety skills
- Understand hazards and risks in our area.
- Make a plan for your household.
- Don’t forget to plan for special needs in your home: children, people who require medications, pets, etc.
- Create or update your emergency kit.
- Create an emergency communications plan.
Incident Management
Effective coordination is essential during emergencies. Our incident management approach ensures that all responding agencies work together under a unified command system. This includes activating emergency operations centers (EOCs) and utilizing the National Incident Management System (NIMS) to streamline communication, resource allocation, and decision-making during emergencies.
Information Management
Timely and accurate information is critical during a public health emergency. Our information management system allows for the collection, sharing, and dissemination of crucial data to public health agencies, healthcare providers, and the public. This ensures informed decision-making and keeps the community updated with reliable and actionable information during an emergency.
Countermeasures and Mitigation
Our preparedness efforts include plans for deploying medical countermeasures, such as vaccines and medications, to protect public health. This also involves identifying strategies to mitigate the impact of emergencies, such as implementing non-pharmaceutical interventions like social distancing during disease outbreaks.
Surge Management
During large-scale emergencies, healthcare facilities may face a surge in demand for services. Surge management ensures that hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare providers are equipped to handle increased patient loads. This includes expanding healthcare capacity and mobilizing additional resources, such as medical personnel and equipment, to meet the community's needs.
Biosurveillance
Biosurveillance is the continuous monitoring of health data to detect and respond to emerging health threats. Through advanced surveillance systems, we track disease outbreaks and other health-related incidents in real time, allowing for rapid intervention and containment of threats before they spread.
Our Public Health Emergency Preparedness program is dedicated to safeguarding the health and well-being of all Durham County residents. By working together, we can build a more resilient community and ensure that we are prepared to face any public health challenge.
Get Additional Information
Additional Resources
- Durham County Emergency Management
- NC Emergency Management
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
- NC PHP&R
For more information or to get involved in our preparedness efforts, please contact us at phpreparedness@dconc.gov.
Contact Information
Environmental Health Division
Durham County Department of Public Health
414 East Main Street
Durham, NC 27701