Public Health Preparedness describes the ability of local health departments to respond to emergencies.

East Texas Medical Center Quitman employees wear personal protective equipment to decontaminate patients in a hospital preparedness drill in August, 2006

Since the terrorist events of 2001, Public Health Preparedness has been expanded to include emergency response plans for a bioterrorism event or a natural or man-made disaster. With fears ranging from Anthrax to Smallpox to the looming possibility of a bird flu pandemic, to tracking the spread of infectious diseases, local and regional public health services are exceptionally important.

The Northeast Texas Public Health District, Public Health Preparedness Division conducts exercises, trains staff and recruits and trains volunteers to respond to emergencies. The Public Health Preparedness Division works with multiple agencies such as law enforcement, the medical community, fire departments, Offices of Emergency Management, Emergency Medical Services and other city, county and state officials to ensure readiness to respond.

Our Public Health Preparedness Division has improved coordination and cooperation between agencies on both a local and regional level. Access to resources, improved communications, improved local emergency response and access to education and training have strengthened our community-wide emergency response capabilities.

Public Health Preparedness Staff and community volunteers in Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training