Emergency Preparedness and
Response Programs

The Virginia Department of Health is providing an effective and rapid response to the health and medical needs of the citizens of Virginia during emergencies through ambitious collaboration, planning, training and continual testing and enhancement of Virginia’s public health response system. Virginia is ranked among the top six states in the country for readiness to respond to bioterrorism and other public health emergencies according to a recent study from the national non-profit organization Trust for America’s Health.

Planning, Assessment, Exercises
Emergency Preparedness and Response Programs (EPR) has developed a family of response plans to address manmade and naturally occurring public health threats in collaboration with state, federal and private partners, as well as the public. These include Biohazard Detection System, Surge Capacity, Pandemic Flu, and Hurricane Plans. Virginia has taken the lead on the Cities Readiness Initiative for the National Capital Region. VDH received a top rating from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for its Strategic National Stockpile receipt, management and distribution plan.

VDH participated in a federal counter-terrorism exercise, Determined Promise 2004, which tested response capabilities to explosive and chemical events. More than 90 percent of local health districts have tested their local response plans as well as participating in these statewide exercises. Other events, including hurricanes, floods and outbreaks of communicable disease, provided real life opportunities to demonstrate improved capabilities to respond.

Surveillance and Outbreak Investigation
Surveillance and epidemiology efforts, managed by the Division of Surveillance and Investigation, are focused on strengthening infrastructure for disease detection and response. Epidemiologists hired at the district, regional, and central offices are identifying and responding promptly to clusters of disease throughout the Commonwealth.

In addition, preparations are ongoing to implement automated early detection systems to rapidly identify diseases traditionally reported to the health department as well as to identify trends and patterns of certain disease syndromes, termed syndromic surveillance.

Education and Training
Education and training activities have been extensive in their content and scope, and have demonstrated partnership with other agencies, educational institutions and emergency response communities. A broad range of courses have been provided to large numbers of emergency responders within and outside the health department. VDH has played a leadership role in planning emergency response training for all state agencies, including developing an emergency response training program for all state employees. EPR has also developed and distributed brochures on all terrorism-linked biologic, chemical and radiologic agents for emergency responders and health care providers.

Health Alert Network/Communications
VDH’s Office of Information Management has led the effort for Virginia to acquire a Web-based, statewide emergency alerting/communication system (SWAN - Statewide Alert Network) to be used for dissemination of emergency medical information to public and private health care providers as well as state agencies during natural or manmade disasters. VDH has been instrumental in the procurement of systems that assure maintenance of essential communications during emergencies, including satellite phones, and 800 MHz radios.

Public Information/Risk Communications
To help citizens prepare for emergencies that may impact their health, VDH distributed a public health emergency preparedness information wallet card. The card contains useful emergency preparedness tips and an area to record personal health information for each family member. Virginia is the first state to produce and distribute such a tool.