Emergency Preparedness & Response (EP&R)

The EP&R Program is responsible for preparing the health district to respond to any emergency that may impact public health. This is accomplished through an all-hazards approach to emergency planning. In addition to preparing the health district, the EP&R Program assists and collaborates with local jurisdictions, emergency medical services, fire services, law enforcement and other local services. The EP&R Program also works with Southside Community Hospital, Piedmont Geriatric Hospital, Crossroads Community Services, American Red Cross, local Departments of Social Services, and other local, regional, and state partners.

Preparedness activities include:

• All-hazards emergency planning
• Development of emergency response policies and procedures
• Collaboration with other local, regional, and state emergency response partners
• Conducting and participating in emergency response exercises
• Conducting emergency response training with local agencies
• Conducting emergency preparedness training activities for the public
• Development of a cadre of volunteers to be called upon during a public health emergency

Response activities include:

• Dispensing Site operations, including antibiotics and vaccinations
• Surveillance and investigation of communicable diseases
• Providing support to local jurisdictions during local emergency situations

If you are interested in volunteer opportunities with the Piedmont Health District, please contact Kent Emerson, District Emergency Planner, or visit the Virginia Medical Reserve Corps website http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/MRC/index.asp.

Volunteers could include doctors, nurses, dentists, veterinarians, mental health professionals, funeral directors, and other allied health professionals. There are also other volunteer opportunities for those without a previous health background.

If you are interested in public health or emergency management training, or if you are interested in having a speaker for your group, please contact Kent Emerson, District Emergency Planner.

Please visit the Virginia Department of Health Emergency Preparedness and Response website at http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/EPR/index.asp for additional information.

EP&R Contacts

• Kent Emerson, PEM
  District Emergency Planner
  434-392-3984 x.101 or kent.emerson@vdh.virginia.gov

Upcoming Training Activities

Training from Virginia Department of Emergency Management
http://www.vaemergency.com/train/calendar.cfm

ComNET and Live Response monthly webcasts
St. Petersburg College, National Terrorism Preparedness Institute
http://terrorism.spcollege.edu

CDC Public Health Training Network webcasts
http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/phtn/default.asp

Alabama Public Health Training Network webcasts
http://www.adph.org/ALPHTN/

University at Albany, School of Public Health,
Center for Public Health Preparedness webcasts and online courses
http://www.ualbanycphp.org/

FEMA Independent Study Program, Emergency Management Institute online courses
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/crslist.asp

Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health,
National Center for Disaster Preparedness online courses
http://www.ncdp.mailman.columbia.edu/training.htm

New York New Jersey Public Health Training Center online courses
http://www.nynj-phtc.org/orientation/

North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness online courses
http://www.sph.unc.edu/nccphp/training/training_list/

Twin Cities Metro Advanced Practice Center online courses
http://www.umncphp.umn.edu/preparedness/site/index.htm

Yale New Haven Health online courses
http://ynhhs.emergencyeducation.org/descriptions.asp

University of Minnesota, Center for Public Health Preparedness
http://www.sph.umn.edu/umncphp/phet.html

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