WHAT IS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS?
The mission of VDH’s Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) is to effectively respond to any emergency impacting public health through preparation, collaboration, education, and rapid intervention. WTHD Emergency Preparedness and Response involves state, regional, and local emergency response partners working together to enhance readiness response for all hazards, including bioterrorism, infectious disease outbreaks, and other public health emergencies. Some response measures include:
- Hazard mitigation planning
- Mass prophylaxis dispensing to limit disease transmission
- Serving as the district liaison for all-hazard emergency preparedness activities
CONTACT
Brittany Powell, MPH
Public Health Emergency Coordinator
brittany.powell@vdh.virginia.gov
757.514.4766
COVID-19 Response
The Emergency Preparedness and Response team for the Western Tidewater Health District has been on the forefront of the response efforts to the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, the Western Tidewater has conducted well over 25,000 tests, and is nearing nearly 15% of the total population for the district. Below are pictures documenting just a few of the monumental efforts that the EP&R team have accomplished during the first few months of the pandemic.
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The EP&R team has now moved on to the monumental task of vaccinating the residents of the Western Tidewater Health District. As of mid-January, WTHD staff and MRC volunteers have vaccinated 1,100 people. We are steadily pushing towards our goal of vaccinating 60% of the total population of the District (in conjunction with other providers). Check out our vaccine information page for more information.
LINKS:
Western Tidewater Health District Community Outreach Request Link
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Emergency Preparedness and Response
Virginia Department of Health, Emergency Preparedness