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For the last three years, LCDPH has been prioritizing
preparedness planning efforts as a result of continued Federal Homeland
Security funding through the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) and the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH). LCDPH has
developed an all-hazards plan that details how the department will respond
to emergency events that may occur within Livingston County. LCDPH is part
of the Cities Readiness Initiative Planning Project. This planning effort
determines the infrastructure and processes necessary to provide medication
to the entire Livingston County population within 48 hours. It is
integrated with the Detroit metropolitan planning effort.
In order to recognize if a biological event might be occurring, LCDPH
utilizes the Michigan Disease Surveillance System. The web based system
allows reporting agencies (hospitals, laboratories, physicians, clinics) to
enter data quickly and accurately while allowing public health personnel to
accurately track and investigate diseases and disease symptoms
electronically. This greatly decreases the timeline from detection to
analysis so appropriate action can be taken.
As with any planning activity, training and exercising are essential. LCDPH
maintains a National Incident Management System compliant workforce by ensuring all personnel undertake appropriate
emergency preparedness training courses. LCDPH conducted a full scale mass dispensing
clinic exercise in April 2005, a tabletop pandemic influenza exercise in
September 2005, and will conduct a full scale mass triage exercise in July
2006.
LCDPH is very aware of today's risks and has taken the necessary actions to
prepare for responding should they become reality. LCDPH is fully committed
to public health emergency response planning within the existing Livingston
County Emergency Response System in order to help mitigate, be better
prepared, respond quickly and effectively, and recover fully from future
public health emergencies such as biological weapons incidents, pandemic
flu, and natural disasters.
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