Planning for Public Health Emergencies

The El Dorado County Health & Human Services Department, Public Health Division partners with hospitals, healthcare providers, and agencies, such as the Environmental Management Department, to develop plans for collaboratively responding during a local public health emergency.

We also work closely with the El Dorado County Office of Emergency Services (OES), which has a Countywide Disaster Plan. During a local disaster or emergency, OES organizes a response and calls on partnering agencies to participate in that response.

Health Department emergency response activities:

• Investigate and control communicable disease outbreaks.
• Manage an epidemic or pandemic.
• Organize Points of Dispensing (POD) sites to provide preventive medications and vaccines to residents.
• Request, manage and distribute materials from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS).
• Perform rapid health needs assessments and give recommendations to decision makers.
• Provide consultation and education to health care providers, emergency responders and the public on issues related to communicable disease, and other health issues.