Garrett County Health Department: Public Health Preparedness Site

In the event of a bioterrorism threat the health department and other county and state agencies are prepared to function in a unified command structure. Any response will require open communications and a coordinated effort from agencies like the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Garrett County Emergency Management, Police, Fire, and Rescue Departments throughout the county.

Disaster can strike quickly without any warning. You may be forced to evacuate your neighborhood or it may confine you to your home. What would you do if basic services such as water, electricity, gas or your telephone were cut off? Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone right away. Families can-and-do cope with a disaster by preparing in advance and working as a team.

The following web sites can assist you to being prepared before disaster strikes:

• Create your family disaster plan: www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/familyplan.html
• Assembling a disaster supply kit: www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/supplies.html
• Assembling a workplace disaster supply kit: www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/workkit.html
• Children and disaster: www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/forchildren.html
• Disaster preparedness for people with disabilities: www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/disability.html
• Pets and disaster: www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/animalsafety.html
• Other preparedness materials are available on the following web sites:
• FEMA www.fema.gov
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.bt.cdc.gov

Education & Training

• State of Maryland Laboratories Administration
  www.dhmh.state.md.us/labs/
• Department of Health & Mental Hygiene Bioterrorism Information & Training
  bioterrorism.dhmh.state.md.us/