Emergency Preparedness

Public Health Preparedness Program

Mission: To prepare and respond to natural and man-made public health emergencies including, but not limited to:

severe weather conditions
bioterrorism
disease outbreaks
radiological/nuclear hazards

Medical Reserve Corps-Volunteer or Request Volunteers

flood, health worker in protective equipment, lightening, snowstorm

Each month HCHD will bring you information and resources about different hazards and how to be prepared to respond.

Hazard of the Month: Home Safety & Personal Preparedness

National Preparedness Month was initiated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in 2004 to promote the importance of being prepared for large-scale emergencies. September was chosen due to the U.S. Government emphasizing the importance of personal survival measures following the 9/11 attack in 2001. Preparedness begins with understanding your local hazards. A hazard is any potential source of harm or difficulty and may be natural or human-made. View the tabs below to learn how to prepare for hazards.

Get Informed:

Use the Community Hazard Handbook to understand the Howard County threats
Follow Howard County Office of Emergency Management on Facebook & Twitter
Follow Howard County Health Department on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram

Put a Plan Together - Consider Your Unique Needs & Make a Disaster Supplies Kit:

Discuss questions below with your family and friends

How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings?
- What is my shelter plan?
- What is my evacuation route?
- What is my family/household communication plan?
- Do I need to update my emergency preparedness kit?
- What poisons exist in my home? Poison prevention tips here. Below is a list of household items that can be poisonous when mishandled:
  - Medicines (both prescription and over-the-counter)
  - Psychoactive drugs (including alcohol and nicotine products)
  - Cleaning supplies
  - Lawn care products
  - Personal care products
  - Oils and lubricants
  - School supplies
  - Button batteries
  - Houseplants
  - Food
  - Poison Help Hotline is 1-800-222-1222
- How to emphasize safety in the home?
  - Install carbon monoxide detectors
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To learn more about carbon monoxide detectors, contact the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services at 410-313-2016

Properly store hazardous chemicals
Test for other potentially harmful gasses, like radon. Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has Radon Test Kits available for anyone who is looking to test their home for Radon. Complete the form HERE to receive your test while supplies last.

Consider your unique needs.
- All ages of members within your household
- Responsibilities for assisting others (Preparedness Pals Brochure English & Spanish & Korean)
- Locations frequented
- Dietary needs
- Medical needs including prescriptions and equipment
- Disabilities or access and functional needs including devices and equipment
- Languages spoken
- Cultural and religious considerations
- Pets or service animals

Video: Be Ready: Disaster Preparedness for Families with Children and Youth With Disabilities and Medical Needs

Take Action and Prepare - 12 Ways to Prepare Before a Disaster Occurs

Fill out a Family Emergency Plan & Safeguard Critical Documents and Valuables:

Collect Information
- Household information - phone numbers and email addresses for everyone
- School, Childcare, Caregiver, and Workplace
- Out-of-town contact
- Emergency meeting place
- Other important numbers and information - emergency services, utilities service providers, medical providers, veterinarians, insurance companies

2. Share the information with everyone involved

3. Practice the plan

Video: Emergency Preparedness – How Ready Are you, Really? https://youtu.be/hhQqujnxmxk

Consider storing paper copies of important documents at home in a fireproof and waterproof box or safe, or in a bank safe deposit box.
Store electronic copies in a password-protected format on a removable flash or external hard drive in a fireproof and waterproof box or safe, or consider using a cloud-based service.
Move valuable items currently stored in a basement to a higher location and put them in fire/waterproof containers to avoid damage.

Be Involved:

Attend Howard County’s quarterly Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) Meetings.
Become a Howard County Medical Reserves Corps Volunteer: email or call 410-313- 6361
Sign-up for Hands-Only CPR and Stop the Bleed Training: email outreach@hcdfrs.org or call 410-313-2016
Contact Office of Emergency Management (OEM) outreach team at 410-313-6030 or by visiting OEM’s website.
Contact 1-800-557-2366 (1-800- 55RADON) if you have radon questions
To learn more about carbon monoxide detectors, contact the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services at 410-313-2016
Poison Help Hotline is 1-800-222-1222

Be Prepared

Let's Get Started

General Preparedness Information

Extreme Hot and Cold Weather Conditions

Hurricanes, Storms and Floods

Influenza (Flu)

Zika Resources

Bioterrorism Agents & Diseases

Additional Resources

Heat/Sun Safety Tips

Look Before You Lock hot car infographic

Extreme heat can be dangerous after long periods of exposure, if proper precautions are not taken.

To protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers posed by prolonged sun and heat exposure, follow the below tips:

NEVER leave children or pets unattended in a parked car or other hot environment.
If you must be outside in the heat, wear light-colored, lightweight, loose-fitting clothing, a hat and sunscreen.
Stay hydrated. Drink water and caffeine-free liquids. Alcoholic beverages do not keep you hydrated.
Take frequent rest breaks in air-conditioned or shaded areas if you must work or exercise outdoors. If possible, stay out of the sun during the middle of the day.
Know the signs of heat-related illness, including: extreme weakness, muscle cramps, nausea, headache, vomiting, fainting, dry/red skin.
Check regularly on infants, elderly, family and neighbors with health conditions as they are more vulnerable to heat-related illness.
If planning a trip to the lake/beach/pool to cool off, be sure to review swim and water safety guidelines with your family and children

Additional Resources about Heat/Sun Safety:

Places to cool off on a hot day (contact location to verify operating hours before visiting)

Anyone in need of shelter or other assistance should call the Grassroots hotline at 410-531-6677 or visit grassrootscrisis.org.

Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps

How can YOU help in an emergency?
Become a Howard County Medical Reserve Corps Volunteer

The Howard County Medical Reserve Corps (HCMRC) Program is volunteer organization created in July 2002. Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers can be medical and public health professionals or community members with no healthcare background.

This organization prepares for and responds to extreme weather conditions, such as hurricanes, blizzards, and floods, as well as other emergencies affecting public health, such as disease outbreaks.

The MRC also plans community health activities that promote healthy habits.

For more information or questions, contact Randell Young at 410-313-7237 or via email.

Request MRC Volunteers for your organization's public health event

Howard County MRC volunteers may be able to assist your organization with an upcoming event. Complete this request form to let us know what your needs are and you will receive a response within 72 hours from our team with the next steps. Submissions must be completed at least 2 weeks before the event. Questions should be emailed to hocomrc@howardcountymd.gov.

Criteria to qualify for MRC assistance:

The requesting agency provides a service which promotes or supports public health initiatives in Howard County.
The event for which assistance is being sought does not conflict with other planned HCMRC activities.
The requesting agency’s mission may not conflict with the mission of the HCHD, or the HC MRC.

Examples of Public Health Initiatives: