Emergency Planning and Preparedness

About Pandemics

A pandemic is a disease outbreak that has spread worldwide. The number of people affected by a pandemic depends upon how severe the pandemic is. Pandemics are generally classified by severity level: mild, moderate, or severe.

About Influenza Pandemics

Influenza pandemic (pandemic flu) occurs when a new type of influenza (flu) virus emerges, affecting the health and lives of many people. As a serious respiratory illness, pandemic flu spreads quickly from person to person because people have not been exposed to the new flu strain. Once exposed, Individuals may have little or no bodily resistance for fighting off the new, contagious type of flu. Historical examples of pandemic flu include the “Spanish flu” of 1918, “Asian flu” of 1957, and “Hong Kong flu” of 1968, and, currently, the 2009 H1N1 flu.

H1N1 (Swine Flu) and H5N1 (Avian Flu) are both types of flu viruses in circulation today.

About H1N1 (Swine Flu)

H1N1 is a new type of contagious, influenza virus that affected the health of many people in the United States and worldwide, emerging in the spring of 2009. Because of its ability to spread quickly from one person to another, H1N1 was declared a pandemic (Spring 2009 – August 2010). A standard characteristic of a pandemic is that it makes many people sick, attacking individuals’ upper respiratory system. H1N1 did affect a lot of people. Despite the large numbers of people who were affected, however, this particular pandemic is generally considered a mild pandemic because of lower rates of illness and death. Nevertheless, future pandemics have the possibility of being much more severe. More information on H1N1 can be accessed by clicking on the link below.

H1N1 – Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC): http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm
About H5N1 (Avian “Bird” Flu)

H5N1 is another type of influenza virus, naturally occurring among birds. Currently, H5N1 is more widespread among bird populations, especially in parts of Asia and some areas of Africa and Europe. In instances where people are exposed to this type of avian flu, it causes death in over 50% of human cases. Despite this high fatality rate, H5N1 does not yet exhibit an ability to spread quickly from person to person. Most of H5N1 human cases result from direct exposure from H5N1-infected birds. Health officials continue to monitor H5N1closely. More information on H5N1 can be accessed below.

H5N1 – CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/index.htm
H5N1 – IDPH: http://www.idph.state.il.us/avianflu.htm

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

The CDC’s Emergency Preparedness and Response website contains a variety of additional public health emergency information. Access this site by clicking here.

Specific preparedness topics within CDC’s Emergency Preparedness and Response website are:

Recent Outbreaks and Illnesses
Natural Disasters/Severe Weather
Bioterrorism
Chemical Emergencies
Radiation Emergencies
Mass Casualties
Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)

IDPH’s Emergency Preparedness website also provides a variety of public health emergency information. Access this site by clicking here.

Specific topics within the IDPH Emergency Preparedness website are:

Biological Agents
Chemical Emergencies

Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States. Flooding can occur in all counties and states. Floods are the number one natural disaster killer nationwide! The majority of these deaths are from drowning. Both Franklin and Williamson counties are prone to floods as a result of the many lakes, rivers, streams and other waterways within our borders.

Not all floods are alike. The most dangerous of floods is a “flash flood.” Flash floods can occur quickly, with little or no public warning. More information on flash floods can be found by clicking on the link below:

Despite the myth that earthquakes in the U.S. are mainly a West Coast disaster, earthquakes are common to Franklin and Williamson County. Earthquakes occur frequently across the world, including the southern Illinois area, although they are often too small to be felt. Earthquakes are caused by the moving and shifting of the Earth’s layered plates. The New Madrid and Wabash Valley fault lines are definitely capable of creating massive, damaging earthquakes. While recent local earthquake activity has been minor, the potential always exists for a high magnitude earthquake to strike.

People with functional and access needs can benefit from emergency preparedness activities. Recent disasters such as the 9/11 World Trade Center attack and Hurricane Katrina both herald success stories about the ability of people with functional and access needs to respond effectively in an emergency. Emergency planning, preparing, and practicing of established emergency plans were in many instances key factors in overcoming extreme, hazardous conditions. Unfortunately, both disasters also highlight the dire consequences resulting from a lack of preparedness

PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS

Businesses and Communities organizations through education, training and volunteer services have the ability to make each entity safer, stronger, and better prepared in the event of a threat of terrorism, crime, public health issues and disasters of all kinds. Franklin Williamson Bi-County Health Department (FWBCHD) hosts and plan meetings that provide emergency preparedness information for local businesses and community members. Businesses and communities will learn how to prepare and respond to public health emergencies such as:

he general emergency preparedness website links listed in this section are provided to supplement public health-related emergency preparedness information. Click on any of the links below to access local, state, federal and other agency sources of emergency preparedness information.

Local

Franklin County Emergency Management Agency (FC EMA): http://www.franklincountyema.com/
Williamson County Emergency Management Agency (WC EMA): http://wcema.com/
State

Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA): http://www.state.il.us/iema/
Ready Illinois: http://www.ready.illinois.gov/
Federal

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): http://www.fema.gov/
US Department of Homeland Security (DHS): http://www.dhs.gov/index.shtm
Other Agencies

American Red Cross (ARC): http://www.redcross.org/
American Academy of Pediatrics (children and disasters): http://www.aap.org/disasters/index.cfm

FWBCHD needs volunteers. Volunteers may help in many different ways, e.g., health department projects, annual community events (such as seasonal flu clinics), and/or assisting the agency during public health emergencies. If you have a desire to help people in your community, a willingness to learn, and want to be involved in a program that helps people in our area, you might consider volunteering with us.

What types of volunteers are needed?

We seek volunteers with medical and non-medical backgrounds.

Will I have opportunities to get additional training?

Yes. All volunteers are asked to attend orientation training. Additional training is offered, at various times, annually. Volunteers are encouraged to participate in ongoing training workshops.

How much time is required of FWBCHD public health volunteers?

Our volunteer program has lots of flexibility. The amount of time you volunteer depends upon several factors: your level of interest, the amount of time you have available, and the number and types of FWBCHD volunteer projects /events. There are no minimal time requirements asked of our volunteers.

Interested in learning more about FWBCHD’s volunteer program?

It’s easy to learn more. FWBCHD periodically holds free volunteer information meetings that provide additional information on our volunteer program. These informal meetings provide general information about FWBCHD’s volunteer program and gives participants opportunities to ask questions. Volunteer Information meetings are open to the public. There’s no obligation by attending and absolutely no pressure to join.

To sign-up for an upcoming FWBCHD volunteer information meeting, contact the Director of Emergency Preparedness via email at preparedness@bicountyhealth.org or by phone, 618-993-8111, ext. 212.

Volunteer Application

Click here to review and/or print FWBCHD’s volunteer application.