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Emergency Preparedness

What To Expect From CRI

Local Government Responds

A local jurisdiction will attempt to manage a public health emergency by first utilizing local resources. If local resources are or are believed to become insufficient, then a request is made for the deployment of state assets.

State Government Responds

State government will respond by providing additional resources to assist in the management of the public health emergency. These may include antibiotics, equipment, medical supplies, and other resources as requested. If state resources are or are believed to become insufficient, then a request is made for the deployment of federal assets.

Strategic National Stockpile

Federal assets to manage a public health emergency are coordinated through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) program is managed by the CDC and is the primary federal asset to address a public health emergency. The SNS are pre-positioned pharmaceutical sites located throughout the United States. Distribution from the sites can reach any location in the United States or its territories within 12 hours of the order to deploy.

Materials from the SNS are shipped to a Receiving, Staging, and Storage (RSS) facility for distribution. The pharmaceutical stockpile is broken down at the state RSS for distribution to individual counties. The county then distributes to individual Points Of Distribution (PODS).

Notification Of The Public

Community officials will use available media outlets to inform the public of all the relevant information pertaining to the public health emergency.

PODS Are Prepared For 3 Types Of Citizens

The healthy members of the community will be quickly given vaccines or medications.
Citizens with pre-existing conditions or complications will have their medical condition assessed. Their medication dosages will be adjusted and quickly administered.
Those who are already sick or exhibiting symptoms will be identified prior to entering the POD and will be taken directly to a treatment center.

What To Expect When Visiting A POD

A greeter is found at the front entrance to a POD. The primary responsibility of the greeter is to greet and provide direction to incoming citizens. Every effort will be made to keep families together throughout the POD process.

The triage staff will ask questions and gather information from incoming clients. Citizens who are experiencing acute illness or symptoms need to be referred away from the POD and to a treatment center where they can receive medical attention.

Citizens will be provided with any forms they need to complete in order to receive vaccinations or medications.

Citizens wil also receive education upon entering the POD. The education may include videos or handouts designed to educate the client about the POD process. Individuals will be educated in regard to the public health threat that created the need for the POD to be activiated.

Citizens will be screened and assessed for any special needs they may have.

The intake paperwork distributed to citizens upon arriving at a POD will be reviewed upon completion. Any potential contraindications will be double checked and consent forms will be checked to for proper signatures.

Dispensing is where the citizen receives their vaccinations and/or medications.

Exit education will be provided abou the vaccinations or medications citizens have received including directions on taking the medication, potential side effects, and other information.