Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response (OEPR)

Emergency Preparedness Programs

Truck with Medicine

STRATEGIC NATIONAL STOCKPILE (SNS) PROGRAM represents the large quantities of medicine and medical supplies needed to protect the residents of Clayton County in the event of a public health emergency (such as terrorist attack, flu outbreak, earthquake, etc) severe enough to cause local supplies to run out. Once federal and local authorities agree that the SNS is needed, medicines will be delivered to our community within 12 hours.

What you should know about the medicines in the SNS?

  • The medicines in the SNS are FREE to everyone
  • There will be enough medicine to protect everyone and
  • The Clayton County Board of Health Emergency Preparedness Office is prepared to provide medicine and supplies to everyone in the county that needs it

SNS program is part of a nationwide preparedness training and education program for state and local health care providers, first responders, and governments. The program alerts officials to the important issues they must plan for in order to receive, secure and distribute SNS assets.

To learn more about the Strategic National Stockpile, visit www.bt.cdc.gov/stockpile

SNS Point of Dispensing

CITIES READINESS INITIATIVE (CRI) PROGRAM represents a program of the Clayton County Board of Health, Emergency Preparedness Office funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This main focus of this program is to prepare the cities in Clayton County (Jonesboro, Forest Park, Riverdale, Lake City, and Morrow) to effectively respond to a large-scale bioterrorism event by dispensing antibiotics to the entire population within 48 hours of the decision to do so. This program is necessary to enhance preparedness of all levels of government and to provide a consistent nationwide approach to prepare for, respond to, and recover from, a large scale public health emergency. Past events have taught us that the risk of terrorism, including bioterrorism, being perpetrated against Americans is real. The ability to quickly deliver countermeasures to a large population is a main goal of public health. Clayton County was selected to participate in this federally funded program based on the population, geographical location, and potential vulnerabilities to a bioterrorism threat.

Swine Flu nunsPANDEMIC INFLUENZA PROGRAM exists mainly to provide awareness to the citizens of Clayton County relating to the pandemic influenza. The Emergency Preparedness staff routinely visits churches, civic organizations, daycare centers, and others, in an effort to provide awareness and education about the pandemic influenza.

Seasonal influenza viruses are a public health problem every year and are spread easily from person to person. Avian influenza (H5N1) viruses (or bird flu) are devastating global outbreaks from poultry that cause severe but rare human infections; however the H5N1 virus does not spread easily from person to person. Pandemic influenza viruses appear in the human population periodically and the H5N1 is a likely candidate, but is not a pandemic virus yet.

To learn more about pandemic influenza, visit www.pandemicflu.gov

Precautionary measures to lessen your chances of getting the flu include:

Sneeze

  • Keep away (at least 3 feet) from people who have a cold or flu! If you are sick, stay away from others.
  • Wash your hands! Also remember to avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with your hands.
  • If you are sick, act responsibly! Stay home from work, school or other outings. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, then throw the tissue away.
  • Have over-the-counter medications for flu symptoms available at home.
  • Keep alcohol-based hand sanitizers (Purell, Microsan) available for use when soap and water are not available.
  • Get a yearly flu shot! It’s the best way to protect yourself from seasonal flu.

Flu shots are available at the Clayton County Board of Health. Click here for more information.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COALITIONS

In an effort to partner with the community to make Clayton County more resilient to potential disasters, the Clayton County Board of Health has established Emergency Preparedness Coalitions (download flier):
                                                           Healthcare
                                           Vulnerable Populations and Shelters
                                                        Business-Public
                                                   Disaster Mental Health


When large-scale disasters strike, it is important that healthcare and mental healthcare providers, shelters, businesses, and public entities work with each other to maintain services and restore calm. By joining an Emergency Preparedness Coalition, you and/or your organization can help our community by:

  • Building a trusted, nonpartisan coalition focused on the greater good of the community.
  • Helping our community become more resilient by providing expertise, services, and/or resources during times of need.
  • Creating opportunities for your employees to learn about emergency preparedness.
  • Helping to improve local emergency response plans by identifying resources or services that your organization may be able to provide during times of emergencies.


To learn more about our Emergency Preparedness Coalitions or to sign up your organization, contact Doug Dugger, Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response, at (678) 610-7424 or (678) 759-9679 or email: duggerf@dhr.state.ga.us.

 

Clayton County Board of Health
Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response
1117 Battlecreek Road, Jonesboro, GA 30236
Phone: (678) 610-7467 Fax: (770) 603-4875
E-mail: duggerf@dhr.state.ga.us