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: Food Safety

Emergency events may cause concern about food. Is my food safe? What am I going to eat? Where might I get food during the emergency? Being prepared will help keep our food safe before, during, and after emergencies, such as thunderstorms, floods, or winter weather.

What do I need to know? How do I prepare?

Make an emergency food supply kit.

Consider the following things when putting together your emergency food supplies:

Stock canned foods, dry mixes and other staples that do not require refrigeration, cooking, water or special preparation. Be sure to include a manual can opener and eating utensils.
Store at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food.
Choose foods your family will eat.
Remember any special dietary needs.

The Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) and Howard County Health Department Emergency Preparedness suggest the following when preparing your emergency food supply kit. You may already have some of these in your home.

Ready-to-eat canned meat, fruits, vegetables and a can opener
Protein or fruit bars
Dry cereal or granola
Peanut butter
Dried fruit
Canned juices
Non-perishable pasteurized milk
High-energy foods
Food for infants
Comfort/stress foods

More information, visit Ready.gov/food

Preparing Food

Preparing food properly can be the difference between a delicious meal and getting food related illness. Handwashing, separating foods, cooking at the proper temperatures, and refrigerating and reheating food correctly is essential to avoid getting sick. The USDA and CDC offer guidance on handling food safely. However, if you think you are experiencing severe food poisoning, make sure to contact your doctor.

Food Poisoning

If you want to report an issue with a restaurant in Howard County click Howard County Health Department Food Protection Program and/or call 410-313-1772 to find the Health Related Issues Complaint Form.

Identify Food Assistance and Nutrition Education Programs

Howard County Resource Guide – Food Assistance and Nutrition Education Programs

USDA Food and Nutrition Service

Resources

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Suggested Emergency Food Supplies, Food Safety, & Managing Food without Power
CDC Food and Water Needs: Preparing for a Disaster or Emergency
USDA Food Safety Emergency Response Pocket Guide. Para leerlo en español seleccione aquí.

Become a Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Volunteer to help the Howard County Health Department (HCHD) increase existing health and medical staffing for clinics and other activities within the HCHD as well as, emergency or disaster-regardless of cause. MRC Volunteers are offered many free training courses related to emergency preparedness.

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

Cold Weather Safety Tips

Colder weather often yields temperatures that can be dangerous after long periods of exposure, if proper precautions are not taken. Some of the dangers associated with winter weather include hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning and injuries from heat sources.

Frostbite is the freezing and subsequent destruction of body tissue. The areas most likely to freeze are toes, fingers, ears, cheeks and the tip of the nose.

To protect yourself and your family in cold weather follow the below tips:

Cover your head.
Wear several layers of lightweight, loose-fitting clothing. The air between layers acts as insulation to keep you warmer
Wear mittens rather than fingered gloves. The close contact of fingers helps keep your hands warm.
Wear warm leg coverings and heavy socks, or two pairs of lightweight socks.
Be alert to other common winter hazards, such as carbon monoxide (CO) and injuries from heat sources. CO is produced by small gasoline engines, stoves, generators, lanterns and gas ranges, or by burning charcoal and wood. This colorless, odorless gas can cause severe illness and death. Go here for CO poisoning prevention tips.
Equip your vehicles with items such as heavy blankets, water, nonperishable food, a flashlight and a snow shovel. More information about cold weather.

Additional Resources about Cold Weather Safety:

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: