In recognition of September’s National Preparedness Month, the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is spotlighting its Emergency Preparedness and Response Service (EPRS) and its role in coordinating public health and medical system emergency response planning.

The EPRS administers a Public Health Emergency Preparedness grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Hospital Preparedness Program grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service (HHS). The office also oversees supplemental grants for emergency response to public health threats such as Ebola in 2014 and Zika virus in 2016.

EPRS works year-round with health care coalitions across Oklahoma to plan and prepare for disasters. This includes conducting and participating in regular drills.

During emergency activations, the EPRS coordinates with and provides information to medical partners and local health departments to re-establish services such as home health, dialysis treatment and nursing home care.

“The goal of any response is to get the medical system back to normal operations as quickly as possible and ensure the health and medical needs of all Oklahomans are met,” said OSDH Emergency Manager Darrell Eberly.

To prepare for public health emergencies such as an infectious disease response, the partners with the CDC to administer the state’s Strategic National Stockpile, which was established to ensure access to large amounts of medication and equipment in the event of a large-scale disaster. At the state level, planning is focused on receiving and distributing supplies with the assistance of other state agencies. Local county health departments then work with community partners to prepare for mass dispensing of medication.

Organizations help people with disabilities, senior citizens and children. OSDH staff work closely with partners providing emergency shelters.

Another program coordinated by the OSDH is the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps (OKMRC), a statewide system comprised of local units and state specialty teams to respond during emergencies and disasters.  There are more than 5,500 volunteers registered across the state.

In effort to prepare Oklahomans for any disaster, the OSDH encourages the public to have an emergency kit with enough food, water and medical supplies to sustain their family and pets for three days. It is important for families to have a plan for evacuation, and also for communication in the event cell service is not available.