Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Program

We help keep residents safe and protect vulnerable populations before, during, and after public health emergencies. Public health emergencies may be natural or manmade incidents that threaten or create risk to the health of the public.

Examples of emergencies we prepare for:

Localized and pandemic infectious disease outbreaks
Severe weather incidents
Biological terrorist threats and emergencies
Mass casualty and fatality incidents

More information about different types of public health emergencies.

Examples of how we respond to public health emergencies:

Manage and coordinate the emergency response framework
Develop and maintain public health emergency plans and procedures, such as the Hennepin County Public Health Emergency Response and Recovery Plan (1MB)
Ensure that facilities, supplies, and equipment are ready
Provide emergency preventive infectious disease medicine
Provide basic human services needs to impacted populations

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Strengthening preparedness and response

Nationally recognized by Project Public Health Ready

We are the only public health department in Minnesota that is nationally recognized by Project Public Health Ready.

Project Public Health Ready is a criteria-based training and recognition program that assesses local health department capacity and capability to plan for, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies. This program is a collaboration between the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and the CDC. To get recognized, we created and implemented a plan for all types of emergencies, identified training needs, developed a workforce plan, and demonstrated readiness through exercises or real events.

Foundations of public health emergency preparedness and response

There are 15 CDC public health emergency preparedness and response capabilities that guide and inform our work. Each of these capabilities provides a specific set of functions that are critical to meeting the demands and unique challenges that arise during public health emergencies.

What programs aim to improve the performance of our work?

To maintain accountability and ensure that emergency plans are in place and effectively prepared for public health emergencies, there are three national programs that have been established. These programs are designed to improve the overall performance of public health emergency preparedness initiatives. The following programs below promote a complete approach to emergency preparedness and provide guidance on the development of plans, training, and evaluation of response efforts. We follow these programs to make sure we are meeting nationally recognized standards for preparedness, while also improving our overall capacity to protect the health and wellbeing of the public.

Project Public Health Ready (PPHR) focuses on assessing our readiness for emergencies.
Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) is a comprehensive evaluation of our overall performance.
Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI) is an initiative to improve preparedness and response capabilities.

Partnerships and collaborations

We work collaboratively with other agencies to prepare for and ensure a coordinated response to natural and man-made threats, including:

We also partner with other agencies such as Emergency Medical Services (EMS), long-term care facilities, schools, fire and police departments, faith-based organizations, and community-based organizations.

Mapping health hazards

Jurisdictional Risk Assessment

A Jurisdictional Risk Assessment (JRA) is a tool used to identify and prioritize potential hazards, vulnerabilities, and risk that could impact the health and well-being of a specific community. By conducting a JRA, Hennepin County Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Program can better understand the specific risk and needs of Hennepin County, and develop more effective emergency plans and response strategies. This can help make sure resources are targeted to where they are most needed, and that the community is better prepared to respond to emergencies and protect the public’s health.

Read the full Hennepin County Public Health risk assessment

Top hazards

The top three hazards that have the greatest probability and health impact to county services and communities are:

Pandemic influenza outbreak
Localized infectious disease outbreak
Severe/extreme weather

Climate change and public health

Public health and climate change are closely related, as climate change can have significant impacts on human health. Climate change can increase the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, leading to more natural disasters, heat waves, and droughts. These events can have a range of health impacts, from injuries and deaths to mental health issues and the spread of infectious diseases.

Climate change can also have indirect health impacts, such as food insecurity and starvation caused by changes in agricultural production, and air pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels. Certain populations, such as low-income communities, children, and the elderly, may be more vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change.

Public health professionals play an important role in addressing the health impacts of climate change. We work to promote policies and practices that improve Hennepin County’s resilience to the effects of climate change and changing weather patterns by providing guidance on how to prepare for and respond to climate-related emergencies.

Prepare for an emergency

Stay informed

Keep up to date with the latest information about potential public health emergencies, such as disease outbreaks, natural disasters, or other events that could affect your community.

Take steps to stay healthy

Get vaccinated. Make sure you and your family are up-to-date on all recommended vaccines to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. Examples of why it is important to stay up-to-date on all recommended vaccines:

The MMR shot will protect you from getting three highly contagious viral infections which are measles, mumps, and rubella. These contagious viral infections can spread through coughing and sneezing and can lead to serious health complications.
The Tetanus shot will protect you from tetanus, which is a potentially deadly bacterial infection that can enter through your body through cuts, puncture wounds, or other injuries.
The Flu shot will protect you from the flu, which can be a serious respiratory illness. A flu pandemic can happen and can overwhelm the healthcare system and make it difficult to receive the care people need. Getting a flu shot can help decrease the strain on the healthcare system and reduce the number of flu cases.

In addition to protecting against disease, vaccines can also help parents avoid missing work and children avoid missing school due to illness. By reducing the frequency of illness in the community, vaccines help to minimize the impact of outbreaks and epidemics, which can disrupt daily life and lead to significant economic and social costs.

Practice good hygiene

Washing your hands frequently and practicing good hygiene can help reduce the spread of disease and infectious disease outbreaks. Keep hand sanitizer to use when handwashing is not available.

Build resilience for your mental health

A public health emergency, such as a pandemic or natural disaster, can be a very stressful and challenging time for individuals and communities. It can disrupt daily life, cause anxiety and uncertainty, and have long-lasting effects on mental health and well-being.

Ways to build resilience or your ability to adapt and cope with stress and hardship to better manage the challenges of a public health emergency.

Build connections and stay connected with family, friends, and community to feel more supported and less isolated.
Maintain healthy habits, such as exercising, eating well, and getting enough sleep, to stay motivated.
Recognize when you need help and seek support and help from healthcare professionals or community resources.

Learn more about building resilience for your mental health to endure hardship.

Have a plan

Develop a plan with your family and friends for what to do in case of an emergency, including how to communicate with each other, where to go, and what to bring with you. Make sure everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency and practice your plan regularly.

Develop a plan with your family and friends.

Build an emergency kit

Put together an emergency kit that includes basic supplies, such as food, water, first aid supplies, and any medications you may need. Keep the kit in an easily available place and make sure it’s updated regularly.

Build your emergency kit.

Prepare an emergency savings

A public health emergency, such as a pandemic or natural disaster, can have large financial impacts on individuals and families. Having an emergency savings fund can provide a financial safety net during uncertain times. Examples of impacts include income loss (job loss or reduced hours), unplanned expenses (medical bills or home repairs), economic uncertainty (price increase in food and rent), and reduced ability to apply for credit to cover expenses.

Learn more about financial preparedness.

Learn practical and safety skills

Learning practical and safety skills can help individuals and communities be more self-sufficient and resilient during a public health emergency. Learning these skills can better prepared you and your loved ones to adapt to emergency situations, where help may take longer to get to you. Examples of practical and safety skills to learn are basic first aid and emergency response skills like CPR, using a fire extinguisher, and how to shut up utilities (gas, water, and electricity).