September is National Preparedness Month! Celebrate by preparing one step at a time. Download our new, easy-to-use Preparedness Guide and start today.

Washtenaw County Public Health is working to protect your health in the event of an emergency. This includes planning and coordination with local Emergency Management, first responders and community members. It also includes providing critical information to the entire community – before, during and after any public health emergency.

The information below can help you prepare for a variety of emergency situations – and remain calm, safe and healthy.

What can you do in an emergency?  Remain calm. Activate your disaster plans. Tune your radio to 89.1 FM or WAAM 1600 AM for information

Jump Start Your Preparedness Plans

Disasters can happen at any time. Severe weather, accidents or hazardous materials have the potential to harm almost any home, school or business. Are you prepared? Learn more about what you can do. See  Individual and Family Preparedness and Preparedness Tips for Businesses for more information. Or, download our  planning template. Start today!

Stay Informed

Washtenaw County Public Health is responsible for protecting your health in the event of an infectious disease outbreak. Such an outbreak could happen naturally, or as the result of bioterrorism. Understand the potential threats and how to protect yourself – see Pandemic Influenza Information or Biological Emergencies for details.

Volunteer 

Are you willing to help in an emergency? Do you have public health training? Can you speak other languages? Volunteer with your local Public Health Department. Register online with the Michigan Volunteer Registry. The registry allows us to contact you when help is needed.

Reach Out

Diversity is one of our greatest strengths and enriches our community. It also means we may understand information differently. Or, we may have different abilities to respond in an emergency. Is your organization or group capable of assisting others in an emergency? Are you able to reach your clients, employees or customers quickly with critical information? Can you provide relevant support, such as translation or interpretation? personal assistance? or other services? Contact us to talk about how we can work together, or sign up for our  Emergency Information Email Group.

Contact Us

Want more information about Washtenaw County’s preparedness activities? Review a summary of our All-Hazard Plan, or contact our Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator - Cindra James. To request a presentation or educational materials, contact Susan Cerniglia. Or, call 734-544-6700.

In an emergency, help may not reach everyone quickly. Be prepared. Have a plan and supplies.

Talk to friends and neighbors about helping each other in an emergency.

  New Items!

Individual Preparedness Notebook

Summary of Public Health's All-Hazard Emergency Response Plan

Checklist for Nursing Homes, Assisted Living and Group Homes                                      

Checklist for Case Management and Home Care Services

Head Start Disaster Prepareness Workbook

PLAN: Preparedness through Linking All Neighbors, A Guide to Creating Neighborhood Emergency Plans

Addional Resources

Download the County's Preparedness Workbook

American Academy of Pediatrics, Family Readiness Kit

American Civil Defense Association

American Public Health Association, Get Ready for the Flu

American Red Cross – National (Available in Spanish/Españo l)

American Red Cross – Washtenaw County Chapter

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (Available in Spanish/Español and other languages)

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (Available in Spanish/Español and other languages)

First Victims (For nonprofits and agencies serving more vulnerable populations)

Do 1 Thing: Emergency Supplies

Diversity Preparedness

Michigan Prepares

Michigan Department of Community Health, Office of Public Health Preparedness

Michigan Homeland Security

Michigan Public Service Commission - Consumer Alerts and Brochures

PandemicFlu.gov (Available in Spanish/Español and Vietnamese)

Prepare.org Disaster Preparedness Information (Multiple languages, large print)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration - Counterterrorism

Ready.gov - Prepare. Plan. Stay Informed (Available in Spanish/Español)

Washtenaw County Emergency Management

Washtenaw County Environmental Health

Last Updated: August 28, 2008.