The National Connection for Local Public Health

Local Preparedness Efforts

Carol Moehrle RN, BSNPublic Health Director

Idaho

NACCHO

NACCHO represents the nation’s nearly 3000

local public health Departments. These city,

county, metro, district, and tribal departments

work every day on the front lines to protect

their communities from public health threats.

Local Public Health Survey – March 07

• 77% of LHDs receive CDC cooperative

agreement funds– Funds used for:

• Mass prophylaxis or vaccination plans and exercises

• All hazard preparedness plans• Implementing NIMS • Training public health workers

in emergency response• New or improved

communication systems• Public education

Funding Cutback to Local Public Health

• 62% of LHDs experienced an impact from

cuts to the FY 06 CDC preparedness

funding.

• 28% reduced staff time on preparedness

• 27% were forced to delay completion of

preparedness plans

• 25% delayed acquisition of equipment

• 19% delayed completion of exercises and

drills.

Pandemic Influenza funding

• 84% of LHDs surveyed received a portion of the pandemic influenza supplemental funds. As of March 07,

– 87% had completed or developed specific pan flu plans

– 84% had conducted public education activities

– 68% had conducted workforce training

– 67% had completed pan flu exercises

Have we made progress ?

• October 2001 only 21% of LHDs had

plans

• April 2004 95% reported an

increased level of preparedness

• August 2007 90% of LHDs have

accomplished:–Planning–Training–Implementation of NIMS –Improved communication

Idaho Perspective

Return on Investment

• Improved ability to respond effectively to everyday

emergencies, events, new and emerging threats.

– Flu vaccine clinics – Smoke evacuation from Forest Fires – Refugee medication dispensing– Hepatitis mass vaccination clinics

Return on Investments

•Preparation for Special Olympics•Rabies outbreaks•TB isolation orders•New Partnerships and relationships

– School districts– Mortuaries– Business community– Pharmacists– Veterinarians

Challenges

•Improving will never be complete.

•There is a continuous process of training, exercising and

improving plans based on the exercises.

•Interrupting this process through funding cuts would take the

nation’s Public Health Preparedness backwards.

•New capacities and capabilities that are now in place cannot

be sustained without sustained funding.