Webster County Health Department
Emergency Preparedness
The Webster County Board of Health and the Webster County
Health Department want to assure the public we are actively involved in
emergency planning in Webster County.
Webster County Health Department
has developed an Emergency Preparedness Plan.
The plan was developed with Webster County Government, the Iowa
Department of Public Health and the Webster County Community.
This website provides you with
emergency information and links to websites for additional guidance.
Click on this link to
read the Bioterrorism Preparedness in Iowa
Tabloid
Protect Iowa Health
Pick up your free Iowa Guide to Keeping You Safe right now at
the Webster County Health Department, courtesy of the Iowa Department of Public
Health and the state wide emergency preparedness campaign, Protect Iowa Health.
The guide offers potentially lifesaving information
including instructions for making a family emergency communication plan, as
well as a checklist for developing an emergency supply kit.
The guide is available in both English and Spanish and can
be picked up at the Webster County Health Department, 330 1st Avenue North,
Suite L-2, Fort Dodge. The guide is
also available by calling 1-866-339-7906 or by logging on to http://www.protectiowahealth.org.
Get Informed. Be Prepared.
One-stop access to U.S.
Government avian
and pandemic flu information.
Managed by the
Department of Health and Human Services.
The
Federal Emergency Management Commission has published a book on preparing for
disasters. FEMA has the book online in PDF and Word formats. The link is http://www.fema.gov/areyouready.
Tip Sheets for Special Populations
These
Tip Sheets are available for download at the Pennsylvania State Department of
Health Website. The web address is:
http://www.health.state.pa.us/
They
are also available at the office of the Webster County Health Department
FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ):
Who should I call if I have questions about emergency planning?
Call
the Webster County Health Department@ 515-573-4107
Where is the Webster County Health Department
Emergency Preparedness Plan?
The Plan is available at the
Office of the Webster County Health Department.
What can I do to keep the
food I am eating safe?
The following are steps to
prevent food-borne illnesses, including gastrointestinal anthrax. These steps
should be taken regardless of any bioterrorism threat. Precautions beyond these
are not required.
- Clean -
Wash hands, utensils and surfaces with hot, soapy water before and after
food preparations. Uncooked foods such as fruits and vegetables should be
thoroughly washed before eating.
- Separate - Keep raw meat, poultry, eggs and seafood and their juices away
from ready-to-eat foods; never place cooked food on a plate that
previously held raw meat or poultry, uncooked eggs or seafood. Make sure
to clean all cutting surfaces, utensils and dishes with hot, soapy water
before preparing additional food items.
- Cook
- Foods must be heated at a high enough temperature and long enough to
kill harmful bacteria. A short list of proper cooking temperatures are:
roast and steaks to 145°F, ground beef to 155°F, pork to 155°F, poultry to
165°F and any stuffed meat to 165°F. Leftovers should be reheated to
165°F.
- Chill
- Refrigerate or freeze perishables, prepared food and leftovers within
two hours and make sure the refrigerator is set at no higher than 40°F and
that the freezer unit is set at 0°F.
LINKS TO OTHER
WEBSITES:
- Iowa
Department of Public Health
- Iowa
Department Public Health-Center Disaster Operations and Response
http://www.idph.state.ia.us/adper/cdor.asp - Centers
for Disease Control & Prevention
- Centers
for Disease Control Boiterrorism Page
- Food
and Drug Administration
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Food
and Drug Administration Bioterrorism Page
- The
Patient Education Institute - Anthrax And Bioterrorism
- National
Library of Medicine - Anthrax
- IDPH Bureau Emergency
Medical Services
http://www.idph.state.ia.us/ems/ - Bioterrorism/Risk
Communication/Disaster Preparedness Web Site Resources
- Protect Iowa Health http://www.protectiowahealth.org
LINKS:
- Iowa Department of Public Health
- Iowa Department of Public Health
Center for Disaster Operations and Response (CDOR)
http://www.idph.state.ia.us/adper/cdor.asp - Centers for Disease Control &
Prevention
- Centers for Disease Control Boiterrorism
Page
- Food and Drug Administration
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Food and Drug Administration
Bioterrorism Page
- The Patient Education Institute -
Anthrax And Bioterrorism
- National Library of Medicine - Anthrax
- IDPH Bureau of EMS
http://www.idph.state.ia.us/ems/ - Bioterrorism/Risk Communication/Disaster
Preparedness Web Site Resources
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County Home Page