SERVICES, PARTNERS AND RESOURCES
What We Do and Why We Do It
The Health Department wants to give its residents the tools to be prepared in case an emergency strikes. This is accomplished through:
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Providing preparedness information to the public through media, fairs, schools, churches, and businesses. |
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Providing presentations on preparedness, disaster recovery, and Pandemic Influenza to public groups and businesses. |
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Facilitating Community Preparedness Committees in both Sarpy and Cass counties. Members include elected officials, businesses, utilities, hospitals and long-term care facilities, churches, schools, finance, military, emergency management, county offices, local jurisdictions, emergency medical services, and law enforcement. |
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Supplementing supplies maintained by County Emergency Management Agencies to meet the needs of a large scale event. |
Sarpy County Emergency Management
http://www.sarpy.com/ema/
(402) 593-5785
Twitter @sarpyemaCass County Emergency Management
http://www.cassne.org/emergmanag.html
(402) 267-6765
Offutt Air Base
Medical Readiness Manager
http://www.offutt.af.mil/units/
(402) 294-9543Douglas County Health Department
http://www.douglascountyhealth.com/
(402) 444-7471
Twitter @HealthDouglasCoCHI Health Midlands
http://www.chihealth.com/chi-health-midlands
(402) 593-3000
Twitter @CHIhealthNebraska Medicine – Bellevue
http://bellevue.nebraskamed.com/aboutus.html
877-763-3001
Twitter @NebraskaMedSarpy County Sheriff
http://www.sarpy.com/sheriff/
Non-Emergency 24 hours 402-593-4111
FEMA: Available in Spanish and English. Set up to five locations for real-time severe weather alerts from the National Weather Service. Available for free through iTunes and Google Play. Click here for more information about the FEMA Mobile AppRed Cross: Information to help prepare for tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, emergencies, pet first aid, floods, wildfires, and basic first aid. Available for free through iTunes and Google Play. Click here for more information about the Red Cross Apps.
Weather Channel: Free app allows you to designate your current location. Available for free through iTunes and Google Play.
RadarCast: Free app allows you to designate your current location. Available for free through iTunes and Google Play.
Lantern Live: Free app allows you to report the status and location of nearby fuel stations (alternative and conventional), check their area for power outages and easily access safety tips. Currently available for free through Google Play only.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Outreach Activities and Resources – Special Populations: Emergency and Disaster Preparedness:
http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/outreach/specialpopulationsanddisasters.htmlFor families with special needs:
http://blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/2013/07/emergency-preparedness-for-families-with-special-needs/http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4240199_A4497.pdf
For deaf and hard of hearing:
http://serve.mt.gov/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Disaster-Preparedness-and-the-Deaf-Community.pdfhttp://nad.org/issues/emergency-preparedness
For blind and visually impaired:
http://www.afb.org/section.aspx?SectionID=65&TopicID=400&DocumentID=3242
State Childcare Preparedness Regulations/PlansState Nursing Home Preparedness Regulations/Plans
Healthcare Facility Planning Checklist for Emergency Preparedness
Customize your emergency plan: Sarpy/Cass Department of Health and Wellness recommends reviewing Ready.gov’s different templates for creating an Emergency Plan that fits the needs of your family. Click here to visit ready.gov and learn more, or to access a blank template for both a Family Communication Plan designed for kids and a Family Communication Plan designed for parents/adults.
Outdoor Sirens: Although they can be a useful resource in certain situations sirens are not designed to wake residents who are sleeping or to penetrate the thick insulation in today's homes. We urge all Sarpy/Cass residents to use NOAA weather radios, smartphones and television warnings to keep them updated when there is a potential for dangerous weather. Do not rely on any single warning source, a combination of resources is the best option when monitoring weather.
Weather Radios: A NOAA weather radio is your direct link to the National Weather Service, broadcasting 24 hours a day. NOAA weather radios are the fastest method of receiving severe weather warnings, watches and critical information from local emergency management officials. If programed correctly to your current location, equipped radios will turn on automatically when an alert is issued. The Health Department recommends one that operates with a battery backup system of power. Click here for a map of Nebraska counties to help program your NOAA radio.
Wireless Emergency Alerts: Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) will soon be including notifications from NOAA regarding storms and “hazards that pose a significant threat to life and property, and help people plan for and stay safe when they are at risk for dangerous situations — even in their own homes”. For more information visit http://www.noaa.gov/features/03_protecting/wireless_emergency_alerts.html
Advanced Traveler Information System (511): Before you travel, review this Nebraska Department of Roads website or download their app. Many surrounding states also provide the 511 service so map your trip before you leave. Sometimes it can be hard to know which county you are passing through while on the interstate. Being aware of changing location is critical to monitoring severe weather and the potential impact it may have on you or your family. For Nebraska: http://www.511.nebraska.gov/ and Iowa: http://www.iowadot.gov/511/MyReports.html
Season: The temperature and weather conditions in Nebraska vary drastically, as you consider items for an emergency kit, consider the likely temperatures.
Resources: It is helpful to have an idea of professional organizations/resources that might be available to assist you in the event of a disaster. Visit our list of community partners for a few of the many local resources.
Needs of Family Members: When preparing for a disaster, it is important to consider the specific needs of those you who will be assisting children, elderly, even animals. Review our Preparedness for Special Populations link for more information.
We all have a role to play in keeping our community safe, strong, and resilient. The Sarpy/Cass Department of Health and Wellness has volunteer opportunities for every resident, regardless of age or experience! Take personal responsibility for your community’s preparedness by lending a hand, creating a plan, or simply understanding our potential risks. The speed with which a community is able to recover in the event of a disaster is largely based on how well prepared and practiced that community is for the risks they face. Join our list of volunteers by clicking here. You can also print our pdf volunteer sheet and mail it to Sarpy/Cass Department of Health and Wellness 701 Olson Drive, Ste. 101 Papillion, NE 68046. For more information contact Dale Tedder, Emergency Response Coordinator, at 402-339-4334 x 208.