For the last three years, LCDPH has been prioritizing preparedness planning efforts as a result of continued Federal Homeland Security funding through the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH).  LCDPH has developed an all-hazards plan that details how the department will respond to emergency events that may occur within Livingston County.  LCDPH is part of the Cities Readiness Initiative Planning Project.  This planning effort determines the infrastructure and processes necessary to provide medication to the entire Livingston County population within 48 hours.  It is integrated with the Detroit metropolitan planning effort.

In order to recognize if a biological event might be occurring, LCDPH utilizes the Michigan Disease Surveillance System. The web based system allows reporting agencies (hospitals, laboratories, physicians, clinics) to enter data quickly and accurately while allowing public health personnel to accurately track and investigate diseases and disease symptoms electronically. This greatly decreases the timeline from detection to analysis so appropriate action can be taken.

As with any planning activity, training and exercising are essential. LCDPH maintains a National Incident Management System compliant workforce by ensuring all personnel undertake appropriate emergency
preparedness training courses. LCDPH conducted a full scale mass dispensing clinic exercise in April 2005, a tabletop pandemic influenza exercise in September 2005, and will conduct a full scale mass triage exercise in July 2006.

LCDPH is very aware of today’s risks and has taken the necessary actions to prepare for responding should they become reality. LCDPH is fully committed to public health emergency response planning within the existing Livingston County Emergency Response System in order to help mitigate, be better prepared, respond quickly and effectively, and recover fully from future public health emergencies such as biological weapons incidents, pandemic flu, and natural disasters.