Emergency Preparedness

Public Health Response

In the event of a disaster or emergency, the Health Department has an emergency plan to help protect the community. This includes sharing information on ways residents can protect themselves and a plan to set up medication clinics, as necessary. We also participate with the emergency response community to work together on any public health emergency.

During a Public Health Emergency:  You may be asked to go to a special Point of Dispensing (POD) site. We will use the media, this website and the Public Health Hotline (694-4040) to tell you where your POD is located.

  • Only individuals who have been potentially exposed to the disease-causing the public health emergency will be able to receive antibiotics
    or vaccines at a POD.
  • PODs are for providing medication to PREVENT someone from getting sick.
  • Persons who are already sick with the disease will not be able to seek treatment at a POD.

Emergency Shelters

Listen to WHKP or WTZQ radio or go online to blueridgenow.com (Hendersonville Times-News).

Preparedness for public health emergencies is a priority. We continually plan, train and exercise activities to be able to respond quickly to natural disasters, bioterrorism or disease outbreaks. Public health emergencies can include natural events (flooding, hurricanes, winter weather, etc.) and planned acts (weapons used for mass destruction and bioterrorism). Specially trained staff from our Epidemiology Team (EPI Team) are available 24 hours every day to respond to communicable disease outbreaks and public health threats.

CDC's Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) has large quantities of medicine and medical supplies to protect the American public if there is a public health emergency (terrorist attack, flu outbreak, earthquake) severe enough to cause local supplies to run out.

The Preparedness Coordinator maintains and updates a Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) Plan to receive and distribute medicine and medical supplies as quickly as possible in Henderson County. All medicine from the SNS is FREE.

When Disaster Strikes - North Carolina Residents and the Strategic National Stockpile discusses the SNS and what to do and where to go if there is ever a need for SNS supplies.

For more information contact:

Victoria Cortes
Preparedness Coordinator
(828) 697-4728
vcortes@hendersoncountync.gov

PDF icon When Disaster Strikes - North Carolina Residents and the Strategic National Stockpile discusses the SNS and what to do and where (5 MB)