Goals: Reduce health threats from natural and human-caused disasters; Prepare for, respond to, and help communites recover from health impacts of disasters.
Activities: Conduct disaster health planning and risk mitigation, educate community members about health-related disasters and preparedness; Plan Ventura County Health Care Agency's disaster response and recovery operations.
Visit our Disaster Response Exercises web page to see the events we've held to help Ventura County become better prepared.
Distributing Vaccines During Disasters
In a health-related disaster, we may set up Points of Dispensing sites to distribute medications to individuals. In addition, agencies, businesses and schools can sign on to our Mass Prophylaxis Agreement to pick up vaccines for clients, employees and their families. For more information, email or call Dr. Daniel Jordan at 805-981-5258.
Be Ready for Disasters!
Being prepared for emergencies and disasters is the most important thing we can do to protect our communities, ourselves and our loved ones. In a recent national survey, 91% of Americans agreed they could protect themselves and their families with some simple actions. But only 54% have taken even one of the three simple steps. "Ready America" ["Listo America" en Español] lists three main things you can do to be ready for an emergency:
Read this Personal Preparation Checklist to prepare for disasters or pandemics.
With California Lutheran University we researched the readiness of people in Ventura County to respond to disasters, including terrorism events. You can download the Ventura County Terrorism Readiness Report and Ventura County Personal Readiness Presentation.
Special Concerns: Women and Babies During Disasters
Special health information to help women be prepared for a disaster is at Disaster or Emergency Preparedness Plan for Women.
Breastfeed During Disasters: Clean water may not be available, so breastfeeding babies can be the safest thing for them. Download the Infant Nutrition During Disasters Guide. You may also want to keep ready-to-feed formula on hand so that you don't have to worry about finding clean water.
People with Special Needs
Visit Vulnerable Populations Preparedness for tips on what people with special needs can do to survive a disaster. Also visit the Ready.gov web site on information and videos for helping people with special needs.
Other Useful Resources
Contact Information:
Ventura County Public Health
Emergency Preparedness Office
805-981-5331
