Public Health Emergency Preparedness is essential for safeguarding communities against a wide range of threats, from natural disasters to bioterrorism. This crucial aspect of public health involves planning, training, and coordination to ensure that health systems can respond effectively to emergencies.

Preparedness efforts cover a variety of scenarios, such as the rapid response required during a tornado, where timely communication and resource distribution are key to protecting lives and ensuring swift recovery. In the case of a bioterrorism event, such as an anthrax attack, public health agencies must be equipped to quickly identify the threat, distribute necessary treatments, and prevent the spread of disease. Similarly, in the face of bio-warfare or pandemics, robust preparedness measures enable health departments to respond to mass casualties, manage widespread fear, and maintain public trust through clear, accurate communication.

Public health emergency preparedness is not just about responding to crises; it's about building resilient communities that can withstand and recover from whatever challenges arise. By integrating surveillance, vaccination programs, stockpiling essential supplies, and conducting regular drills, public health agencies create layers of protection that keep our communities safe. These proactive measures ensure that when disaster strikes, whether it’s a tornado, an anthrax threat, or a biological attack, we are ready to act swiftly and effectively to protect public health.

Click here to enroll into the free State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (S.T.E.A.R.)

Do you or anyone you know need some assistance during times of an emergency event?

The state of Texas presents the STEAR program, a free registry that provides local emergency planners and emergency responders

with additional information on the needs in their community.

Registering yourself in the S.T.E.A.R. registry DOES NOT guarantee that you will receive a specific service

during an emergency and available services will vary by community. 

Click here to enroll in the free RAVE Alert System

The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) provides a mass notification system for the East Texas region as a part of its public safety program that allows ETCOG to partner with cities and counties in East Texas to send messages quickly notifying citizens about emergencies. 

Click here for Accessible Emergency Information for Individuals with Special Health Needs

Over the past few years, Americans have experienced both natural and man-made disasters. To better inform the community, the Northeast Texas Public Health District has compiled 18 Emergency Preparedness Topics and formatted the information to be friendly to deaf, blind, and limited-sight populations. The information is in video and downloadable document format for public use. There is No Charge for using the materials posted on this website. 

Integrating public health preparedness into the community is paramount to the community's becoming resilient before, during, and after disasters. We serve the community by planning for, responding to, and assisting communities in recovering from Public health-related events. Our hope is that providing innovative avenues for information exchange will not only prepare the community before an event but also assist the community with delivering resources during an event and expedite the recovery from an event.