Preparedness in public health refers to the ability of the health department to plan for, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies. This may include natural disasters, disease outbreaks, bioterrorism events, and other crises that can affect the health and safety of the local community.

Preparedness is considered a Foundational Capability by the national organization (PHAB) that evaluates our accredidation status. Therefore, we must have basic systems in place to: 

• Coordinate response efforts
• Communicate during emergencies
• Ensure staff is trained
• Work across sectors to protect public health during threats

Preparedness ensures that when a crisis happens (flood, foodborne illness outbreak, pandemic, etc.), Brown County Public Health is not caught off guard and can help keep people safe, informed, and supported through a timely, coordinated response.