The DuPage County Health Department preparing for emergencies.

We Are Planning
There are well-developed and well-rehearsed emergency response plans at all levels of government. At the core of this effort is citizen preparedness. In this website, the DuPage County Health Department provides suggestions for you to better respond. You and your family can plan, prepare, practice, and protect each other. If a disaster strikes, relief workers may not be able to reach everyone immediately. You might be asked to evacuate your home or may need to "shelter-in-place." It is important that you and your family know what to do during different types of emergencies. By planning and practicing, you and your family will be more prepared if an emergency occurs. Planning Guides and additional information are available at: www.Ready.gov

The county has an all-hazards emergency response plan in place. It is modeled after the National Response Plan authored by the United States Department of Homeland Security.
Our All-Hazards Emergency Response plan uses the National Incident Management System (NIMS), a chain of command system, which provides a consistent framework for incident management at all jurisdictional levels, regardless of the cause, size, or complexity of the incident. Detailed annexes to our general plan are being developed to address specific incidents that may occur.

We Are Practicing
To assure readiness, the Health Department has engaged in a rigorous training plan. Once trained, staff and community volunteers are required to participate in drills and exercises. One such exercise was TOPOFF2. This international event tested the Department’s ability to respond to a covert release of a biological agent while other municipalities reacted to terrorist events in Seattle; Washington, D.C.; and Canada. DuPage, Kane, Lake, and Cook Counties, City of Chicago, and the State of Illinois participated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security, and other agencies to test their systems during an event.


We Are Training
The operations of the Health Department during an emergency will be different than normal. The exact changes depend upon the type of emergency. Specific training has been developed and utilized to teach people the new roles they may need to fulfill during emergencies. The Health Department has continually trained both staff and Medical Reserve Corps volunteers in the most up to date information on how to respond during a biological emergency.
Contact Jon Cox if you are interested in the Medical Reserve Corps or volunteer training.


We Are Recruiting
In a large-scale emergency, volunteers may be needed to assist the Department in help keeping DuPage County safe and healthy.

The DuPage County Medical Reserve Corps is enrolling those willing to help. medical and non-medical volunteers are needed. Click here to sign up today!