After the events of September 11th, it became clear that our nation needed to be ready to respond in the event of another terrorist attack. Federal, state and local agencies immediately began planning response efforts. The Stratford Health Department has engaged in emergency preparedness and response planning efforts over the past several years. The initial focus was part of a national planning effort to address the potential threat of a smallpox release. Since then, preparedness has evolved into all-hazards planning. This includes preparing for the threat of bioterrorism (such as smallpox and anthrax) as well as naturally occurring threats such as the potential for an influenza pandemic.
Mass Dispensing Clinics The Stratford Health Department has developed and maintains the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Plan attachment to the Town of Stratford's Emergency Operations Plan. This comprehensive plan includes sections for mass dispensing (i.e. conducting mass clinics to provide vaccines or medications), dissemination of emergency public health communications, and an overall framework of how your health department will respond during a major emergency.
 |
An example of a mass dispensing clinic | All local health departments across Connecticut have been asked to develop plans to respond quickly to establish mass dispensing clinics, or Points of Dispensing ("PODs") in the event it is necessary to provide vaccines or medicine to all our residents during a public health emergency. The Stratford Health Department is also the lead local health department for the Mass Dispensing Area #12, which includes Stratford, Trumbull, and Monroe. Together with the Trumbull-Monroe Health District, the Stratford Health Department must be ready to operate PODs, on 24 hours notice, to serve the approximately 100,000 residents of Stratford, Trumbull and Monroe. Click on the MRC link below for further information, including how you can assist us by becoming a volunteer with our Medical Reserve Corps. Local Health Alert Network (LHAN) One of the key assets maintained by the Stratford Health Department is our Local Health Alert Network ("LHAN"). A collection of various communications assists, the LHAN also includes technology that allows us to rapidly send written or voice communications to various groups, such as all Stratford physician offices, licensed food service establishments, licensed day care centers, community health centers, pharmacies, food pantries, and schools. This is also the system utilized to notify our MRC volunteers and other response partners in the event of an emergency activation.
 |
 | Emergency preparedness is a collaborative effort on both the local and state level. Locally, we work closely with the Stratford Police, Emergency Medical Services, Fire Department, and our Emergency Management Director. On a state level, our primary partner is the Connecticut Department of Public Health. Regionally, Stratford is an active participant in the Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Region 1 ESF-8 Committee. "ESF-8" refers to the National Response Plan's Emergency Support Function #8, which is Health and Medical. This region comprises essentially the towns of Fairfield County. We work as a region to develop regional plans and coordinate both among other health departments, hospitals, EMS agencies, and community health centers. Learn More State of Connecticut Department of Public Health (go to Public Health Preparedness & Response in the left hand colum) Preparedness for Individuals and Families Volunteering Stratford-Trumbull-Monroe Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Town of Stratford Special Needs Registry Other Preparedness Links |