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Sussex County Division of Health to Participate in Emergency Preparedness Exercise

Release Date: March 18, 2019
The Sussex County Division of Health will temporarily close offices from 8 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, March 26, 2019, to conduct an emergency preparedness exercise to strengthen response efforts in the event of a public health emergency.

Photo from 2009 H1N1 mass vaccination clinic

(Hardyston, NJ) The Sussex County Division of Health will temporarily close offices from 8 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, March 26, 2019, to conduct an emergency preparedness exercise to strengthen response efforts in the event of a public health emergency.

Health threats from natural disasters, infectious disease outbreaks and bioterrorism require a coordinated response from several government agencies, including local public health.

The exercise will go over the necessary steps in the event of an infectious disease outbreak, which includes mass distribution of preventative medications to the public. In the exercise scenario, Sussex County Division of Health employees will be able to re-enact step-by-step what they would do when called upon in any emergency.

"While classroom learning is a good prep to the exercise, it does not replace the hands-on experience staff members would need to direct others during an actual emergency," said Julia Gurriell, Medical Reserve Corps Coordinator.

The goal of the exercise is to develop an increased level of preparedness in the case of an emergency or disaster, while also improving the response plans already in place. Rapid dispersal of life-saving medications is crucial for reducing sickness and loss of life in the event of a public health crisis. The exercise will test Sussex County's emergency response plans and will also increase the familiarity with the response procedures to better serve the community. The Sussex County Division of Health will reopen at noon on March 26, 2019.

The Division of Health apologizes for any inconvenience and appreciates your patience and understanding while the exercise is held. Limited assistance will be available from 8 a.m. to noon on March 26, 2019.

In the case of an actual emergency, please call the Sheriff's Communication Center at (973)-940-5500.

For more information about emergency preparedness, visit the Sussex County web page at https://www.sussex.nj.us/cn/webpage.cfm?TPID=3656. Additional information about public health emergency preparedness can be found on the Centers for Disease Control's website at https://emergency.cdc.gov external link.