Public Health Preparedness

Any number of public health emergencies could occur in Independence and the surrounding areas ranging from natural disease outbreaks to deliberate acts of terrorism involving the use of biological agents.

Public health has a significant role to play in emergency response. Public health’s main functions are to provide the community with a plan to maintain good health, to prevent its citizens from getting ill, and to control the spread of disease. Once a public health threat is suspected or identified, the responsibility of public health is to coordinate the overall response. This requires conducting an epidemiological investigation to determine the source, informing medical providers of the status of the situation, providing prophylactic antibiotics or vaccines as appropriate, and informing the general public how to respond to protect themselves.

To find more information on metro-wide preparedness activities and how you/your family can be more prepared at home, please visit Prepare Metro KC.

2.  Prepare a Kit
   Make sure you have an emergency kit put together for your home, your car, your work and for your pets.  Keep smaller kits in your car and at work. Your car kit can include maps, extra gas, etc.

   Items for your emergency kit should include:

3.  Listen for Information  

   It is important to stay calm in an emergency. Gathering as much information about the situation as possible. Listening to the news and radio for new information. The City of Independence has developed many emergency plans and will release timely updates to the public during an emergency. In the event of an emergency, listen for instructions and advice. 

• Show Me Response
• Medical Reserve Corps of Greater Kansas City
• Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

You have control - not the disaster.