Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (PHEPR) is responsible for ensuring Clark County Public Health is ready to respond to and recover from emergencies. PHEPR ensures the department’s operational readiness by developing emergency procedures, training staff, and equipping the department with the tools they need to be ready.
PHEPR maintains the region's All-Hazards Emergency Response Plan and ensures that it works with other county, regional and state emergency response plans, and provides leadership and coordination of the department-wide Continuity of Operations Plan. The team also develops department policies and procedures supporting emergency response operations.
PHEPR leads exercise planning, implementation and evaluation activities. The PHEPR team maintains the department’s incident command post and ensures response activities meet National Incident Management System and Incident Command System standards.
PHEPR also leads the public health preparedness efforts for the Southwest Washington region – including Clark, Cowlitz, Skamania and Wahkiakum counties and their tribal partners. Through the Region 4 program, PHEPR coordinates Medical Reserve Corps volunteers who support Public Health response activities and the Southwest Washington Health Care Alliance which supports and coordinates with hospital, health care and long-term care facilities in Southwest Washington.
To accomplish this work, PHEPR routinely plans, exercises, and coordinates with many community partners, such as emergency management services, local emergency operation centers, the Red Cross, environmental health agencies, health care partners, and community and faith-based organizations. This work occurs before, during, and after an event to ensure a prepared and resilient community.
Contact information
The Clark County Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response team is here to answer questions you may have. Email us for more information.