The Emergency Preparedness and Response (EP&R) division of the Prince William Health District (PWHD) is responsible for planning, preparing and responding to biological, chemical, radiological, or nuclear emergencies involving Diseases of Public Health Threats (DoPHT) and Diseases of Public Health Significance (DoPHS). Additionally, EP&R assist other PWHD divisions, like epidemiology, nursing, and environmental health with disease surveillance and recognition, environmental monitoring and developing appropriate safety procedures for both employees and the public.
 

EP&R meets and works regularly with local agencies and organizations such as local hospitals, police, fire and rescue, schools, American Red Cross and the Office of Emergency Management to ensure adequate community-wide planning and preparedness. EP&R maintains a number of federally funded emergency preparedness initiatives, like Chempack, Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI), and Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) which provides rapid treatment for individuals exposed to dangerous chemical or biological hazards resulting from man-made or natural disasters. EP&R also played a primary role in responding to the H1N1 flu outbreak in 2009 and in obtaining the Project Public Health Ready Accreditation from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) in 2010.

 

 
Medical Reserve Corps  

The Greater Prince William Medical Reserve Corps is a cadre of volunteer health care professionals and community members trained to respond and assist with public health events in Prince William County, the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, and the towns of Dumfries, Haymarket, Quantico, and Occoquan. This unit is one of approximately 800 units that are part of the national Medical Reserve Corps program under the direction of the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General and one of 31 in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  For more information, visit the Virginia Department of Health.