Kossuth County Preparedness

Pandemic Flu

1. What is Kossuth County doing to prepare for pandemic influenza?
   KEPT (Kossuth Emergency Planning Team) is comprised of representatives from local health, fire, law enforcement, EMS, business and school. This group is coordinating plans to respond to bio-emergencies.
    
2. Why is Kossuth County preparing for pandemic influenza?
   Influenza pandemic is a unique type of emergency. A pandemic has the potential to cause illness in a very large number of people who could overwhelm clinics and hospitals and cause high levels of absenteeism in schools and every workforce, including community services.
    
3. Is Kossuth County Public Health’s pandemic flu plan available to the public?
   Yes. The pandemic flu plan is still in the process of being developed. Contact KRHC’s Community Health if you would like more information.
    
4. Will the response of Kossuth County’s health and emergency agencies be coordinated?
   Yes. The purpose of KEPT (Kossuth Emergency Planning Team) is to get those people working together.
    
5. How will real time information be shared?
   During a pandemic real time information will be made available through press conferences, press releases to newspapers, radio, and on KRHC’s website (www.krhc.com), and through KRHC’s information line (515-295-4451). Information for the public will be coordinated through the Joint Information Center (JIC).
    
6. Will quarantine be declared or isolation required?
   During the early stages of a pandemic, when there are just a few clusters of disease, the request may be made for sick people to remain at home (isolation) and exposed people to remain in voluntary home quarantine for the time period required for symptoms to develop. Isolation and quarantine may become mandatory if conditions of the event make it necessary.
    
7. Will public gatherings be canceled?
   Some public gatherings may be postponed during a pandemic.
    
8. Will Kossuth County schools be closed during a pandemic?
   Schools may close for short periods of time to slow the spread of disease.
    
9. Will city and county departments be providing services during a pandemic?
   Maintaining Kossuth’s city and county services is a priority during a pandemic. However, city and county departments may experience employee shortages due to ill staff. If so, emergency plans will prioritize essential services first. Standard services may be less regular than usual. Every effort will be made to notify the public of service changes. 
    
10. Will local grocery stores and pharmacies be open for business?
    Maintaining regular operating hours and services will be a main concern. Anticipate that you may have difficulty obtaining medicines and certain foods and plan accordingly.
     
11. What can I do now?
    There are many simple things you can do now to protect yourself and your family before an emergency occurs. This is the time to prepare your home emergency kit and learn the terms associated with pandemic flu. There are many common sense, non-medical steps you can take to protect yourself, your co-workers and your loved ones.
    • Cover your cough and sneeze
    • Wash your hands
    • Keep your living and working areas clean
    • Keep your distance from ill persons
    Following these procedures can significantly limit the spread of viruses.