Emergency Preparedness & Response

Fargo Cass Public Health (FCPH) works with North Dakota Department of Health & Human Services (NDHHS), local emergency management, healthcare partners, and community organizations to plan for and respond to public health emergencies and disasters in Cass, Richland, Ransom, Sargent, Steele and Traill counties.

Our work supports an all-hazards approach to preparedness, including disease outbreaks, severe weather events and other emergencies that may impact the health of our community. These efforts are supported in part through federal funding and statewide coordination under the Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) program.

Public Health Preparedness

Taking action to protect community health during an emergency requires strong planning, coordination, and partnerships. FCPH focuses on building and maintaining readiness through:

• Planning and Preparedness
  Development and regular review of emergency response plans for infectious disease, environmental hazards and large-scale public health incidents.
• Training and Exercises
  Conducting drills and exercises with local, regional, and state partners to ensure coordinated response capabilities.
• Disease Detection and Response
  Supporting early identification of public health threats and coordinating response actions with healthcare providers and NDHHS.
• Communication Systems
  Utilizing systems such as the Health Alert Network (HAN) to rapidly share critical health information with partners and the public.
• Partnerships and Coordination
  Working with City of Fargo Emergency Management, Cass County Emergency Management, NDHHS Emergency Preparedness & Response (EPR), hospitals, long-term care facilities, schools, and other partners to ensure a unified response.

These elements reflect national and state preparedness expectations, including planning, communication and coordinated response capabilities.

Program Services

FCPH provides specific services that support healthcare and community preparedness:

• Respiratory Protection & Fit Testing
  Provides respiratory fit testing and guidance to healthcare providers, first responders, and partner agencies to ensure proper protection during infectious disease and hazardous exposure events.
• Health Alerting & Information Sharing
  Coordinates local distribution of urgent public health alerts and situational updates through state and local systems.
• Community Education & Outreach
  Offers preparedness education to residents, organizations, and vulnerable populations to improve readiness and resilience.
  
• Volunteer & Partner Engagement
  Supports coordination with volunteers and partner agencies to expand response capacity during emergencies.