Emergency Preparedness

Emergency preparedness has become one of the most important categories of public health. All health department employees continuously train in this area to help the community prepare for, respond to, and recovery from emergencies in an organized manner. Public health emergencies can come in the form of natural disasters, infectious disease outbreaks, or bioterrorism events. Some areas where public health may play an essential role during these emergencies include sheltering and evacuation, dispensing medication, vaccine, or other medical supplies, and releasing updated guidance and information to the public.

Interested in Volunteering?

During a disaster or emergency, health departments rely on volunteers to assist with emergency response efforts. If you are interested in supporting your community, please consider joining the Wisconsin Emergency Assistance Volunteer Registry (WEAVR). WEAVR is Wisconsin's resource to pre-register, manage, and mobilize clinical and non-clinical volunteers to help in responding to disasters. There are no specific qualifications required to volunteer, but some trainings, certifications, or licensures may be required for some roles. Please be prepared to provide proof of these qualifications upon registration. Once registered and accepted onto WEAVR, the health department will be able to call upon you for assistance during an emergency.  You will always have the opportunity to decline service if you are called upon. 

To register as a volunteer, please visit Wisconsin Emergency Assistance Volunteer Registry (WEAVR) website  and select either “South Milwaukee Health Department” or “St. Francis Health Department” as your organization during registration.

Resource to prepare for an emergency:

To learn more about how to prepare yourself and your family for an emergency (severe weather, build a kit, home fires, etc.), please visit: ready.gov.