Untitled Page

Jefferson County has had to become more aware of and better prepared for disasters, mass terrorism response, and pandemics. We have to prepare for a possible attack by WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction), including Biological, Chemical, Radiological, and Nuclear weapons, natural disasters (storms, floods, drought and power outages) and large communicable disease outbreaks and pandemics.

On the local level, Jefferson County Health Department has been directed by the West Virginia State Health Department to plan for response to biological attacks (bioterrorism), and to integrate the response with that of local Office of Emergency Services (OES), Law Enforcement, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) and surrounding states and jurisdictions.

A Tri-County Medical Reserve Corps is being formed, composed primarily of medically trained people in our area. Any interested persons with skills in the medical field would be welcome to participate in this process. Please contact Berkeley County Health Department at (304)264-5131 or go online www.bchealthdept.org for a volunteer information form. A plan exists to procure medications and antidotes to be used to protect and treat citizens against various types of bioterrorism agents and disease outbreaks. The local Health Department will play a significant role should such response become necessary.