| District 2 Public Health Emergency Preparedness 1280 Athens Street Gainesville, GA 30507 | Office: 770-535-5743 Fax: 770-535-5958 |
Be Aware. Be Prepared. Take Action.
A Guide for Alerts and Warnings
Emergency Preparedness Director
Mark Palen
Office: 770-531-4505
PIO/Risk Communications Coordinator
Bobby Ward
Office: 770-531-5679
Emergency Preparedness Specialist
Greg Kelsoe
Office: 770-535-5863
Emergency Preparedness Training & Exercise Coordinator
Katie Jenkins
Office: 770-535-5883
Healthcare Coalition Facilitator
Ashley Shaw
Office: 770-535-6589
The Emergency Preparedness section is responsible for leading public health in planning, training and conducting exercises for emergencies, accidents, and terrorism events that may impact residents. Preparedness is an extension of the mission of public health and addresses many of the same problems but, at times may deal with extraordinary circumstances.
Incidents that public health may respond to include threats caused by bioterrorism, chemical releases, emerging disease outbreaks, severe weather, or some other emergency. This is why it is important to have plans in place and to test those plans periodically.
Public health has very defined roles in emergency response. We will work with other agencies in policy decisions and actions, provide disease surveillance, provide information about the event to the media and the public, communicate with other health care providers and state laboratory, and provide preventive medicines if needed.