Proposed School Merger Plan information can be found HERE.

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  3. Public Health
  4. Service Areas
  5. Preparedness

Contact Information

  • Jennifer McCracken, Health Director
  • Contact via email
  • Main Location:3070 11th Avenue Drive SE Hickory, NC 28602

Preparedness

Catawba County Public Health encourages residents to prepare for emergencies and disasters and works to prepare and protect the community as a whole through planning, drills and more. Linked with county, regional, state, and national resources, we receive up-to-date information on any biological or communicable disease occurrence that could affect your health. When the need arises for critical health information, you can depend on Public Health to be prepared to respond.

During certain Public Health emergencies, a Point of Dispensing (POD) site may be used to distribute medications to residents. Become familiar with what a POD is by watching this video and learn about what kind of equiptment may be in a POD here.

Individuals and families can prepare for for disasters by assembling an emergency kit including health care supplies, food, water and more. Find a list of recommended supplies here. Families should also make their own emergency plans and should get informed to know when a disaster might strike. Learn about North Carolina specific resources by visiting NCDHHS Public Health Preparedness & Response Information for Individuals & Families page.

Catawba County has plans for sheltering and evacuations.

During an emergency, Catawba County Emergency Services will send out phone and text alerts. Want to be on the alert list? Sign up here.

Want to volunteer to help in an emergency? Contact Catawba County United Way for volunteer opportunities. Call 828-327-6851 or go to the United Way's web site.

Disaster Recovery: Find out steps you can take to recover after a disaster strikes.

Clean Up Safely After a Flood: Floods can bring hazards in the floodwaters themselves, as well as problems with safety and sanitation afterward. Find out more on how to clean up safely after a flood.

Nuclear incidents: Part of Catawba County is in the Emergency Planning Zone for McGuire Nuclear Power Plant. Check out the map to see if you live in the Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) and learn more about preparing for a nuclear emergency. Common myths about nuclear energy.

Radiation Emergencies: What Should I Do?

Learn about Potassium Iodide (KI). An important note about KI for people who live or work in the Emergency Planning Zone: It is recommended that residents and employers within the 10-mile radius of a Nuclear Power Plant keep their current supply of KI for emergency use. The most recent distribution of KI tablets was provided in September 2020 and has a current expiration date of October 2029. According to the Food and Drug Administration, studies confirm that none of the components of KI tablets, including the active ingredient, are significantly reduced when stored according to labeled directions. Therefore, KI tablets are naturally stable, do not lose their effectiveness over time, and remain usable. Based on this evidence and previous practices, it is recommended that residents and employers within the 10-mile EPZ radius of a Nuclear Power Plant keep their current supply of KI for emergency use until an additional supply becomes available. Local public authorities will notify residents of new KI supplies and/or additional information when received from the NRC. Should residents and/or employers prefer to obtain new KI sooner, it is available for purchase at several online retailers. When the new KI supply is received, Public Health will provide the KI pills to the public that live and work in the 10-mile EPZ of nuclear power plants. For more information, call (828) 695-5815.

Visit NCDHHS Public Health Preparedness & Response to learn more about North Carolina's preparedness and response plans in the face of disaster.

Learn about federal preparedness infrastructure at the CDC Office of Readiness and Response page.