• To enable and ensure a consistent and effective response to public health emergencies and emergencies with public health impacts.

• There is effective preparedness infrastructure for public health emergencies.
• There is increased self-sufficiency on the part of the public and community partners during emergencies.

• There is enhanced public health emergency preparedness, response, and recovery behaviours.
• The board of health is aware of the hazards in the health unit that are relevant to the board of health.
• The board of health has enhanced risk-based emergency planning and programming to guide ongoing board of health preparedness efforts.
• The board of health has current and relevant mechanisms in place to support the continuation and restoration of time-critical board of health services in the event of disruption.
• The board of health has effective risk-based emergency response capability and clearly defined public health roles and responsibilities in an emergency.
• The board of health communicates with community partners in order to share information required to take action in advance of, during, and after a public health emergency or an emergency with public health impacts.
• The public is aware of health risks and emergency preparedness.
• The board of health is aware of emergency preparedness and response roles and responsibilities.

1. The board of health shall identify and assess the relevant hazards and risks to the public's health in accordance with the Identification, Investigation and Management of Health Hazards Protocol, 2008 (or as current); the Population Health Assessment and Surveillance Protocol, 2008 (or as current); and the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Protocol, 2008 (or as current).

2. The board of health shall develop a continuity of operations plan to sustain the ongoing functioning of time-critical board of health services during business disruptions in accordance with the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Protocol, 2008 (or as current).

3. The board of health shall develop its emergency response plan, in consultation with community partners and governmental bodies, to address the identified hazards for which the board of health and medical officer of health will have a lead role in responding to, consistent with an Incident Management System and in accordance with the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Protocol, 2008 (or as current).

4. The board of health shall develop, implement, and document 24/7 notification protocols for communications with board of health staff, community partners, and governmental bodies to facilitate the sharing of information in accordance with the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Protocol, 2008 (or as current).

5. The board of health shall, in collaboration with community partners, increase public awareness regarding emergency preparedness activities.

6. The board of health shall ensure the provision of emergency preparedness and response education and training for board of health staff in accordance with the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Protocol, 2008 (or as current).

7. The board of health shall ensure that its officials are oriented on the board of health's emergency response plan in accordance with the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Protocol, 2008 (or as current).

8. The board of health shall exercise, in whole or in part, the continuity of operations plan, emergency response plan, and 24/7 notification procedures in accordance with the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Protocol, 2008 (or as current).

The following external links have been compiled to help you access other health-related Web sites that are not maintained by the Ontario government. Please read our policy concerning external links.

1. Canadian Red Cross
2. CDC - Emergency Preparedness Response Site
3. Emergency Planning and Preparedness - MOHLTC
4. Emergency Preparedness and Response - Public Health Agency of Canada
5. Emergency Preparedness - Health Canada
6. North Carolina Centre for Public Health Preparedness
7. Public Health Emergency Preparedness - Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
8. Public Safety Canada