Biological Terrorism and Emergency Response

Today's Threat Level:

The Lincoln County Health Department contracts with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to meet guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for responding to a Bioterrorism/Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) event. The department employs a Regional Response Planner, whose primary responsibility is to design and implement such a response plan. The position is funded indirectly by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The geographical area of concern for this assignment includes Lincoln, Pike and Warren Counties, Missouri. The plan will be one part of a larger plan that also covers the counties of Saint Charles, Saint Louis, Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Saint Francois, Saint Genevieve, Perry; and Saint Louis City. This larger plan will then be a component of Missouri's statewide response plan.

Lincoln County Health Department works cooperatively with other governmental agencies in the state and nation, academia, volunteers and private enterprise to facilitate bioterrorism response planning.

While the probability of a Bioterrorism/Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) attack remains low, it is nonetheless important to be prepared for such an event. The mechanisms for responding to a Bioterrorism/Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) event are also useful when handling other disasters, such as floods, earthquakes or chemical spills. One objective is to design response strategies that will utilize a region's resources, not just those of one city or county. This will enable more rapid and effective event responses.

Important links to Biological Terrorism, Emergency Response, and Homeland Security can be found on our links page.

©2000-2008 Lincoln County Health Department.