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Readiness Kit

Root cellar

Preparing for a Disaster

It is good to be prepared for disasters that may strike your area. Having an emergency supply kit will help in that preparation. (It is suggested to plan for three days). Some suggested items are:

Minimum of 3-Day Food/Water Supply

Health Supplies

  • Minimum of 3-day supply of medicines and prescription medicine
  • Medical Supplies (syringes, cane, hearing aids, extra batteries)

Personal Care Items

  • Hand Sanitizer
  • Soap
  • Towels
  • Toilet articles
  • Blankets
  • Containers for waste
  • Baby wipes

Safety Supplies

  • Filter masks or handkerchiefs
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit
  • Whistle

Electronics

  • Flashlight
  • Batteries
  • Radio (Battery-, solar-, or hand-crank powered)
  • Cell phone chargers

Documents

  • Insurance cards
  • Immunization records
  • Paperwork for any serious or on-going medical condition
  • Family Emergency Plan (meeting location, contact info, directions for use, etc.)

Miscellaneous

  • Duct tape and scissors
  • Garbage bags or plastic
  • Multipurpose tool (containing knife, file, pliers, screwdriver, etc.)
  • Extra cash
  • Map of area
  • Extra car/house keys

Children

  • Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers, etc.)
  • Games/activities
  • Stuffed animal

Pets

  • Water (Cats and dogs generally need 1 gallon for three days)
  • Pet food
  • Bowls or bottles
  • Litter box
  • Paper towels
  • Trash bags
  • Manual can opener
  • Pet first aid book
  • Leash, harness or carrier
  • Pet toys
  • Medicine and medical records
  • Photo and description of pet(s)
  • Feeding schedules, medical conditions, behavior problems, veterinarian telephone number

Preparedness for Kids

Game

Disasters and emergencies can be scary, but the more prepared you are, the safer you will be and the easier it will be to act. By creating an emergency plan (for parents and for kids) and emergency kits, you will have the tools to be safe. 

Remember to ask questions when working with your family. Answering questions and alleviating fears is easier now, than during an emergency. 

Resources

Ready Kids

  • Games
  • Tools for teachers
  • Kit preparation

Mickey and Friends Activity Book

  • Printable pages
  • Variety of activities
  • Emergency kit checklist

NFPA Sparky Site

  • Apps
  • Games
  • Videos
  • Activities

Teaching Kids About Emergency Preparedness

  • Age appropriate materials for young people
  • Practice what to do in an emergency
  • Educational programs including:  Prepare with Pedro, Pillowcase Project & Red Cross Kids' Videos

Web Weather for Kids Site

  • Stories 
  • Activities
  • Games

 

Preparedness at Work

Ambulance

You spend a lot of hours at your place of employment. But are you prepared for when something goes wrong? If there was a disaster, would you have the resources available to survive and get home, where the bulk of your emergency preparedness should already be created? Business owners: If your employees were trapped at your building for an extended period of time, do they have the resources available to get home to their families? 

It is important for employers to utilize a disaster plan or program, and for employees to tailor that plan to their individual needs through the contents of readiness kits. This emergency plan template is a solid starting point in developing your organization's own plan.  

And, of course, once the plans have been written, and the resources created, communication with all aspects of the business/organization and practicing drills regularly could be the difference in loss of life during an emergency situation. 

Resources

Preparedness at Home

Family

Are You Prepared? 

Emergency preparedness should begin in the home of each citizen. In the event of an emergency, your survival may well be determined by the water you have stored, or the storm measures you have created with your family. Below are a number of resources that can help you and your family become more prepared: 

  • Create a Family Emergency Plan
  • Assemble Your Readiness Kit
  • Be Informed 
  • Practice, Practice, Practice

CodeRED

Residents of some counties have the option of receiving severe weather warnings by phone through the CodeRED Weather Warning alert system option. The CodeRED Community Notification System contacts residents and businesses by telephone to inform of certain events that may impact the safety of persons or protection of property. If your county utilizes this system, it can be personalized for your specific community, and utilizes a synthesized voice and an automatic dialing system to deliver the calls.

The option will call residents to warn them of tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, and flash floods. Residents may specify which types of storm warning alerts they would like to receive.

Residents who have signed up for CodeRED in the past do NOT need to re-sign up every year, unless there has been a phone number or address change. If you no longer wish to receive notifications, you are responsible for notifying CodeRED of this change.

CodeRED Signup Page                       CodeRED mobile app

If you wish to be removed from WEATHER notifications, please call 1-800-566-9780. 

The CodeRED Community Notification System is a best-effort notification and provides no guarantee that you will be notified during any system activation. The city or county utilizing the system reserves the right to change, update or discontinue this service, without notice. The decision to initiate a notification rests with individual cities and counties.

By entering and submitting information you are authorizing CenCom, on behalf of your city or county to contact you at this telephone number with information about emergencies and non-emergencies that may impact you or your property. You agree that the CodeRED Community Notification System is not a substitute or replacement for other avenues of notification and that you will not rely on it as such. You agree to waive any and all claims against your city or county and to hold the officers, employees, and agents of your city or county harmless for any and all personal injuries and/or damage to property that may occur as a result of your use of this service.

CodeRed's Emergency Communication Network Privacy Policy

Facebook

Be sure to like and follow Western Plains Public Health on Facebook. We provide a number of informational posts each week on a variety of topics, including emergency preparedness. 

Recovery After Disaster: The Family Financial Toolkit

Recovery After Disaster: The Family Financial Toolkit is a comprehensive resource that offers strategies and provides tools that can help you (or the families you work with) move along the road towards financial recovery. The tools provided in this award-winning toolkit will help you (or the families you work with) make decisions that are best for your family. 

Additional Video Resources

24/7 Contact

Cell Phone

 

To report a public health emergency, please call 911, State Radio at (800) 472-2121 or contact your county's sheriff's office:

  • Morton County - (701) 667-3330
  • Grant County - (701) 622-3331
  • Mercer County - (701) 745-3333
  • Oliver County - (701) 794-3450
  • Sioux County - (701) 854-3481

To report a communicable disease, please contact the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services locally at (701) 328-2378, toll free at (800) 472-2180 or online at www.ndhealth.gov/disease/reportcard. Read about the North Dakota Century Code regarding reportable diseases.

To report a spill, contact the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality by phone at (701) 328-5150, or by fax at (701) 328-5200. It may be beneficial to utilize the Emergency Response Guidebook.

Information regarding current emergencies can be viewed at ND Response. 

24/7 Emergency Contacts

Red

24/7 Emergency Reporting

To report a public health emergency, please call 911, State Radio at (800) 472-2121 or contact your county's sheriff's office:

  • Morton County - (701) 667-3330
  • Grant County - (701) 622-3331
  • Mercer County - (701) 745-3333
  • Oliver County - (701) 794-3450
  • Sioux County - (701) 854-3481

To report a communicable disease, please contact the North Dakota Department of Health locally at (701) 328-2378, toll free at (800) 472-2180 or online at www.ndhealth.gov/disease/reportcard. Read about the North Dakota Century Code regarding reportable diseases.

To report a spill, contact the North Dakota Environmental Department by phone at (701) 328-5150, or by fax at (701) 328-5200. It may be beneficial to utilize the Emergency Response Guidebook.

Information regarding current emergencies can be viewed at ND Response. 

Tanning Establishments

Sun

Western Plains Public Health licenses and inspects facilities that offer indoor tanning. Inspection and education at these facilities is performed to prevent disease and ensure proper sanitation.

Tanning Establishment Code      License Application

Establishment Resources

Tanning Warning Sign      Tanning Injury Report

Service Provided In

Grant, Mercer, Morton, Oliver and Sioux Counties

Contact:
Lana Schmidt, REHS/RS
Emily Pearson, EHP


Submit a Complaint

If you witness anything that hinders public health within Sioux, Grant, Morton, Oliver and Mercer Counties, please file a complaint.

Onsite Septic System Program

Stream
Permit Application      Installer Application      Large-Capacity Application

Western Plains Onsite Treatment System Code

2024 Western Plains Licensed Installers   2023 Western Plains Licensed Installers

Emmons and Kidder County Residents
In 2017, Emmons County Public Health and Kidder County District Health Unit Boards of Health adopted the above statewide septic system code. This requires that all installers are licensed and that every new or updated septic system is permitted and inspected. Emmons County and Kidder County contract environmental health services through Western Plains Public Health to perform these duties. If you have questions, please contact your respective health unit or call us directly at 701-667-3370. We look forward to working with all of you in the future!
Emmons County Onsite Treatment System Code       Kidder County Onsite Treatment System Code

North Dakota Board of Registration for Professional Soil Classifiers Roster

Information for Homeowner Installation:

Individual Home Sewage Treatment Systems

For more information on installing your own system as well as some Do's and Don'ts for septic systems:  Homeowner Installation Document

How can a natural disaster affect your septic system?!

Services Provided In

Grant, Mercer, Morton, Oliver and Sioux Counties
Emmons and Kidder Counties

Contact:
Lana Schmidt, REHS/RS
Emily Pearson, EHP


Submit a Complaint

If you witness anything that hinders public health within Sioux, Grant, Morton, Oliver and Mercer Counties, please file a complaint.

Public Health Nuisances

Mosquitoes

Western Plains Public Health environmental health practitioners will inspect public health nuisances under the authority granted through North Dakota Century Code 23-35-09.  A public health nuisance can be defined as a condition, activity, or situation that interferes with the use or enjoyment of property and is injurious to health.  the nuisance is a public issue when it unreasonably interferes with a right common to the general public.  Examples may include breeding areas for flies, collection of sewage, water serving as a mosquito breeding area, rat harborages, bed bugs and other mediums of disease transmission.

If you are aware of a public health nuisance, source of filth, and/or cause of sickness, please call our office at 701-667-3370 or complete the webform provided:

 



Rental Housing
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