Emergency

Preparedness

Hospitals and healthcare organizations in Northeast Central Ohio have basic disaster plans to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies.  However, in 2003, ARHA agreed to hire an administrator to coordinate the Northeast Central Ohio regional hospital planning group to upgrade hospital preparedness to be able to respond to mass casualties resulting from terrorism or naturally occurring incidents in a more collaborative, regional manner. Funds for this project have been made possible by the Ohio Department of Health and the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Northeast Central Ohio (NECO) planning region includes the following thirteen (13) counties: Ashland, Carroll, Columbiana, Holmes, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Richland, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas and Wayne.

The hospitals in the NECO region who work collaboratively to increase preparedness in a regional manner include:

   Affinity Medical Center:

       Doctors Campus

       Massillon CAmpus

   Akron Children's Hospital

   Akron General Medical Center

   Alliance Community Hospital

   Aultman Hospital

   Barberton Citizens Hospital

   Dunlap Memorial Hospital

   East Liverpool City Hospital

   Forum Health System Hospitals:

       Northside Medical Center

       Tod's Children's Hospital 

       Trumbull Memorial Hospital

   Humility of Mary Health Partners Hospitals:

       St. Elizabeth Health Center

       St. Elizabeth Health Center-Boardman

       St. Joseph Health Center

   Heartland Behavioral Healthcare

   Lodi Community Hospital

   MedCentral Mansfield Hospital

   MedCentral Shelby Hospital

   Medina General Hospital

   Mercy Medical Center

   Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare

   Pomerene Hospital

   Robinson Memorial Hospital

   Salem Community Hospital

   Samaritan Regional Health System

   Summa Health System Hospitals:

       Akron City Hospital

       Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital

       St. Thomas Hospital

   Twin City Hospital

   Union Hospital

   WRH Health System

   Wooster Community Hospital

The NECO Regional Planning Group consists not only of hospitals but also representatives from Public Health, Emergency Management Agencies, Fire Departments, Law Enforcement, EMS Private Sector and others.

The mission of all in the NECO region is to assure collaboration with partners to protect and plan for overwhelming incidents that exceed local resources.

Emergency

Preparedness  for

the Community

There are many things you, as an individual or family, can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as assembling a supply kit and developing a family communications plan.  Most of these proactive steps will be same for both a natural or man-made emergency.  With a little planning and common sense, you can be better prepared for the unexpected.

The web sites and resources below are good guides to help you and your family be better prepared for any disaster.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security website offers many tips and resources to help you develop a family communications plan, create a disaster kit and offers resources for additional information of types of terrorism activities.     

American Red Cross offers tips of the day, preparedness resources for home, work, and schools  in the community.  It also lists great tips on preparing for all types of disasters including floods, blackouts, winter storms and more.

CDC website offers information on preparedness and response for healthcare providers and the community.  Sections of information include bioterrorism, chemical exposure, mass casualties, natural disasters, disease outbreaks and more.