Officials with Myrtue Medical Center and Myrtue Medical Center Community Health Department are encouraging the citizens of Shelby County to do their part in planning and preparedness to protect themselves, their family, and their community. Preparedness is an important personal responsibility to take simple steps such as organizing an emergency supply kit, making a personal preparedness plan, becoming informed about different threats, and getting involved in preparing their community on a local level.

Community members are also asked to register to volunteer to help in the event a disaster should occur in the community. Every volunteer is a valuable asset including medical providers, nurses, escorts, clerical support, or simply someone who is willing to provide comfort to someone in need.
Volunteers are encouraged to register at the Iowa Statewide Emergency Registry of Volunteers (i-SERV) at https://www.iaserv.org. Local volunteers may also contact Cathy Buman, RN, at cbuman@myrtuemedical.org for further information.

A local planning team of community partners meets quarterly to plan and discuss emergency response in Shelby County. Representatives from Myrtue Medical Center, Shelby County Board of Health, Shelby County Board of Supervisors, Shelby County Sheriff’s office, Harlan Police Department, Shelby County Public Health, local schools, long-term care facilities, public utilities, Shelby County Emergency Management Services, Shelby County Environmental Health, Shelby County Red Cross, and the Harlan Fire Department are part of this planning team. In addition, exercises are held yearly in Shelby County to practice and implement these county-wide emergency plans.

Further information on emergency preparedness is available at www.ready.gov. Contact Calla Poldberg, Director of Public Health, at 712-755-4423 for questions.