The Bureau of Emergency Preparedness and Response works with Iowa's local public health departments and hospitals to ensure they have the resources to be able to respond to a public health emergency.  Some of our initiatives include grants management, maintenance, storage, and deployment of resources and assets, developing emergency plans and operational procedures. The program also manages, maintains, and coordinates the Iowa HHS Emergency Coordination Center to plan, track and document response activities.

A shared system infrastructure with Iowa's local Health Care Coalitions has created strategies for public health preparedness programs in Iowa and their ability to react quickly in an emergency.

Iowa Health Alert Network

The Iowa Health Alert Network (HAN) system is a secure, web-based communication system. This system is a partnership between the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS), local public health agencies, hospitals and other agencies. It is designed to enable a 24/7 flow of critical information between Iowa HHS and local partners throughout the state.

Iowa's HAN system is capable of rapid distribution of health information, important documents, announcements, news items and collaborative sharing between agencies throughout Iowa. The system utilizes multiple formats to deliver messaging including email, phone, and text messaging.

Contact the HAN Officer for more information at (515) 281-0914.

PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION LINE ONLY

24 hours a day, 365 days a year

1-866-834-9671

For use by local public health agencies, hospitals, emergency medical services, emergency management coordinators and other emergency response agencies to notify the Iowa HHS Duty Officer of public health emergencies.