Preparedness & Emergency Response

Contact an Expert
Kara Amann
Director of Hospital Preparedness Programs
- Send an Email
- 573-893-3700| ext. 1402

Hospital emergency preparedness and response is fundamental to community resiliency.
These planning resources establish hospital readiness, and provide a proven response and recovery framework, for before, during and after an emergency.
Outbreak & Emerging Diseases
Supply Chain
Missouri Health Care Coalition

Stages of an Emergency
01. Preparedness
Preparedness are steps taken to ensure safety before, during and after an emergency. It is a continuous cycle of planning, organizing, training, equipping, exercising, evaluating and taking corrective action in an effort to ensure effective coordination during incident response.
02. Response
Response takes place in the initial minutes of an emergency and involves repeated assessment, planning, action and review to respond appropriately to needs and capacities as they evolve.
03. Mitigation
Mitigation is the effort to reduce the loss of life and property by lessening the impact of incidents.
04. Recovery
Recovery is the phase of the emergency from the point of incident stabilization to a return to a “normal” state.

MHA Resources
Implementing the Basics of HICS
On-demand content is available to ensure operational level staff or executives are equipped with the foundational knowledge and skills to navigate any crisis seamlessly.

Health Care Preparedness Professional Orientation Timeline
The Health Care Preparedness Professional Orientation Timeline provides a standardized orientation template to understand facility requirements, regional resources and Missouri’s health care response system. (Excel file)


Federal Emergency Management Agency
FEMA’s mission is to lead America to prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from disasters with a vision of “A Nation Prepared.” The agency offers several resources to help people before, during, and after disasters.
National Incident Management System
FEMA’s National Incident Management System provides a common, nationwide approach to enable the whole community to work together to manage all threats and hazards. NIMS applies to all incidents, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity. NIMS retains key concepts and principles while incorporating lessons learned from exercises and real-world incidents, best practices, and changes in national policy.
MHA Resources
FEMA Resources
Stay Informed MHA Newsroom
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Get Involved Events & Education
All Events2026 Pain Management Series Registration: Advancing Substance Use Care in Clinical Practice
Join us for a four-part informational series focused on improving clinical practice related to opioid prescribing, pain management, stimulant use…
Infection Prevention Academy
This eight-part orientation will prepare infection prevention health care professionals for surveillance, prevention and control of…
Overdose Trends in Missouri
Join us as we delve into the current state of the state regarding overdose trends in Missouri.
Clinical Faculty Academy
Train the next generation of nurses! This two-day academy equips RNs to succeed as clinical instructors with key skills, support and CNE…
Mutual Aid Agreement
The Missouri Hospital Mutual Aid Agreement establishes a coordinated system through which hospitals throughout Missouri and in adjoining states will provide mutual aid to each other as necessary to support emergency medical care needs in a medical disaster.