Contact Whatcom MRC
MRC Coordinator Medical Reserve Corps Whatcom County Health Department 509 Girard St Bellingham, WA 98225 Ofc 360.676.6724 ext 50852 Fax 360.676.7646 web http://www.whatcomMRC.org email: info@whatcommrc.org
About the Whatcom MRC
The Whatcom County MRC is an effort by volunteers, government agencies, elected and appointed leadership, and most importantly, the citizens of Whatcom County. The effort to establish the unit began in early 2005 and was led by several motivated volunteers.
These committed citizens volunteered their time to begin this effort because they recognized a critical unmet need in Whatcom County disaster preparedness plans. As the county’s population continues to grow, the threats to our health, wellbeing and security multiply. These volunteers recognized vulnerability in our community and donated hundreds of hours to begin a program that would be instrumental in addressing these needs. The MRC is a method that Medical Professionals that live, work, play, or have retired in our great community can be best used to strengthen the emergency and disaster plans of our community.
The Whatcom County Pandemic Influenza Task Force recognized that volunteers would be instrumental in assuring that the citizens of our community can respond to and recover from a pandemic influenza. The Task Force in 2006 made several recommendations to prepare for this pandemic and recommended that the Whatcom County health Department lead the effort.
The Whatcom Medical Reserve Corps plays an important part in the Health Department’s pandemic influenza efforts. In the recent H1N1 response, volunteers provided between one third and one half of the staff at early clinics, at an economic impact to the county of over $20,000.
About Whatcom County Public Health
The Health Department has been charged with assisting in developing a response plan to a potential pandemic influenza. Part of that responsibility includes implementing the Medical Reserve Corps. The department has committed staff and funds to ensure the development of the MRC.