Public Health Preparedness is the ability of local health departments to respond to all emergencies with a detailed   plan of action and a system of communication that will include hospitals, law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services, and other emergency response agencies.

The State of Wisconsin is organized into twelve Consortia Regions that are developing public health preparedness plans. The Coulee Region Public Health Consortium consists of the health departments in Buffalo County, Jackson County, La Crosse County, Monroe County, Trempealeau County and the Ho-Chunk Nation working to ensure frontline public health workers have skills and competencies required to effectively respond to current and emerging health threats, including bioterrorism.