Emergency Preparedness at UP Health System – Marquette

At UP Health System – Marquette, caring for our community means being ready at all times — even for situations we hope never happen. From winter storms and flooding to mass casualty incidents — such as multiple-vehicle crashes, active-shooter incidents, large building fires, industrial or workplace accidents, hazardous material incidents and structural collapses — and public health emergencies, our team works year-round to prepare to respond quickly, safely and effectively.

Emergency preparedness is the process of planning, training, equipping and organizing people and systems so they can respond to and recover from emergencies or disasters. Our hospital does not prepare alone. We work closely with regional hospitals, emergency responders, health departments, schools and community partners to help ensure our region is ready to care for those who need us most.

Planning for the Unexpected

Each year, our emergency preparedness committee reviews a hazard vulnerability assessment. This assessment evaluates potential emergencies by examining their likelihood and possible impact on hospital operations. 

These hazards may include:

• Natural events such as blizzards, flooding or severe weather
• Technological disruptions such as communication failures, utility outages or supply chain interruptions
• Human-related events such as pandemics or mass casualty incidents 

Based on this assessment, the committee identifies priority focus areas for the coming year. The group meets quarterly to review preparedness plans, discuss improvements, and evaluate drills or real-world events as part of ongoing readiness efforts.

A Team Effort Across the Hospital

Emergency preparedness involves expertise from across the hospital. Our emergency management team includes frontline staff such as physicians, nurses and EMS professionals, along with representatives from departments including:

• Administration
• Imaging
• Laboratory services
• Supply chain
• Environmental services
• Marketing and communications

We also collaborate closely with the emergency management team at UP Health System – Bell to support coordination between facilities.

An “All-hazards” Approach

At UP Health System – Marquette, we follow an “all-hazards approach” to emergency preparedness. This means preparing for a wide range of situations, from winter storms and cyber incidents to communication failures and large-scale medical emergencies.

As the region’s tertiary care center, we are prepared to respond to emergencies that occur both inside the hospital and across the community. 

Practicing for Real-Life Scenarios

Preparation goes beyond planning — it also requires practice. Our team regularly participates in:

• Emergency exercises and drills
• Tabletop scenarios
• Mock emergency activations

Following each exercise or real-world event, teams conduct debriefings to evaluate performance and identify opportunities for improvement.

UP Health System is also part of the Michigan Region 8 Healthcare Coalition, which brings together hospitals, health departments, EMS, fire departments, law enforcement, tribal health organizations and other agencies to support coordinated emergency response efforts.

Strengthening Regional Readiness

One recent effort includes participation in the Special Pathogens Response Network. Through this partnership, UP Health System – Marquette, UP Health System – Bell and Rampart EMS have received support from the state’s regional response team for specialized equipment and supplies.

These resources help support the safe care and transport of patients with highly infectious or contaminated conditions, if needed.

Supporting the Upper Peninsula

While our primary focus is serving Marquette County, our role as a regional referral center means we may support communities throughout the Upper Peninsula.

We work with regional emergency response partners and may assist other hospitals and health care facilities across the Upper Peninsula when additional coordination or resources are needed. 

Our Commitment to the Community

Emergency preparedness often involves planning for situations that may never occur. However, maintaining readiness is essential.

Our community depends on us to be prepared — whether responding to a winter storm, a major accident or an emerging public health concern. 

At UP Health System – Marquette, our teams train, plan and collaborate year-round so we can respond when needed and continue caring for our community.