Public Information
NEIGHBORHOOD EMERGENCY HELP CENTERS (NEHC)

What are NEIGHBORHOOD 		A Neighborhood Emergency Help Center (NEHC)
EMERGENCY HELP CENTERS		is a Division of Public Health (DPH) facility that serves 
(NEHCs)?			as a gateway into the health care system in the event 
				of a disaster or public health emergency (i.e. pandemic 
				influenza outbreak) affecting large numbers 		
				of persons.  

				NEHCs provide medical information, medications 	
				and/or vaccine to prevent illness.  A single NEHC can 
				process up to 2,000 people per hour, depending upon 
				the agent.  Other facilities such as hospitals and Acute 
				Care Centers treat ill persons.  

Medications:			Medication provided at the NEHCs is free to the public. 
				The NEHC medications are supplied by the State’s 	
				Pharmaceutical Stockpile and/or the 	Strategic National 
				Stockpile (SNS). The SNS is a national repository of 
				stockpiled medication and equipment available to 	
				Delaware within 12 hours of an event.  

NEHC Locations:			The locations of the NEHCs will be advertised through 
				local media.

Staffing: 			Staff at NEHCs may include nurses, pharmacists, 	
				mental health counselors and other medical 		
				professionals. Language interpretation is also available 
				at the NEHCs. 

What to Expect?			Persons arriving at the NEHC are initially screened and 
				treated based on their needs. After completing 	
				registration forms, medication and/or vaccine are 	
				provided. Also given are instructions and educational 
				material about the medication, vaccine and disease. It 
				is encouraged that one member of the household 	
				complete individual registrations for all members of the 
				household and pick up medications for all members of 
				the household.  

 

24/7 Emergency Contact Number:  1-888-295-5156
Revised: 03/2010