What Cherokee County is doing   Funding received from the Department of Homeland Security has been used in five areas:  I.                     To develop internal response plans and to coordinate plans with other agencies and organizations across the county.  Planning increases the quality and timeliness of response to an emergency. II.                   To increase disease surveillance and improve staff ability to identify and isolate transmission of disease agents.  This results in faster intervention response to reduce the number of individuals who are affected and reduce the severity of consequences to those who are affected. III.                  To improve communications between agencies, both locally and at the state level.  IV.               To prepare documents and procedures to communicate important information with the community as the need arises. V.                 To provide staff training and education on emergency response and disease prevention and intervention, particularly in relation to weapons of mass destruction.   In addition, the Health Department is one of eight counties in the Lower 8 Bioterrisom Region of Southeast Kansas working to strengthen our local and regional response capabilities.  The eight counties include Chautauqua, Cherokee, Crawford, Elk, Labette, Neosho, Montgomery, and Wilson.  This group meets monthly to discuss current issues, plan staff training, and prepare response plans that include collaboration across county lines.