Barry-Eaton District Health Department

10/09/2026

Children can get into more than you might realize, including places where fi****ms are stored. Under Michigan law, gun owners must securely store fi****ms when children may be in the home, either in a locked container or unloaded and locked with a locking device.

Find a free gun lock near you: bit.ly/gun-lock-distribution-map (we have them in our lobby vending machines!)

10/08/2026

Several flu vaccines are available in Michigan right now—and the best option for you depends on your age and health history. Talk to a health care provider or pharmacist to learn more. You can find flu vaccines at pharmacies, doctor’s offices, clinics, local health departments, and other convenient locations. Find more info from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services: bit.ly/4yxK9go

10/07/2026

- THANK YOU -

We are incredibly grateful for all of our amazing response partners here in Barry County.

The reponse to the presence of ricin in our community wouldn’t have been possible without your partnership, collaboration and commitment to our community. From behind-the-scenes coordination to direct support for residents, you have continued to show up when our community needed you most.

Thank you for being there every step of the way.
We are so grateful to work alongside you.

See the full list of response partners here: barryeatonhealth.org/ricin-2026-community-appreciation/

10/02/2026

🏠 A BIG DAY FOR TYDEN LOFTS! 🎉

We’re excited to share that all remaining apartments at Tyden Lofts are now cleared for resident re-entry! 💜

After weeks of assessment, decontamination, environmental sampling, and coordination, all required test samples have come back negative, and the building has been cleared for residents to return home.

This is an important milestone for Tyden Lofts residents and the entire Hastings community. We know this has been a long and difficult road, and we’re so grateful for the patience, strength, and cooperation residents have shown throughout this response.

This would not have been possible without an incredible network of partners working together to protect residents, complete the necessary remediation, and provide support along the way. From public safety and health agencies to community organizations, businesses, churches, healthcare providers, volunteers, and neighbors who provided meals, clothing, personal care items, pet supplies, emotional support, and so much more, this truly has been a community effort.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who showed up for Tyden Lofts residents and the Hastings community when they needed it most.

Welcome home, Tyden Lofts residents! 💜

09/30/2026

Michigan’s forests and fields are full of beauty, but maybe some ticks, too. Protect yourself and your four-legged companion this season.

Learn more about tick bite prevention in Michigan’s great outdoors at bit.ly/MichTickPrevention.

09/29/2026

🏠 Looking for affordable housing? Watch for these red flags.

Searching for housing can be stressful, and scammers may take advantage of people who are trying to find a safe, affordable place to live.

🚩 Red flags to watch for:
• A listing that looks copied from another property
• A price that seems too good to be true
• A landlord who says they are “out of town”
• Requests for upfront payments before you see the property
• Pressure to act quickly
• Communication only through unusual channels
• Fake websites, leases or other documents

💻 Never pay before seeing the property in person.

No tour. No lease. No payment.

If you can't see the property and sign a lease before paying, keep looking.

🚫 Legitimate landlords should not ask you to send money through Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, Bitcoin or gift cards.

🔐 Protect your personal information, too. Never send sensitive personal information through a social media DM or text message to someone you haven't verified.

Think you've encountered a housing scam?

Report a scam or file a complaint with the Michigan Department of Attorney General Consumer Protection Team:

📞 517-335-7599
📞 Toll-free: 877-765-8388
📬 P.O. Box 30213 Lansing, MI 48909

You can also submit an online report through the Michigan Attorney General's Office.

This resource was developed by the Affordable Housing Action Team within the Eaton County Human Services Collaborative Council.

09/28/2026

🦇 It’s World Rabies Day!

September 28 is World Rabies Day, a reminder that rabies is a serious but preventable disease.

In Michigan, bats are the most common way people come into contact with rabies. A bat bite can be very small and may not be felt or easily seen.

Found a bat? Here’s what to know:

🦇 If you or someone in your household had direct contact with a bat, DO NOT LET THE BAT GO. This includes a bite, scratch, or other direct contact.

🦇 You should also contact BEDHD if a bat is found in a room with someone who may not be aware that contact occurred, such as someone who was sleeping, a child, or someone who is unable to recognize or report contact.

🦇 Safely capture the bat for possible rabies testing. Do not handle it with bare hands, smash it, or put anything in the container with it. Do not put the container in the freezer. A refrigerator is okay.

🦇 Before bringing a bat to BEDHD, contact us first. We will discuss whether the bat needs to be tested and provide instructions on what to do next.

📞 Barry and Eaton counties: 517-541-2641

If you need to capture a bat, BEDHD recommends using leather work gloves, a small clear container, a lid or piece of cardboard, and tape. Once the bat lands, place the container over it, slide the lid or cardboard underneath, and securely tape it closed.

DO NOT release the bat. If the bat is available for testing and tests negative for rabies, preventive treatment may not be needed.

For complete guidance on bats, animal bites and rabies, visit: barryeatonhealth.org/bats-ticks-mosquitoes-and-animal-bites

🦇 When it comes to rabies, don’t wait to ask. Contact BEDHD if you think you or someone in your household may have been exposed.

09/25/2026

We are so grateful to have a resource like The Ability Collective of Barry County here in our community! If you're interested in learning more about emergency preparedness for your family, send us a DM and we will connect you with our emergency preparedness expert :)

Today, the emergency preparedness event we hosted with Barry-Eaton District Health Department distributed emergency kits and educational materials to 29 people and Brycen's Closet equipped 3 families with durable medical equipment. What an honor to do this work with our community 💪🏻

09/24/2026

Today is the day!

Stop by The Ability Collective of Barry County between 11am-6pm to check out our event - Ready Together: Emergency Preparedness That Works for YOU!

We’ll be sharing practical preparedness information and providing emergency kits to help you prepare for a variety of situations.

🧡 Register in advance to reserve your emergency kit: https://form.jotform.com/262364783047059
📍 The Ability Collective of Barry County
🕚 11 a.m.–6 p.m.

A limited number of additional kits will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Our staff will be on site throughout the event to answer questions and help you think through your emergency preparedness needs.
We hope to see you there