The Public Health Preparedness Program coordinates planning and program development for the Florida Department of Health in Union County (DOH-Union) and other local and state agencies to protect the public health of Florida’s citizens and visitors from the effects of manmade and naturally-occurring events. The goals of the program are to upgrade preparedness for and response to bioterrorism, outbreaks of infectious disease, and other public health threats and emergencies.
Be Prepared
Every family should have an emergency plan in place and an emergency supply kit ready and stocked.
Project Public Health Ready
In 2010, the Florida Department of Health in Union County was recognized by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) for being Project Public Health Ready (PPHR). Project Ready is a collaborative public health preparedness initiative between the Florida Department of Health, NACCHO, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
PPHR was developed by and for local health departments to enhance the ability of a county health department to protect the public’s health before, during, and after an emergency or disaster. DOH-Union was re-recognized in 2015 and 2020.
PPHR’s Main Goals
- All-Hazards Preparedness Planning
- Workforce Capacity Development
- Quality Improvement through Exercises and Real Event Response
The health department disaster preparedness and planning program is a two-county program to develop plans and activities that increase Bradford and Union County’s ability to prepare, respond and mitigate man-made or natural disasters. This program collaborates with local Emergency Management staff and Regional DOH staff to meet planning, training and exercise needs of health care workers in both the public and private sectors.