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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.
Emergency Preparedness and Response
Florida Department of Health in Dixie County
- (352) 498 - 1360
- WebInfoDixie@flhealth.gov
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Mailing Address
149 NE 241st Street
Cross City, FL 32628
Emergency Preparedness and Response
The Public Health Preparedness Program (PHPP) coordinates planning and preparedness activities for all-hazards public health emergencies for the Dixie County Health Department (DCHD). Public health emergencies are events or disasters that threaten the health of communities or groups of people.
The PHPP prepares the community to deal with a myriad of public health emergencies, like natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods , or wildfires, severe weather such as extreme heat, disease outbreaks such as pandemic flu and biological terrorist attacks, such as an anthrax release.
The PHPP works alongside many professionals and volunteers from community organizations, county agencies/departments and region and state partners. Working together prepares us for public health emergencies that can affect the health and safety of our citizens and visitors.
Preparation for a public health emergency is a responsibility of all citizens of Dixie County. We all have to work together to be sure that we are ready for a disaster when it strikes. Being prepared for a public health emergency is vital so we can emerge from a crisis in good health.
This PHPP website includes our program community initiatives as well as important information related to disaster preparedness and planning. Our intent is to assist the Dixie County community to understand the importance of preparing for catastrophic threats to public health. Stay informed, get involved, and when the next disaster strikes, you will be ready!
Preparedness
The Florida Department of Health in Dixie County's Emergency Preparedness and Response Program is actively involved in planning and responding to the public health needs of the community in times of emergency or disaster. The priorities of the Florida Department of Health in Dixie are to assure that delivery of essential medical and public health services are maintained or restored following a disaster and that assistance is provided to meet emergency needs of the affected population.
We Are Ready!
The Florida Department of Health in Dixie County Public Health Preparedness program is READY. After a year-long community wide effort in 2014-2015 the National Project Public Health Ready certificate was awarded.
Each of the three PPHR project goals: all-hazards preparedness planning, workforce capacity development and demonstration of readiness through exercises or real events, has a comprehensive list of standards that must be met in order to achieve PPHR recognition.
The 'preparedness cycle' is one element of a broader National Preparedness System. Dixie County uses this continuous cycle to ensure readiness. Our goal is to ensure DOH-Dixie and healthcare partners are prepared for, can respond to, and recover from a bioterrorism event, outbreak of infectious disease or other public health emergency.
Planning
To develop your Family Disaster plan visit the Florida Division of Emergency Management. If you need to evacuate, what should you bring to a shelter? Use our Shelter Checklist. DOH Dixie is Ready! We have very complete plans that compliment the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan of Dixie County.
The Florida Department of Health in Dixie County's main plan, the All Hazards Emergency Operations Plan has fifteen annexes that cover these topics:
- Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP)
- Special Needs Shelter Plan (SpNS)
- Environmental Health Plan
- Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) Plan
- Mass Vaccination and Prophylaxis Plan
- Crisis & Emergency Risk Communications Plan
- Mass Fatality/Casualty Plan
- Statewide Mutual Aid & Resource Management Plan
- ESF-8 Plan
- Medical Surge Plan
- Alternate Care Site
- Workforce Development Plan (Training & Exercising)
- Isolation and Quarantine Plan
- Epidemiology and Communicable Disease Plan
Training and Equipping
The Florida Department of Health in Dixie County has a baseline of training in Emergency Response for all staff. As part of the employee orientation, each new employee takes these preparedness courses:
ICS 100 Introduction to Incident Command Systems
ICS 700 National Incident Management Systems (NIMS), an Introduction
Our Partners
Dixie County Healthcare professionals and facilities are critical partners in a disaster to meet the needs of those injured or ill.
Dixie County Emergency Management becomes the critical coordination point in a county wide disaster to activate an Emergency Operation Center. DOH Dixie takes the lead in Health and Medical Response under Emergency Support Function 8 at the Dixie County Emergency Management.
Connect with DOH