What is public health’s role during a disaster or emergency?
After 9-11, our role changed from support to support plus two primary functions:
- We coordinate and administer disaster specific shots (vaccines or immunizations) and medications to large populations of people when indicated, and
All responses to natural and/or man-made disasters are encompassed in 15 Emergency Support Functions (ESF). Public Health has primary responsibilities in ESF 8 “Health and Medical” and secondary responsibilities in ESF 6 “Mass Care and Sheltering.”
Below are links to additional information about Emergency Preparedness.
