Public Health Emergency Preparedness

The Santa Cruz County Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness is engaging in collaborative, community-focused emergency health planning to address biological, chemical, radiological, or natural disaster events that result in public health threats or emergencies.


Santa Cruz County Health Services has:

  • Effective plans and resources to work with during emergencies to protect the community.
  • Develops and maintains public health emergency capacity.
  • Coordinated with community, county, state, tribal, and federal partners to develop a plan to provide mass prophylaxis and treatment to all people in the county.
  • Developed the capacity to rapidly identify diseases and initiate prevention and control activities.
  • Developed effective, secure communication infrastructure for rapid communication among public health and its partners.
  • Developed the capacity to effectively communicate health/risk information to the public and key partners.
  • Developed a public health workforce (including volunteers).
  • Prepared the community for an emergency.

Prepared

Even a small amount of preparation before an emergency can make a huge difference and can save lives. That is why the Santa Cruz County Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness is doing its part. We are creating plans, practicing them, and conducting training to better protect the residents of Santa Cruz County.

Plans

The Santa Cruz County Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness has developed the following plans in order to keep Santa Cruz County prepared for a public health emergency:

  • SCC All Hazards Plan
  • SCC Continuity of Operations Plan
  • SCC Environmental Health Response Plan
  • SCC Functional Needs Shelter Plan
  • SCC Outbreak Response Plan
  • SCC Pandemic Flu Plan
  • SCC Risk Communications Plan
  • SCC SNS and Mass Care Plan

    • Program Recognition

    The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) recognized Santa Cruz County Health Services for its ability to respond to public health emergencies. This recognition affirms that the Health Department has a comprehensive emergency response plan in place, staff is well-trained to execute the plan, and the plan is exercised and used during public health emergencies.

    Public Health Project