FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13, 2015

Contact: Communications Office
(850) 245-4111

TALLAHASSEE—The Florida Department of Health today announced four additional counties have received national Project Public Health Ready (PPHR) recognition from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), for meeting rigorous national standards of public health preparedness. This news brings the total number of Florida counties that have received this highest preparedness honor to 59. Only 400 local health departments in 27 states have met national PPHR standards.

"Our public health professionals in each county work tirelessly to ensure that our communities are ready to handle any emergency event," said State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong. "The Project Public Health Ready designation demonstrates Florida's capacity to respond effectively to any emergency so that our families, businesses and communities remain safe."

The following counties received Project Public Health Ready recognition in 2014: Bay, Calhoun, Duval and Jackson. These counties were supported in their efforts to achieve this recognition by mentors and technical reviewers who had previously acted as PPHR team leads in their own counties, a system that Florida initiated and other states are adopting across the nation.

Project Public Health Ready is a collaborative initiative that sets state and national criteria in all-hazards preparedness planning, workforce capacity development and demonstration of readiness through exercises or real events. The Department has participated in PPHR since its inception in 2003. Five additional counties are currently in the process of applying for initial PPHR recognition and 11 are seeking their 5-year re-recognition. The Department anticipates all county offices will achieve PPHR status within two years.

The Department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts. The Department is recognizing 125 years of public health in Florida with educational opportunities and events. Please visit www.FLHealth125.gov for more information.

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