Emergency Management
The Florida Department of Health (DOH) has been designated as
the lead state agency for Emergency Support Function 8 (ESF8)
and, in this capacity coordinates the State’s health, medical
and limited social service assets in the event of a major natural
(or man-made) disaster. To accomplish this goal, ESF8 oversees
the emergency management functions of preparedness, recovery,
mitigation and response with all agencies and organizations that
carry out health or medical services. All aspects of emergency
management are directed by the department’s Emergency Coordinating
Officer (ECO), located in the Office of the Secretary of Health,
Emergency Operations Section. Resources from DOH, other state
entities and voluntary organizations are obtained when local,
county and regional agencies are overwhelmed and additional assistance
is requested or deemed needed by the Division of Emergency Management
(DEM), within the Department of Community Affairs.
Roles in a Disaster for the Charlotte County Health Department
CHARLOTTE COUNTY EMERGENCY SUPPORT FUNCTION 8 (ESF-8): HEALTH
AND MEDICAL SERVICES
Primary Agency: Charlotte County Health Department
Support Agencies: Charlotte County Coroner, Charlotte County
Office of Human Services, Charlotte County Fire/Rescue, American
Red Cross, Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, Charlotte County
Mosquito Control, Charlotte County Office of Emergency Management,
Charlotte County Department of Transportation, Charlotte County
Ministerial Associations, Ambitrans, Charlotte Regional Medical
Center, Peace River Regional Medical Center, Fawcett Medical Center,
Charlotte County Medical Society
Purpose: ESF-8 coordinates Charlotte County's health,
medical and limited social service assets to be functional before,
during, and after natural or man-made disasters. Assistance provided
under ESF-8 will be directed by the Charlotte County Public Health
Unit's Emergency Coordinating Officer (ECO), located in the Emergency
Operations Center (EOC). Resources from the primary agency and
the support agencies are to be furnished as needed during disaster
operations.
ESF-8 provides or coordinates public health response, the triage,
treatment, and transportation of victims of a disaster, assistance
in the evacuation of victims out of the area after the event,
immediate support to hospitals and nursing homes, the provision
for Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD), and the reestablishment
of all health, medical, and social service systems.
The following services provide the framework upon which actions
occur:
- Assessment of health and medical needs
- Disease control/epidemiology
- Health/medical care personnel
- Health/medical equipment and supplies
- Patient evacuation
- Coordinated in-hospital and nursing home care
- Food and drug safety and availability of drugs and certain
foods
- Emergency responder health and safety
- Mental health and counseling
- Public Health information
- Potable water, disposal of waste water and solid waste
- Victim identification/mortuary services
- Management, command, and control of assets
- Emergency Medical Services
Other Emergency Operations Links: Links to the Centers
for Disease Control (CDC), the Division of Emergency Management
(DEM), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National
Weather Service (NWS) as well as other sources of information
are provided here.
Florida Dept of Health Emergency Operations Site
State Emergency Operations Center - Florida EOC
Charlotte County Office of Emergency Management |
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