St. Johns County Health Department has been recognized nationally as Public Health Ready for all-hazards emergencies! As of December 2010 only 82 other local health departments across the country are achieving and demonstrating this level of ongoing public health emergency preparedness.

This means that the planning, training, and exercising we do year-round to prepare for public health and medical emergencies meet or exceed national standards set by the National Association of City and County Health Officials. We take our planning and training seriously so that we are ready to serve our community in any emergency, such as by operating Special Needs Shelters when tropical storms or wildfires force evacuations, or running Points of Dispensing or Mass Vaccination clinics to protect the public from disease outbreaks or epidemics. To provide surge capacity, we also maintain a local Medical Reserve Corps unit of trained volunteers. We also coordinate a Neighborhood Emergency Preparedness Program to help build more disaster resilient communities – two areas are currently involved: Hastings and Flagler Estates.

St. Johns County residents are encouraged to prepare well in advance of disasters. Make a plan for yourself, family members, and pets so that everyone knows what to do in an emergency. Assemble an emergency “go-kit” of important papers, supplies, and medications that you’ll need with you if you have to evacuate your home. The State of Florida has a website to help you get started: FloridaDisaster.org and even more information is available on the St. Johns County Emergency Management website (this is also where you can register for Special Needs Sheltering and transportation assistance to shelters in emergencies and find maps to the general population, pet friendly, and special needs shelters) Residents who might need to evacuate to local shelters with their pets should read this pamphlet: St Johns County’s Pet Friendly Shelter Program (PDF,800k)

FEMA’s website also offers several on-line courses to help citizens prepare for all-hazards. These web-based courses are free of charge and have lots of good information:

• An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness
• A Citizens Guide to Disaster Assistance
• Community Hurricane Preparedness (revised May 2010)

Residents interested in volunteering to help during and after public health and medical emergencies are invited to join a local Florida Medical Reserve Corps unit. Visit our Medical Reserve Corps page for more information.

For more information contact the St. Johns County Health Department’s Emergency Preparedness & Risk Manager at (904) 825-5055 x1122.

More important disaster planning and preparedness information for individuals, businesses, families, children, and persons with disabilities can be found on these sites:

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