Environmental Health and Engineering Disaster Response
The Environmental Health and Engineering Division plays a crucial role within the Miami-Dade County Health Department during disasters and emergencies. Of special note are the Drinking Water, Onsite Sewage Disposal Systems, Food and Group Care and the Healthy Beaches Programs. Before, during and after the time of a natural or man-made disaster, these programs in Environmental Health attempt to help clients prepare for the worst by devising plans that may help minimize the effects of these events. In some cases, Environmental Health staff are either on site or in constant contact with some facilities during a storm. During the 2005 storm season, the monitoring of public Water Systems in Miami Dade County resulted in the residents continuing to have safe drinking water during and after the storms. After storms, teams of environmental health inspectors visit facilities such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities to conduct damage assessments. Staff from the Onsite Sewage Disposal Systems Unit are instrumental in tracking and helping resolve problems with failed lift stations. Also, as part of the Healthy Beaches Program, staff monitors beach water quality to assess the impact from the storm.
The Environmental Health Division also maintains an active role at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for Miami-Dade County at any time it is in session in response to a serious event. Representatives for this task are trained in the use of specialized software that allows them to communicate with other governmental agencies when the EOC is activated. Their main duties consist of the coordination of activities in response to the disaster that fall under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Health and Engineering Division.
In response to disasters, Environmental Health staff handle other functions including issuing environmental public health advisories (boil/bottle water orders, beach advisories/warnings, etc.). They also coordinate requests for community resource needs through the NDCEOC using Tracker, and provide assistance to other impacted counties in the area of emergency response.
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