Miami-Dade County is located in one of the most hurricane prone areas of the United States causing major concern for the health, safety and welfare of the residents living there. The threat from natural and man-made disaster increases as Miami-Dade County has a rapidly increasing population of over two million people. In addition over twelve million visitors pass through our international airport every year.
Miami-Dade County Heath Department (MDCHD) has been proactive in addressing these disaster preparedness issues over the past several years. The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has developed policies, plan procedures and training to provide all MDCHD employees as well as all citizens and visitors to Miami-Dade County the necessary preparation to survive any major disaster with minimal loss as well as the ability to implement a recovery phase and restore Miami-Miami-Dade County to a pre-disaster status.
OEM began with the assignment of MDCHD personnel to the South Miami-Dade Government Center immediately following Hurricane Andrew. Here MDCHD personnel working with federal, state and local agencies, worked under newly developed protocols to respond to the various types of disaster needs. These protocols are known as Emergency Support Functions (ESF) and have been officially adopted by the State and most County Emergency Operations Offices .
Prior to Hurricane Andrew, only one part time position provided support to emergency issues. As activities involving hurricane preparedness, sheltering of persons with special needs and bioterrorism increased, additional MDCHD personnel were assigned to emergency management duties. Today, MDCHD OEM has a well-equipped Command Center with advanced communications capabilities, portable satellite communication systems and response vehicles. OEM also supports our new Bioterrorism Program. . This program was created after significant increase in terrorism throughout the world.
Program Description
The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is task with ensuring the Miami Dade County Health Department (MDCHD) is prepared and trained to deal with natural, as well as, man made disasters and emergencies and to expedite recovery efforts. OEM conducts readiness evaluations of the MDCHD Emergency Operations Center, individual programs and self response.
Goals and Objectives
The goalsand objectives of the OEM are to successfully plan, train, and respond to any emergency; to restore critical services expeditiously;to obtain and train in the latest emergency response technology and to be logistically independent.
Program Policies/Procedures/Protocol
The OEM follows the Emergency Management Plan as its primary emergency plan, as well as, the state Emergency Operations Plan. OEM has drafted a Command Center Plan specifically for the MDCHD. In addition, OEM is in the process of drafting a comprehensive Bioterrorism Plan.
For further information of services offered by OEM, please call 305-
470-5667.
| Important Phone Numbers |
| Disaster Preparedness and Response |
305-470-5667 |
| Biopreparedness |
305-470-5667 |
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