General Information
Public health threats are always present. Whether caused by natural, accidental, or intentional means, these threats can lead to the onset of public health incidents. Being prepared to prevent, respond to, and rapidly recover from public health threats is critical for protecting the health of Nevadans and our many visitors.
The 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic underscored the importance of communities being prepared for potential threats. Nevada’s Public Health Preparedness (PHP) program, working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), plays a pivotal role in ensuring that state and local public health systems are prepared for these and other public health incidents. The CDC provides funding and technical assistance to the state of Nevada through the Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) cooperative agreement. Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Program and Guidance | State and Local Readiness | CDC Nevada PHP plans and implements measures in coordination with local health authorities and other partners to prepare Nevada for public health threats and to mitigate their effects.
The CDC has developed a Public Health Response Readiness Framework that outlines 10 priority areas as essential to public health response and readiness. https://www.cdc.gov/orr/pubs-links/2023/ORR_2023_Readiness_Report_508.pdf
1. Develop Threat Specific Approaches
2. Enhance Partnerships with Federal Agencies and Nongovernmental Organizations
3. Expand Local Support
4. Improve Administrative and Budget Preparedness Systems
5. Build Workforce Capacity
6. Modernize Data Collection and Systems
7. Strengthen Risk Communication Activities
8. Incorporate Health Equity Practices
9. Advance the Capacity and Capability of Public Health Laboratories
10. Prioritize Community Recovery Efforts
Supporting the response framework are defined public health preparedness capabilities that assist Nevada in identifying strategic planning and response capabilities. These are captured in Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Capabilities. This reference document provides national guidance for public health preparedness capability-based planning and assists State PHP and our local partners in identifying gaps in preparedness, determining the specific jurisdictional priorities, and developing plans for building and sustaining capabilities.
The CDC has identified the following 15 public health preparedness capabilities as the basis for state and local public health preparedness: Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Capabilities | State and Local Readiness | CDC
- Community Preparedness
- Community Recovery
- Emergency Operations Coordination
- Emergency Public Information and Warning
- Fatality Management
- Information Sharing
- Mass Care
- Medical Countermeasure Dispensing
- Medical Materiel Management and Distribution
- Medical Surge
- Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions
- Public Health Laboratory Testing
- Public Health Surveillance and Epidemiological Investigation
- Responder Safety and Health
- Volunteer Management
The Public Health Preparedness (PHP) program within the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health (DPBH) collaborates with many partners within the state of Nevada to implement and improve upon these capabilities. This program sub-grants funds to the local health authorities, including Southern Nevada Health District, Carson City Health and Human Services, Central Nevada Health District, Nevada Community Health Services, Nevada State Public Health Laboratory and Northern Nevada Health District to promote and implement these capabilities within the local communities of Nevada. The PHP program also works with the Nevada Tribal Emergency Coordinating Council to achieve outreach to Nevada’s Native Tribes, as well as partnering with the Nevada Division of Emergency Management, local emergency managers and private industry to continually demonstrate progress in Nevada’s preparedness and response efforts to public health emergencies; thereby promoting prepared and resilient communities across the State.