Emergency Preparedness

Services Provided 

The Florida Department of Health in Highlands County is the lead agency for directing and coordinating health and medical responses during emergencies and disasters within the county.

The health department works closely with hospitals, medical providers, first responders (emergency medical services, fire/rescue, Emergency Management, law enforcement) and other community partners to ensure coordination of health and medical response within Highlands County.

Public health services during emergencies and disasters include:

• Disease control
• Safety of food and water
• Radiological and biological coordination
• Providing public health information
• Assisting in the coordination of mass casualty treatment in partnership with EMS and hospitals.

In addition, staff members in this program are available to speak to employees of local businesses, civic organizations, and other agencies about the following topics:

• Emergency and hurricane preparedness
• Incident Command System (ICS)
• Mass casualty, disaster, and Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP)
• Pandemic viruses
• Special Needs Shelters

Anyone who may need to evacuate to a Special Needs Shelter during storms or other emergency events should register each year.  Please visit the Highlands County Emergency Management website to fill out an application. 

Information on how to make a personal preparedness plan can be found at FloridaDisaster.org.