Emergency Preparedness and Response

Evaluate the probability and impact of pharmaceutical risk and pharmacists practice roles through the Office of Pharmacy. Assist with identifying solutions and communicating mitigation strategies by collaborating with the Board of Pharmacy, pharmacy community, local, state, and federal agencies, and other stakeholders. The CHEMPACK program is designed to provide, monitor, and maintain a nationwide program for the forward placement of nerve agent antidote. To provide state and local governments a sustainable resource: and to improve their capability to respond quickly to a nerve agent incident

Provide strong, reliable, timely, and consistent communications and messaging for the Commissioner, the Department, Districts and all programs through the Division of Communications.

Georgia's Disaster Mental Health Program is housed in the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and is funded by the DPH Office Emergency Preparedness and Response as part of Georgia’s Healthcare Preparedness Program grant. The mission of Georgia’s DMH program is to ensure continuity of care to individuals receiving DBHDD services during and after disasters and behavioral health support to disaster survivors and responders. This is done through policy development and a coordinated statewide plan that covers all phases of disaster.

Rapidly respond to public environmental health emergencies and disasters through a combination of surveillance, education, enforcement, assessment and surge support programs. These are designed to identify, prevent and abate the environmental conditions that adversely impact human health while supporting the socio-economic recovery of the affected community.

DPH Epidemiology carries out a number of activities to identify diseases and describe health conditions, assess the health of Georgians, and develop recommendations to control diseases and improve the overall health status in the state.

The DPH Laboratory improves the health status of Georgians by providing accurate, timely and confidential clinical and non-clinical laboratory testing in support of DPH programs, activities and initiatives as well as performing tests for Emergency Preparedness.

The Law plays an important role in the preparedness and response to disasters and emergencies.  The mission of the DPH, Office of General Counsel is to provide guidance and counsel to State and District staff to support Public Health's duty to protect and promote the health of communities in this state. The Office of General Counsel works with public health staff to help them understand the laws, policies, and regulations that affect public health

Provides leadership, guidance, technical assistance and tools to assure that the practice of Public Health Nursing in Georgia is evidence- and competency-based, consistent with the Georgia nurse practice acts, rules and regulations and scope of practice, and focused on improving the health and safety of Georgians.

DPH Emergency Preparedness and Response – Planning and Exercise is here to promote, implement and support district/state programs in the Preparedness Cycle (Plan, Organize/Equip, Train, Exercise, Evaluate/Improve) through coordination of statewide activities to a public health response with updated and concise plans that address the essential functions of public health emergency preparedness.

The Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) Program’s mission is to have robust, operational plans based upon partnerships with federal, state, local, and community partners to increase our ability to respond to any public health emergency requiring the deployment of medical countermeasures and Strategic National Stockpile assets.

Staff and partners will have secure access to technical and electronic information resources through proven technology and telecommunications. Our goal is to provide current software and communication solutions, training, and value-added products and/or services to guide and direct emergency preparedness members to the latest technology solutions.  Staff will be supported by up-to-date technology that ensures provision of quality services that are efficient and cost-effective. We value acquiring and using technology to support the missions of the DPH Emergency Preparedness and Response department.

In active partnership with Public Health Districts and Healthcare Coalitions, the Volunteer Program (Georgia Responds) mission is to support the efforts to establish, implement and engage volunteers to strengthen public health, community resiliency, and emergency response.