Customizing Our Systematic Approach to Communicate to County Residents During Unplanned Significant Events

About the Program

Category: Risk and Emergency Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

The Department of Public Health, Division of Environmental Health Services 9DEHS) has always recognized the need for a systematic approach in communication. However, due to the uniqueness and size of the County, a thought out approach is not always reasonable or the best method. In order to effectively and efficiently communicate with County residents and to properly react to an unplanned significant event, they have found the best method is to be flexible in their approach. Rather than utilizing a predetermined plan, DEHS focuses their time and training on how to quickly create a unique communication plan for each specific unplanned event. Their division realized that, during these types of events such as the most recent catastrophic wildfire and the influenza and H1N1 pandemic, they must be innovative and adaptable in their communication and their methods to rapidly disseminate pertinent information to the public. Through collaboration with Cal Trans, use of their internal resources, and coordination with other government agencies, they were able to disseminate critical information to the residents in a remarkably short time, thus achieving their goal to protect public health and safety.