For Immediate Release:
November 13, 2008
Public Health Joins the Great Southern California ShakeOut
Golden Guardian 2008 Exercise to test Public Health’s Emergency Response
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is pleased to participate in the statewide Golden Guardian 2008 emergency operations exercise. This year’s theme, “The Great Southern California Shakeout”, will test various emergency management functions during a simulated 7.8 magnitude earthquake. Several departments of Los Angeles County, including the Office of Emergency Management, the Department of Health Services, and the Department of Public Social Services, will be taking part in the four-day event.
“Los Angeles County residents know that it is not if, but when a disaster will strike. The Golden Guardian exercise is an excellent opportunity for Public Health to test and refine its readiness during a large-scale emergency,” said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director of Public Health and Health Officer. “We will study how quickly we are able to re-establish public health services to the entire county, which include all aspects of public health from essential medical services and disease surveillance to health facility safety and water quality monitoring.”
Public Health will also be testing its internal and external communications; will test its environmental health response operations; will conduct evacuation drills of random facilities; and will work cooperatively with departments and partners throughout the county and state.
“Public Health is growing into its emergency response role and this exercise will help us identify new roles and tasks, as well as improve our long-standing roles and response,” said Dr. Fielding. “By participating in Golden Guardian, we are ensuring that we will be ready to respond to the health and safety needs of all Los Angeles County residents. We encourage each individual to be ready themselves for when the next disaster strikes.”
For more information on how to be earthquake ready, visit the following websites:
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov
http://www.dropcoverholdon.org
The Department of Public Health is committed to protecting and improving the health of the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles County. Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and services, Public Health oversees environmental health, disease control, and community and family health. Public Health comprises more than 4,000 employees and an annual budget exceeding $750 million. To learn more about Public Health and the work we do, please visit http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.
# # #
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment