Environmental Public Health Preparedness

During emergencies, we provide guidance to both incident command and county health departments regarding possible human health risks from environmental components. We can also provide information to the county health departments for responses that involve accidental spills, waste disposal, and water contamination.

To ensure readiness, we conduct trainings and exercises with our partners throughout the state.

Protecting Drinking Water

During an emergency involving public water system contamination, approved county health departments and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), in coordination with the Florida Department of Health, takes actions necessary to protect the health of the public, such as issuing a precautionary boil water notice. County health departments assist by notifying potentially affected communities.

We have a parcel-based inventory indicating the drinking water source and wastewater disposal method for developed parcels throughout Florida. This inventory helps to improve estimations of the potential impact to public health and the environment during a disaster, and allocating resources efficiently.

County health departments provide educational materials related to flooded wells to homeowners qithin their communities.

Controlling Food and Waterborne Illness

The Bureau of Environmental Public Health works with county health departments and the Bureau of Epidemiology, including a statewide coordinator, eight regional food and waterborne illness epidemiologists, and a laboratorian.

We are responsible for investigating illness outbreaks associated with food and water consumption and recreational water use. 

As part of this function, food product recalls are issued when conditions are discovered that make food products potentially unsafe for eating. Local, state, and federal agencies work collaboratively to protect Florida’s complex food industry comprised of a multitude of meat and dairy herds, manufacturers, processing plants, food distributors, retail stores, restaurants, schools, and food facilities. As a collaborative team, the Florida agencies that regulate food, including Florida departments of Health, Agriculture and Consumer Services, and Business and Professional Regulation, along with the Division of Emergency Management, respond jointly with law enforcement to any intentional or accidental contamination of our food supply.

We also conduct assessments of emergency shelters.

Controlling Biomedical Waste

The Florida Department of Health's county health departments (CHDs) have primary authority and responsibility for facilities that generate, transport, store, or treat biomedical waste through processes other than incineration. These facilities include hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, laboratories, funeral homes, dentists, veterinarians, and physicians.

When biomedical waste is improperly managed, it places health care workers, sanitation workers, and the general public at risk for contracting dangerous diseases.

Complaints concerning biomedical waste are investigated by CHDs. Additionally, small amounts of improperly disposed biomedical waste are cleaned up under the Florida Department of Health's supervision.

Emergency situations are referred to the State Watch Office. During emergencies, the Biomedical Waste Program's manager can provide technical information and advice on protecting health care workers, environmental-service staff, waste haulers, and the general public from risks associated with potentially infectious biomedical waste.

Preventing Chemical Exposure

Chemical exposures may occur by inhalation, absorption, and consumption. We provide technical assistance to partners as needed.