PIMA COUNTY, Ariz. — Pima County Health Department is receiving national recognition for the county's emergency preparedness plans. It is named as a Project Public Health Ready accreditation recipient for 2019.
"I think it's a good thing for our community. It shows commitment and there's a lot of value to making sure that our workforce and our community is prepared to deal with all hazards, emergencies," said Louie Valenzuela, Pima County's emergency preparedness manager.
Emergencies like disease outbreaks, mass medication distribution, search capacities and mass causality incidents.
"It means a lot to know that the emergency preparedness work that we do here is up to national standard and it means a safe, secure Pima County," said Valenzuela.
After submitting all of the county's preparedness plans and training materials, Valenzuela said, Pima County's application showcased readiness, participation, and partnership with the community.
"We could leverage this opportunity for future funding to make sure that we can sustain ourselves to put more effort in community collaborations to disaster exercises and drills. So we're looking forward to more opportunities, more collaboration," said Valenzuela.
Pima County joins about 500 health departments from across the country that have been identified for excellence in preparedness through Project Public Health Ready. There are more than 3,000 health departments in the United States.
