generated by fire, smoke, and hazardous material releases or spills, and other possible
scenarios.
Management: Prepares messages to inform the public on appropriate actions to protect their
health and safety. Maintains the California Health Alert Network (CAHAN) to notify
appropriate response personnel of significant health/medical related events and/or the need to
respond. Prepares public health and medical reports in concert with the Emergency Medical
Services Authority (EMSA) and other CHHS departments. Provides technical assistance
related to communicable disease, biological, chemical, radiological, hazardous materials, or
other public health and environmental health concerns.
Care and Shelter: Ensures the safety of food, drugs, medical devices, and other consumer
products following a disaster. Regulates drinking water bottling plants, distributors, and
haulers to ensure the safety of bottled or hauled water used as emergency supplies of
drinking water. Provides support to local health departments for infectious disease
surveillance, food-borne illness outbreak response and food safety, and sanitation standards
in regulated facilities and shelters. Analyzes impacted areas for safe return of displaced
populations. Supports the CDSS in coordinating public health and emergency medical needs
in general population shelters.
Public Health and Medical: CDPH is designated as a co-lead for ESF-8. Administers and
coordinates disaster-related public health programs and assesses hazards to public health,
including the health of communities, workers, and first responders. Provides statewide
policies on environmental health. Coordinates with local health departments to conduct
surveillance of infectious diseases in areas impacted by the disaster and determines
appropriate actions to prevent and control disease outbreaks or spread. Implement pandemic
influenza response plans in coordination with local health departments and State agencies.
Provides laboratory services related to testing of food, drug, cosmetics, drinking water,
hazardous materials, and environmental samples. Provides laboratory services to state and
local public health and clinical laboratories and cooperating federal laboratories. Provides
epidemiology and surveillance technical support for such things as chronic disease
exacerbation following disasters, survey development for injuries, surveillance of infectious
diseases, contact tracing, and disaster epidemiology. Assesses potential health effects and
recommends protective measures, and drafts guidance to protect public from chemical,
biological, and radiological incidents. Obtains and provides medical supplies and
pharmaceuticals following a disaster. The Center for Health Care Quality, Licensing and
Certification Program monitors the quality of care in licensed health care facilities to ensure
the health, safety, and continuity of care to clients. This includes the assessment for
compliance with applicable regulations pertaining to emergency preparedness and disaster
response for facilities the department regulates. The Licensing and Certification Program
ensures operational readiness to provide care in coordination with OSHPD’s role of structural
and operational facility evaluation.
Hazardous Materials: With responding agencies, coordinates investigations of chemical
exposures and determines appropriate protective actions. Provides subject matter experts,
such as toxicologists, epidemiologists, environmental scientists, occupational physicians, and
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