Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Office of Emergency Services; what's the difference?

All emergency activities are aligned at the federal level under Emergency Support Functions (ESF) 1 through 15. Federal grant funding is provided through the State of California to each county. Both Public Health and Office of Emergency Services (OES) receive allocations for local emergency preparedness activities. FEMA provides specific guidance for the use of each type of funding as it relates to developing and maintaining local preparedness. Public Health’s specific areas of focus are outlined by the 15 Public Health Capabilities. 

Example areas: 

•Communicable disease; prevention, testing, surveillance, investigation and reporting

•Pandemic influenza planning & response

•Laboratory & epidemiology contracts and coordination 

•Purchase flu and pneumonia vaccine for administration through annual drive-thru flu clinics (mass vaccination prophylaxis exercises) 

•Trainings for medical & health first responders 

•Coordination and planning with healthcare facilities Above are tasks Public Health is good at and does on a regular basis. Logically they would be tasked with planning and practicing performing them under emergency circumstances. 

The funding is provided in order to ensure these capabilities remain strong and are incorporated into the larger emergency response scenario. 


OES’s specific areas of focus are outlined by the Homeland Security 31 Core Capabilities. The above referenced 15 Public Health Capabilities are enfolded within the 31 Core Capabilities. 

Example areas: 

•Buildings & infrastructure protection 

•Fire fighting & prevention 

•Law enforcement tools & training 

•Cyber security Areas of strong collaboration between Public Health & OES: 

•Public Information & Warning 

•Planning for at-risk/special needs populations 

•Mass Care

 •NIMS/SIMS - ICS compliance & training 

•Community preparedness and recovery

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