Delaware
- State Population: 967,171
- Local Health Departments: N/A
- Frequent Public Health Emergencies: Flooding, Tropical Storms/Hurricanes, Nor’easters
- Key Emergency Operations Center Activations: 2020: COVID-19 Pandemic; 2017: SHOC Exercise; 2016: Ebola Preparedness Planning and Exercise Support
- CDC PHEP Funding:
FY 2021: $5,383,535
FY 2020: $5,312,726 - CDC Crisis Response Funding: COVID-19
FY 2021: $6,695,170
FY 2020: $4,567,500
- Epidemiologists: 1
- Laboratorian: 3
- Educator: 4
- Health Professionals: 1
- Other: 15
*Includes IT specialists, administrative staff, statisticians, and other positions
- Public Health Laboratory Testing
- Community Preparedness
- Medical Materiel Management and Distribution
- Medical Countermeasure Dispensing and Administration
- Emergency Operations Coordination
PHEP helps Delaware exercise and improve emergency response plans so jurisdictions can keep residents—especially those who are most vulnerable—safe during many types of emergencies. In June 2018, the Division of Public Health led a two-day, full-scale exercise with more than 200 staff to test a mass care plan outlining roles and responsibilities for each health department social services division and establishing a support center for people with special needs. Lessons learned from this PHEP-supported exercise are helping Delaware develop updated Radiation Reception Center and Family Assistance Center plans.
Following Superstorm Sandy, staff from the Department of Health and Social Services developed a comprehensive department wide Mass Care Plan that identifies roles and responsibilities for each division. A key part of the plan was the development of a Functional Information and Support Center (FISC), where trained experts (state agencies and community organizations) provide technical support and information for people with access and functional needs (AFN) during response and recovery. As a result, Delaware’s most vulnerable residents are better equipped to stay safe during future emergencies.
