Montana
- State Population: 1,122,867
- Local Health Departments: 51
- Frequent Public Health Emergencies: Landslides/Mudslides, Flooding, Fires
- Key Emergency Operations Center Activations:
2020 – COVID-19 Pandemic - CDC PHEP Funding:
FY 2022: $5,210,000
FY 2021: $5,210,000
FY 2020: $5,542,500 - Public Health Crisis Response Funding:
Mpox 2023 funding: $199,945
COVID-19 2021 funding: $7,250,870
COVID-19 2020 funding: $4,567,500
- Epidemiologists: 1
- Laboratorians: 4
- Planners: 9
- Other: 3*
*Includes IT specialists, administrative staff, statisticians, and other positions
1 Preparedness Field Assignee
- Public Health Laboratory Testing
- Community Preparedness
- Emergency Operations Coordination
- Community Recovery
- Responder Safety and Health
In 2015, wildfires in Montana consumed more than 1,000 acres of land near Glacier National Park, prompting evacuations and disabling communication services. Because the area was so remote, commercial vendors were unable to provide services, and responders had to drive 15 miles across mountain roads to communicate with the health department. In response, the state health department deployed its PHEP-funded communication trailer, which provided phone, internet, and radio capabilities to support response activities, as well as personnel to staff it. As a result, the communication trailer helped responders remain safe and efficient while they battled the fires for 10 days.
