Harris County Public Health (HCPH) is the primary agency responsible for protecting the public's health in the event of a widespread public health emergency within Harris County. A public health emergency can be defined as either a natural or man-made event that causes a serious long-term disability or results in a high risk of fatalities to large numbers of people.
The Public Health Preparedness and Response Division (PHPRD) within HCPH develops and implements a comprehensive, department-wide approach to prepare the community of Harris County to safely respond to and recover from public health emergencies. The division ensures an effective, coordinated response to terrorist attacks, disease outbreaks and weather-related disasters.
One of the largest natural disasters in our history devastated the majority of Harris county in August, 2017: Hurricane Harvey. For resources on future preparation and coping after the disaster, go here.