Federal Public Health Emergency declared for Florida as Hurricane Ian descends

Facing down a Category 3 Hurricane Ian, fresh off its stormy crash through Cuba, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra declared a Public Health Emergency for Florida this week, following an emergency declaration from President Joe Biden.

As utilities raced to pre-position crews ahead of the storm’s expected hits up and down Florida’s west coast, HHS followed suit with two, 15-person Health and Medical Task Force teams from its National Disaster Medical System, a 13-person incident management team and two pharmacists to assist the state’s response. These teams will work and communicate under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Administration for Strategic Preparedness Response (ASPR) Regional Emergency Coordinators, along with Florida health authorities and emergency response officials.

Together, these teams will ascertain what, if anything, federal public health and medical resources can do for the region. The department added that additional staff from NDMS, the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are on stand-by.

“We will do all we can to assist Florida officials with responding to the health impacts of Hurricane Ian,” Becerra said. “We are working closely with state, local, and tribal health authorities, as well as our federal partners, and stand ready to provide additional public health and medical support.”

By designating a public health emergency, Becerra also guaranteed that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) beneficiaries, their health care providers and suppliers will be given greater flexibility for addressing any emergency health needs.