July 30, 2024
Media Contact: Steven Herring, Steven.Herring@vdh.virginia.gov or Tara Rose, Tara.Rose@vdh.virginia.gov
Crater Health District Protects Residents From Emergencies and Disasters Through National “Project Public Health Ready” Recognition Program
PETERSBURG, Va. — The Crater Health District (CHD localities Dinwiddie, Greensville, Prince George, Surry, Emporia, Hopewell, and Petersburg) has been recognized by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) for its ability to plan for, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies. CHD demonstrated these capabilities by meeting the comprehensive preparedness benchmarks required by Project Public Health Ready (PPHR), a unique partnership between NACCHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CHD joins a cohort of more than 550 local health departments across the country that have been distinguished for excellence in preparedness through PPHR, either individually or as part of a region.
“We are very excited to receive this recognition and I am extremely proud of our team at Crater Health District,” said Dr. Alton Hart, Jr., MD, MPH, Crater Health District Director. “This award highlights the dedication and commitment of our Emergency Preparedness & Response team led by Steven Herring, our Local Health Emergency Coordinator. CHD will continue to remain prepared and ready to respond and protect the health of our community during any public health crisis.”
PPHR recognition confirms that Crater Health District has a thorough and coordinated emergency response plan in place and that staff have the training to protect the health of the community during an emergency. Local health departments recognized by PPHR undergo a rigorous evaluation by peer review to assess their ability to meet a set of national standards for public health preparedness. These standards align with federal government requirements and other national best practices.
“Crater Health District is proud to have been recognized by Project Public Health Ready for our high level of preparedness. The Crater Health District strives to be a strategic community partner and leader in emergency management, working with key stakeholders to advance community preparedness,” said Steven Herring, Local Health Emergency Coordinator. “We maintain a high standard to ensure our communities have the tools to be prepared for emergencies. Achieving Project Public Health Ready accreditation is just a small piece of our comprehensive emergency management program that enhances community resiliency to ensure we are prepared to respond and recover from public health emergencies.”
“Public health preparedness planning, response, and recovery begins at the local level. Local health departments play an essential role in creating healthy, resilient communities that can respond to and recover from disasters.” said Lori T. Freeman, Chief Executive Officer. “NACCHO commends the Crater Health District for being a model of public health emergency preparedness.”
NACCHO, the voice of the nearly 3,000 local health departments across the country, provides resources to help local health department leaders develop public health policies and programs to ensure that communities have access to vital programs and services that people need to keep them protected from disease and disaster. Its mission is to be a leader, partner, catalyst, and voice for local health departments in order to ensure the conditions that promote health and equity, combat disease, and improve the quality and length of all lives.
For more information about the Crater Health District, please visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/crater. For more information on Project Public Health Ready, including recognized sites, project tools, and resources, visit http://www.naccho.org/PPHR.
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