Fairfax County Health Department’s Division of Emergency Preparedness and Response (EP&R) works with Health Department staff and volunteers, government and non-governmental partners, and residents of Fairfax County to prepare for, respond to and recover from naturally occurring and man-made public health emergencies in Fairfax County.

Vision: A resilient community prepared for public health emergencies.
Mission: To prepare for, mitigate, respond to and recover from the public health and health care impacts of emergencies in Fairfax County.

The public health emergency management (PHEM) field uses specialized knowledge, techniques and organizing principles to manage complex health incidents. In Fairfax County, PHEM plays an important role in preparing and protecting communities from hazards, including naturally occurring infectious disease, natural disasters and intentionally released biological disease-causing agents.

The Health Department is the lead agency for Emergency Support Function (ESF) #8, Public Health and Medical Services, within the Fairfax County emergency management structure. ESF #8 provides local, state and federal resources to identify and meet the public health and medical needs of residents impacted by emergencies. In this role, the Health Department investigates the causes and spread of disease, mitigates environmental health hazards, educates the public, operates clinics and other public health services, and provides resources and support to protect the community’s health.