Weather hazards like extreme heat, flash flooding, dust storms, and wildfires often occur this time of year in Arizona. Last week, ADHS partnered with ASU to put together an interactive workshop where over 20 representatives from local health departments, environmental services, emergency management, transportation, weather service, and universities discussed weather hazards and the populations most [...]
The first big fire of the season started this week in Oak Creek Canyon- called the Slide fire. Smoke is usually the first public health impact from wildland fires. The air quality in Flagstaff and Sedona has been generally OK- but poor at times depending on the winds (smoke levels in Sedona have been high [...]
With one of the worst wildfire tragedies in history happening last weekend, our Health Emergency Operations Center was active all week. First making sure that there was enough behavioral health support through the Regional Behavioral Health Authorities, then helping provide some specific assistance to the shelters in Prescott and Wickenburg. On Tuesday, we pulled special beds [...]
Our country’s disaster preparedness system is really a matrix that starts with families and goes all the way to a coordinated federal response. In between are local first-responders, county public health and emergency management, and state public health and emergency management. But really- the real first first-responders are moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas and even kids. [...]
Our Department plays a significant role in the response for major wildland fires… and we’re monitoring the current fires closely to make sure that we cover our bases. Our initial roles mostly include environmental health functions, especially surrounding health risks from smoke, sanitary conditions and food safety in shelters and ensuring that all of our licensed [...]
I’m sure you know that a few wildfires are still burning in AZ, including the massive Wallow fire. The Governor signed a Declaration of Emergency on Monday this week, releasing some state funds to help with the response efforts and opening the State Emergency Operations Center, which is coordinating and directing the state emergency response activities. You [...]
The “Schultz” fire started last weekend to the north and east of Flagstaff. It’s grown rapidly and is now over 14,000 acres but is about 40% contained. The actual fire is in a sparsely populated area off of Highway 89. But- the public health threat from wildland fires are from the smoke- not so much [...]
