Hidalgo County Health Department Earns National Recognition for Emergency Preparedness

Staff Report

EDINBURG — The Hidalgo County Health & Human Services Department has been nationally recognized by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) for its excellence in public health emergency preparedness. The recognition comes through Project Public Health Ready (PPHR), a partnership between NACCHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Hidalgo County earned the honor by meeting a comprehensive set of preparedness benchmarks, demonstrating its ability to plan for, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies. It now joins a select group of eight health departments in Texas and over 550 local health departments nationwide that have been recognized by PPHR.

“We are truly honored to be re-recognized by Project Public Health Ready for our exceptional level of preparedness,” said Eduardo Olivarez, Chief Administrative Officer of Hidalgo County Health & Human Services. “This recognition is a testament to the dedication, innovation, and teamwork demonstrated by our Public Health Emergency Preparedness Team.”

Health departments recognized by PPHR undergo a rigorous peer review process to ensure they meet national standards for preparedness, which align with federal requirements and best practices. The program also emphasizes collaboration between health departments and local, state, and community partners to create comprehensive emergency plans.

“Public health preparedness starts at the local level,” said Lori T. Freeman, NACCHO CEO. “NACCHO commends Hidalgo County Health & Human Services for being a model of public health emergency preparedness.”

Source — Hidalgo County Health & Human Services.