Phoenix – Maricopa County’s Department of Public Health and Emergency Management Department have created a unified command structure to streamline county response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Teams from both departments have been coordinating countywide response to the local emergency declaration. This latest operational change will relocate key staff to a centralized location where they will work with the Joint Information Center (JIC).
Video for media use:
B-roll of Joint Command opening and soundbite with Incident Commander
Timelapse of Joint Command being set up
“Moving in this direction signals an all-County response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Clint Hickman, District 4. “This unprecedented crisis requires that every resource the county has to offer be used in the most efficient and effective manner.”
Unified command allows these departments to work together on the county response to the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining their different legal and functional responsibilities to the community. Under a unified command, the Incident Commanders from Public Health and Emergency Management will supervise a single command and general staff organization.
“By physically joining departments together in the same location, County staff have access to essential information at once and eliminate delays in sharing that with the public," added Emergency Management Director Robert Rowley. "An emergency like this requires a unified approach and voice to the community.”
All media requests related to COVID-19 should be directed to the Joint Information Center using the following email address: caomedia@maricopa.gov. These requests will be sent to the assigned JIC public information officer for follow-up and response.
Members of the public wishing to get the latest information on the county response to COVID-19 are encouraged to visit maricopa.gov/COVID19. follow Maricopa County and Maricopa County Public Heath on social media. There are updates available in both English and Spanish.
Twitter: @maricopacounty @maricopahealth
@condadomaricopa @saludmaricopa
Facebook: @maricopacountyaz @MCDPH
@condadomaricopa @saludpublicamaricopa