The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Program was established by enactment of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002. Its importance was affirmed with the enactment of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) in 2006 and the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act (PAHPRA) of 2013.
The PHEP program is a critical source of funding, guidance, and technical assistance for state, territorial, and local public health departments.
Preparedness activities funded by the PHEP program are targeted specifically for the development of emergency-ready public health departments that are flexible and adaptable.
These efforts support the National Response Framework (NRF), which guides how the nation responds to all types of hazards including infectious disease outbreaks; natural disasters; biological, chemical, and radiological incidents; and explosions.