The Kentucky Department for Public Health is the lead agency for Emergency Support Function (ESF) 8 coordination of public health- and medical-related preparedness, response and recovery activities for emergencies, disasters, exercises or planned events requiring state-level coordination. Many agencies involved in these ESF activities have emergency plans and procedures designed to complement and support coordinated efforts.
Many programs operate under the Public Health Preparedness Branch and each helps build capacity for the Hospital Preparedness Program and public health emergency preparedness capabilities at the local and state level with support of federal funding and coordination with ESF 8 support agencies to implement active assessment, planning, organizing, equipping, training, exercise and evaluation programs.