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DETERMINATION THAT A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY EXISTS
As a result of the consequences of Hurricane Helene on the State of Florida, on this date and after consultation with public health officials as necessary, I, Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services, pursuant to the authority vested in me under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, do hereby determine that a public health emergency exists and has existed since September 23, 2024, in the State of Florida.
September 26, 2024 _____________________________ Date
DETERMINATION THAT A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY EXISTS
As a result of the consequences of Hurricane Debby on the State of Florida, on this date and after consultation with public health officials as necessary, I, Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services, pursuant to the authority vested in me under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, do hereby determine that a public health emergency exists and has existed since August 1, 2024, in the State of Florida.
DETERMINATION THAT A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY EXISTS
As a result of the consequences of Hurricane Idalia on the State of Florida, on this date and after consultation with public health officials as necessary, I, Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services, pursuant to the authority vested in me under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, do hereby determine that a public health emergency exists and has existed since August 27, 2023, in the State of Florida.
August 30, 2023 _____________________________ Date
Determination That A Public Health Emergency Exists
As a result of the consequences of Hurricane Irma on the State of Florida, on this date and after consultation with public health officials as necessary, I, Thomas E. Price, M.D., Secretary of Health and Human Services, pursuant to the authority vested in me under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, do hereby determine that a public health emergency exists and has existed since September 4, 2017, in the State of Florida.
September 7, 2017 _____________________________ Date
/s/ _____________________________ Thomas E. Price, M.D.
Determination That A Public Health Emergency Exists
As a result of the consequences of Hurricane Nate on the State of Florida, on this date and after consultation with public health officials as necessary, I, Donald Wright, M.D., M.P.H., Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services, pursuant to the authority vested in me under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, do hereby determine that a public health emergency exists and has existed since October 7, 2017, in the State of Florida.
October 8, 2017 _____________________________ Date
/s/ ____________________________________ Donald Wright, M.D., M.P.H.
Determination That A Public Health Emergency Exists
As a result of the consequences of Hurricane Michael on the State of Florida, on this date and after consultation with public health officials as necessary, I, Alex M. Azar II, Secretary of Health and Human Services, pursuant to the authority vested in me under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, do hereby determine that a public health emergency exists and has existed since October 7, 2018, in the State of Florida.
October 9, 2018 _____________________________ Date
/s/ _____________________________ Alex M. Azar, II
DETERMINATION THAT A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY EXISTS
As a result of the consequences of Hurricane Ian on the State of Florida, on this date and after consultation with public health officials as necessary, I, Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services, pursuant to the authority vested in me under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, do hereby determine that a public health emergency exists and has existed since September 23, 2022, in the State of Florida.
September 26, 2022 _____________________________ Date
Determination That A Public Health Emergency Exists
As a result of the consequences of Hurricane Dorian on the State of Florida, on this date and after consultation with public health officials as necessary, I, Alex M. Azar II, Secretary of Health and Human Services, pursuant to the authority vested in me under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, do hereby determine that a public health emergency exists and has existed since August 28, 2019, in the State of Florida.
August 30, 2019 _____________________________ Date
/s/ _____________________________ Alex M. Azar, II
MRC Critical Care Paramedic Spearheads Programs to Provide CPR, Opioid Treatment Administration Training
Jim Bollenbacher, Nassau County Florida MRC
Jim Bollenbacher is a retired critical care paramedic from Florida. He is passionate about all things related to the heart, especially cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
"Being part of the MRC allows me to give back to the community and use my medical training while doing it."
- Jim Bollenbacher
To increase the impact of Nassau County MRC's ongoing Community Life-Savers Initiative, he set a goal for his 36-person unit: raise local awareness about sudden cardiac arrest and increase the number of county residents able to effectively perform bystander CPR (CPR performed by a non-medical person) by 2% in 12 months. Based on Nassau County's population, that meant training 1,700 residents by the end of the year. This goal was aggressive goal, but Jim believed in his team. "The MRC is an organization of amazingly talented, experienced, and compassionate people who are prepared to help their communities during a crisis or disaster. That takes a special type of person, and the MRC is filled with them."
Bollenbacher arranged hundreds of classes, personally providing training anywhere there was an interest: HOAs, fitness centers, county offices, schools, farmers' markets, and faith-based, civic, and private family groups. By the end of the year, he had trained 1,724 residents in hands-only CPR and 817 in opioid treatment awareness and naloxone administration. He and his team also distributed 126 CPR Anytime Kits in the community - far exceeding his unit's goals.
"The MRC provides an incredible opportunity to be of service to your community, to help when others are in need, and to be a part of something so much bigger than yourself," said Jim "I strongly encourage everyone to get involved in whatever way they can."
The MRC Recognition Awards recognize and highlight amazing contributions of MRC units, volunteers, leaders, and partners. In 2024, there were hundreds of nominations in 12 categories - covering both response and non-response contributions. Learn more about the awards and the winners at
Meet Our MRC Network. Learn how to become a part of the MRC and make a difference in your community at
Become an MRC Volunteer.
