The Puerto Rico Public Health Institute (PRPHI) has won an Excel Award from the Public Relations Professionals Association of Puerto Rico for its emergency preparedness campaign, 'Neighbor, Are You Ready? Plan Today, Act Tomorrow.' The campaign, implemented between June and August 2025, aimed to strengthen community preparedness for emergencies, particularly in response to extreme heat events.
The initiative was developed using evidence gathered by the institute and funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Marianyoly Ortiz Ortiz, executive director of PRPHI, said the recognition highlights the role of strategic communication in bringing scientific information to communities. The campaign addressed gaps in household emergency preparedness, as identified by a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER), which found that households with fewer economic resources were less likely to have emergency plans and basic supplies.