About the Division
Our Mission
Working together to ensure that Florida is prepared to respond to emergencies, recover from them, and mitigate against their impacts.
Our Vision
Failure is not an option.
Our Motto
Semper Gumby - Always Flexible
Director's Standing Orders
1. Take care of the needs of survivors.
2. Take care of the needs of responders.
3. When in doubt, re-read number one.
Division of Emergency Management
The Division of Emergency Management plans for and responds to both natural and man-made disasters. These range from floods and hurricanes to incidents involving hazardous materials or nuclear power. The division prepares and implements a statewide Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, and routinely conducts extensive exercises to test state and county emergency response capabilities.
The division is the state's liaison with federal and local agencies on emergencies of all kinds. Division staff members provide technical assistance to local governments as they prepare emergency plans and procedures. They also conduct emergency operations training for state and local governmental agencies.
After a disaster, the division conducts damage assessment surveys and advises the Governor on whether to declare an emergency and seek federal relief funds. The division maintains a primary Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Tallahassee. The EOC serves as the communications and command center for reporting emergencies and coordinating state response activities. The division also operates the State Warning Point, a state emergency communications center staffed 24 hours each day. The center maintains statewide communications with county emergency officials.
The Division, through its sections, operates several mitigation programs. Sections with mitigation responsibilities and their programs are listed below.
The office houses the Director, Deputy Director, and Executive Assistant(s). The office provides for the management and oversight to all agency functions and includes the Office of External Affairs, and the positions of Legal Counsel, State Military Liaison Officer, Information Management, and the State Meteorologist
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
Finance and Administration is responsible for financial and administrative management of the Division of Emergency Management. Finance and Administration consists of the Administrator's office and three sections. The Administrator's office is solely responsible for human resource matters for the Division. The sections within Finance and Administration include the Budget Section, Finance Section, and the Procurement Section.
Preparedness administers a Statewide emergency management all-hazards preparedness program that includes the following sections:
The Bureau of Response coordinates operational response at the state level. The bureau is home to the Operations Section which includes the State Watch Office and Meteorology; the Logistics Section which is responsible for contract negotiations, vendor management, resource acquisition, deployment, tracking and management; the Infrastructure Section which provides technical assistance to county governments with surveying and retrofitting hurricane shelters; and the Regional Coordination Team which provides technical & emergency advisory assistance to Florida’s County EM Offices on behalf of DEM and serves as the initial response element for the agency during emergencies and disasters impacting Florida.
Recovery works to provide disaster assistance to individuals and families through state and federal disaster assistance programs. After the President signs the disaster declaration that includes individual assistance programs, it is important to inform affected individuals and businesses through press releases and community response team efforts that programs are available to assist them in recovery efforts. These programs help to rebuild lives and communities that have been impacted by a major disaster, and begin the recovery process.
MITIGATION
Mitigation works to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to human life and property from disasters. Mitigation programs help to reduce the impact of future disasters through mitigation. Mitigation refers to activity which reduces or eliminates the chance of the occurrence or effects of a disaster.
Mitigation is an integral part of the Division of Emergency Management and administers several federal and state programs designed to reduce or eliminate the impact of hazards which exist within a community and are a threat to life and property.
Mitigation is the first of the four phases of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Tools and techniques to implement mitigation include land use planning, building codes and enforcement, fire regulations, dam inspection ordinances, and public education.
Map to the EOC
Map to the State Emergency Operations Center
Updated:
April 26, 2013 9:06
