Operations
The Operations Section monitors day-to-day incidents, activities, and events with the State of Florida that could require a State response. This section also ensures the operational readiness of the State Emergency Operations Center. The Operations Section includes the State Watch Office, Meteorology, the All-Hazards Incident Management Team Program, and Human Services.
The State Watch Office operates 24/7, 365 days a year as a daily extension of the Florida State Emergency Operations Center. The State Watch Office monitors local, state, and national media as well as communicates with Florida’s counties and state agencies to ensure that the State Emergency Response Team is aware of any on-going or developing situations. The SWO maintains communications systems and warning capabilities to ensure that the state’s population and emergency management agencies are warned of developing emergency situations and can communicate emergency response decisions as mandated by § 252.35 F.S.
For more information regarding the State Watch Office and the list of reportable incidents, click on the following link: State Watch Office
Contact Us - To reach the State Watch Office, please call:
- 1-800-320-0519
- 850-815-4001
Sam Walters, Deputy Operations Section Chief, Safety Officer
Woody Harvey, Deputy Operations Chief, Mass Notification Specialist
Caitlyn Gillespie, Deputy State Meteorologist
The Meteorology Unit provides around the clock updates to the Division of Emergency Management and partners regarding weather and meteorological information. Collocated within Florida’s State Watch Office, the meteorology provides Operation’s staff with expertise and guidance on the hazards posed by current conditions. Going beyond just severe weather, this includes critical situational awareness, such as wind speed and direction during wildfires and events that can affect operational safety.
For more information regarding the Meteorology Unit, click on the following link: Meteorology
Amy Godsey, Chief State Meteorologist, Operations Section Chief, Deputy Bureau Chief of Response
Caitlyn Gillespie, Deputy State Meteorologist
Kennedy Tartt, Assistant State Meteorologist
Melissa James, Assistant State Meteorologist
The All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) serves as the forward coordinating element for the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) and the State Coordinating Officer (SCO). AHIMTs do not typically assume operational control of an incident; however, they provide situational awareness and operational planning to the SERT and the SCO by incorporating information collected from the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC), County EOCs, local agencies. The AHIMT will assist in the coordination of necessary logistical support to the SCO and SERT for forward deployment.
Click on image for larger map.
For more information regarding the All-Hazards Incident Management Teams, click on the following link:
All-Hazards Incident Management Team
Taylor Cheney, Credentialing Manager
Charles Walrath, All-Hazards Incident Management Program Manager
The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Credentialing Program serves to qualify, certify and credential individuals across Florida for roles within an EOC. This program follows the Florida Qualifications System (FQS) to ensure personnel meet standardized qualifications, with requisite training, experience, and demonstrated capabilities to perform their duties during a deployment. The EOC Credentialing Program utilizes a comprehensive process to build and verify core competencies, including the use of Position Task Books for performance assessment & ongoing requirements to maintain credentials.
Historical Recognition for this program opens on December 1st, 2024, for the following positions:
EOC Manager
EOC Public Information Officer
EOC Planning Section Coordinator
EOC Logistics Section Coordinator
EOC Operations Section Coordinator
EOC Finance Section Coordinator
EOC Branch Director
For more information on the EOC Credentialing Program, visit: EOC Position Credentialing Program | Florida Disaster
Taylor Cheney, Credentialing Manager
Bailey Vandewalle, EOC Credentialing Coordinator
The Human Services Program plays a vital role in the functionality of the Division’s response in support of Florida’s citizens. Focusing on the human aspect of a disaster, the program works alongside its Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) to ensure that the human needs are filled during a disaster.
These ESFs include Mass Care (ESF-6), Food & Water (ESF-11), Volunteer & Donation Management (ESF-15), Animal & Agriculture (ESF-17).
The program works tirelessly to ensure life-sustaining needs are met and through coordination, planning, and training, the Human Services Program work daily to ensure identify new projects and programs that will increase resiliency of the state.
Pamela Hughes, Human Services Program Manager
Octavio Rios, Human Services Planner
Amy Godsey, Deputy Bureau Chief of Response, Operations Section Chief, Chief State Meteorologist
Sam Walters, Deputy Operations Section Chief, Safety Officer
Woody Harvey, Deputy Operations Chief, Mass Notification Specialist
Taylor Cheney, Deputy Operations Chief, Credentialing Unit Manager
