County Responsibilities in Disaster Planning
Chapter 252, F.S. authorized the creation of the State Division of Emergency Management (DEM) which provides for the planning and implementation of the state's response to natural and manmade hazards. In addition, DEM is charged with implementing programs whose goal is to avoid or reduce the impacts of natural or manmade disasters, decrease the time and resources needed to recover from the impacts of disasters, and provide support to local governments. To that end, each county must establish and maintain an emergency management agency and develop a county emergency management plan and program that is coordinated and consistent with the state comprehensive emergency management plan. Each county emergency management agency must have a director that meet the minimum training and education qualifications established in a job description approved by the county. Each director has direct responsibility for the organization, administration, and operation of the county emergency management agency. The director shall coordinate emergency management activities, services, and programs within the county and shall serve as liaison to the state and other local emergency management agencies and organizations.
Emergency Management Funding
In 1993, the Emergency Management, Preparedness, and Assistance Trust Fund was established by the Florida Legislature. The trust fund is funded by surcharges on certain insurance policies and the money is used to fund emergency management activities at both the state and local level. Each of Florida's 67 counties receives an equal share of approximately $7 million dollars annually from these funds. In addition, each county also receives Emergency Management Performance Grant funds from the FEMA to further support emergency capabilities and operations. These funds are distributed based on the population estimates for each county and require a minimum of 50/50 local match. There is no application process for the award of these funds; however, to receive the full complement of funds available, each county is required to have at a minimum, a full time professional Emergency Management Coordinator. To get more information on the EMPA, click here:
http://www.floridadisaster.org/cps/grants.htm
State Evacuations Shelter Program
This program is designed to eliminate the statewide hurricane evacuation shelter space deficit and create shelter space for use during emergencies. Since 1993, the DEM has been directed by statute to address the statewide deficit of safe public hurricane shelter space. Under this directive, the DEM established a multi-faceted strategy which includes survey of existing facilities to identify those that are appropriately designed and located to serve as public hurricane shelters; survey new facilities for their potential suitability as public hurricane evacuation shelters; providing guidance on enhanced hurricane protection construction techniques for new construction; and recommending retrofits of existing public hurricane evacuation shelters to improve their ability to house evacuees in severe weather events. Counties may apply to DEM for shelter retrofit funding. Please click here for county shelter information:
http://www.floridadisaster.org/shelters
Hazard Mitigation
The state administers several hazard mitigation grant programs that are designed to reduce or eliminate the damages caused by natural disasters. Local governments are eligible applicants and can use mitigation funds to harden public buildings, businesses, and residential properties. For more information on these programs, please go to the following link:
http://www.floridadisaster.org/Mitigation/index.htm