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Referring to the Executive Overview of the State Emergency <br />Operations Plan (SEOP), Mr. Myers stressed the importance of <br />cooperation and coordination between counties and municipalities. <br />STATE OF FLORIDA <br />EMERGENCY RESPONSE OVERVIEW <br />Emergencies can occur at any time and in every jurisdiction in Florida. It is the states responsibility to ensure that emergency management officials <br />at all levels of government are trained and equipped toemployan organiud and routine series of responseand recovery operation when &wterstrikes. <br />When largmle emergencies o=, the response capabilities of local overnments can easily be overwhelmed Natuml disasters and Large-scale <br />ernergenaes often cross city and county lines and of fed largesegments o) thepopulation. In addition, response to these emergencies may require mmry <br />differentservicesand resources. Government and privatesectorentitiesmust prepare thekresource teamstoserveinanapandedcripacityduringmajor <br />crisis situations. <br />How fhe Rate Respomis <br />Prepa mdruss Goals <br />Before an agency, large or small, can <br />adequately cope with any emergency, it <br />must: <br />1. Develop a response plan <br />2 Create an organizational structure to <br />cant' out the plan <br />3. Obtain the required staff <br />4. Provide staff with appropriate <br />equipment <br />5. Train staff in the correct response <br />procedures <br />6. Test all facets of the response <br />organization <br />Regular exercises are needed to <br />ensure that both experienced personnel <br />and new employees are familiar with all <br />applicable procedures. <br />Mmtageau d Ageiuia <br />Department of Community <br />Affairs' Division of Emergency <br />Alanagement (DENO; <br />• Prepares a comprehensive plan and <br />program for emergency management <br />in Florida <br />• Ensures that emergency plans are <br />implemented during crisis situations. <br />DUI Bureau of Preparedness <br />and Response: <br />• Ensures all operational systems are in <br />place to respond tolocal government <br />needs during emergencies. <br />• Activates the State Emergency <br />Operations Center. <br />Providnrg EadrAssessmenl mud Assislmue <br />With the lessons learned from Hurri- <br />cane Andrew and the No Name Winter <br />Storm of 1993, the state has implemented <br />several preparedness procedures which <br />allow it to respond more quickly and <br />with greater efficiency when faced with <br />an emergency situation. The operations <br />outlined below demonstrate this "pro- <br />active" approach to emergency planning. <br />Quick Impact Assessment Teams <br />These teams are under the Florida <br />National Guard and are often the first <br />into the affected areas These teams: <br />• determine immediate human <br />requirements like food, water, health/ <br />medical needs and housing <br />• assess the impact of the emergency <br />and relay this information to <br />transportation, communications and <br />utility systems <br />Rapid Response Teams <br />State, local and volunteer personnel <br />are organized into Rapid Response <br />Teams (RRTs) and deployed into the <br />impacted area to coordinate outside <br />resources, provide relief for impacted <br />personnel and perform other tasks as <br />deemed necessary. The nature, size and <br />composition of these teams is deter- <br />mined by the nature of the task(s) to be <br />performed Examples of RRT duties <br />include: managing donated goods, <br />operating staging areas for outside <br />assistance, providing relief personnel for <br />EOC/Command Post management <br />E <br />Emergency Operations Centers <br />State Ind- The State EOC, located in <br />Tallahassee, serves as the central clear- <br />inghouse for disaster -related informa- <br />tion, and the request and deployment of <br />outside resources In the event <br />Tallahassee is threatened, an alternate <br />State EOC is located in Defuniak Springs. <br />County Level• County EOCs collect <br />disaster information and coordinate <br />response and recovery resources for their <br />area. During a major threat to the state, <br />unimpacted counties will also be <br />requested to activate their EOCs. This <br />system allows the State EOC to better <br />coordinate the delivery of intra -state <br />mutual aid <br />Agency Emergency Coordinating <br />Officers <br />Local units of government call upon <br />the State EOC for assistance during an <br />emergency when their own resource and <br />response capabilities are overwhelmed <br />To respond quickly and effectively to <br />events, the State EOC has agency - <br />designated Emergency Coordinating <br />Officers These officers use the resources <br />of their agency to implement response <br />and recovery efforts. <br />BOOK 9` `' PAqE-7WI <br />FEB 1119p <br />