1. State Emergency Operations Center Disaster Operations Brian K. Richardson Assistant State Meteorologist Florida Division of Emergency Management Tallahassee, Florida

2. There are over 17 million Florida residents. Approximately 80% live or conduct business on or near the coast. Florida has approximately 11,000 miles of rivers, streams, and waterways.

4. GET A PLAN! Introduced in 2006 Introduced in 2006 “Culture of Preparedness” “Culture of Preparedness” Emergency Management begins with the individual. Emergency Management begins with the individual.

5. GET A PLAN! http://www.floridadisaster.org http://www.floridadisaster.org Users can create personalized disaster plan for home or business. Users can create personalized disaster plan for home or business. Storm surge zone maps Storm surge zone maps Evacuation route maps Evacuation route maps

9. Users can also obtain the latest information on shelters and open/closed roads. (including evacuation routes)

10. 2006 Florida Hazardous Weather Awareness Guide

11. No matter how much we hope against a natural disaster, one will eventually occur… …so how does FDEM handle it? Hurricane Floyd, Eastern U.S. NOAA

12. FDEM Operations Communication with impacted counties (e.g. conference calls) Communication with impacted counties (e.g. conference calls) State EOC activation levels (1, 2,& 3) State EOC activation levels (1, 2,& 3) State Emergency Response Team (SERT) briefings twice a day State Emergency Response Team (SERT) briefings twice a day

13. Mobile Command Vehicle Post-disaster deployment of FDEM personnel and equipment (if necessary)

14. Resources FDEM Uses During Flood Events Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) SERFC text/graphical products SERFC text/graphical products 7 NWSFO’s serving Florida 7 NWSFO’s serving Florida Computer model output Computer model output Radar data (precipitation estimates) Radar data (precipitation estimates) State Meteorological Support Unit State Meteorological Support Unit

15. State Meteorological Support Unit Ensures that the State Emergency Response Team has the weather data needed to make decisions and carry out missions. Ensures that the State Emergency Response Team has the weather data needed to make decisions and carry out missions. Coordinate the outreach of hazardous weather education. Coordinate the outreach of hazardous weather education. Work with Florida’s 67 counties to ensure that they can use products from the National Weather Service. Work with Florida’s 67 counties to ensure that they can use products from the National Weather Service. Handle media inquiries and requests during SEOC activations and “pre-activations”. Handle media inquiries and requests during SEOC activations and “pre-activations”.

16. To Sum It Up FDEM philosophy: Prepare beforehand!! FDEM philosophy: Prepare beforehand!! NWS, SERFC, AHPS – used heavily for tropical and non-tropical flooding NWS, SERFC, AHPS – used heavily for tropical and non-tropical flooding SMSU: Liaisons between NOAA entities and Florida’s EM community SMSU: Liaisons between NOAA entities and Florida’s EM community