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Okaloosa County Emergency Management is part of The Department of Public Safety under the authority and supervision of the Board of County Commissioners. Until 1992, the functions of Emergency Management, 911 Communications and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were separate. These departments were consolidated in 1992 to form the Department of Emergency Services, later renamed the Department of Public Safety in 2001.
Division Chief: Manages day to day operations in emergency response measures, administrative and planning initiatives. Prepares, maintains and executes the County Emergency Management Plan that includes Natural (Hurricanes, Tornados, and Floods), Technological Hazards (Chemical Spills) and Manmade events (Terrorist Events). Oversees the Okaloosa County Emergency Operations Center during activation for emergency situations. Coordinates response actions between on scene emergency response agencies, local, state and federal emergency response entities to ensure resources are available for mitigation of the incident. Conducts emergency preparedness training to local government and civic groups. Represents a ten county region in Northwest Florida as a Regional Domestic Security Task Force member. Member of the Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) oversight committee and the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP) Board.
Emergency Management Coordinator: Coordinates day to day operations in emergency response measures, administrative and planning initiatives. Assists in the preparation, maintenance, and execution of the County Emergency Management Plan to include Natural (Hurricanes, Tornados, and Floods), Technological Hazards (Chemical Spills) and Manmade events (Terrorist Events). Responds to and coordinates response actions between on scene emergency response agencies, local, state and federal emergency response entities to insure resources are available for mitigation of the incident. Conducts emergency preparedness training to local government and civic groups. Coordinator for the Okaloosa County Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT). Provides training to emergency response personnel in Hazardous Materials. Member of the Florida State Emergency Response Team (SERT).
Administrative staff includes an Executive Aid, who acts as the coordinator during disasters for the Citizen Information Line personnel (CIL). This position insures the CIL is fully manned during a local state of emergency to insure the citizens of Okaloosa County receive up to date information on evacuation and recovery efforts.
The Public Safety Director, and the EM Division Chief comprise the Divisions leadership. The Director provides overall management of the department, while the EM Division Chief has specific functional responsibilities for managing day-to-day response, planning, and administrative operations.