Amy Godsey

The 2020 Statewide Emergency Shelter Plan outlines a strategy to identify and address emergency shelter needs across Florida. It focuses on assessing existing and projecting future hurricane evacuation shelter space requirements by Regional Planning Council (RPC) regions for the next five years (2020-2025). Key priorities include identifying suitable facility types to comply with public shelter design criteria, recommending appropriate funding sources for construction and retrofitting, and integrating information on pet-friendly shelters. The plan aims to eliminate statewide hurricane evacuation shelter space deficits, enhance preparedness, resiliency, and improve response capabilities for disaster survivors.

The Elevate Florida Program Snapshot provides an update on a statewide initiative focused on improving home resilience through federal funding. It details the program's operational timeline, accomplishments, and an increased federal funding cap for mitigation reconstruction projects. Key activities highlighted include scheduling pre-construction inspections, conducting contractor kick-off events, and securing preliminary commitments from property owners, while also addressing common misconceptions regarding program funding.

The Statewide Emergency Shelter Plan, prepared by the Florida Division of Emergency Management, outlines strategies for developing hurricane evacuation shelter space. Key focus areas include assessing current and projected shelter needs for general population and special needs, incorporating American Red Cross Hurricane Evacuation Shelter Selection Standards, and implementing a multifaceted Shelter Development Program through surveying, retrofitting, and new construction. The plan addresses persistent county-level deficits in general population and special needs shelter space, emphasizing the need for ongoing investment, improved analyses, and leveraging advanced technologies to enhance preparedness and disaster response across all counties.

The 2018 Statewide Emergency Shelter Plan, prepared by the Division of Emergency Management, serves as a guide for local emergency planning and advises school districts on public shelter space. It identifies existing and needed general population (GP) and special needs (SpNS) shelter space by regional planning council regions for the next five years, and includes information on pet-friendly shelters. Key focus areas include ensuring compliance with public shelter design criteria for educational facilities, recommending funding sources, and monitoring progress towards eliminating the statewide hurricane evacuation shelter space deficit, particularly for SpNS. The plan aims to enhance emergency preparedness, response, and support for disaster survivors.

The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) Integrated Preparedness Plan (IPP) identifies and schedules training and exercises to support gaps in the State's core capabilities across five mission areas. It focuses on enhancing terrorism preparedness, strengthening biological preparedness, improving natural disaster resilience, addressing mass casualty and population surge challenges, and advancing cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection. The plan is designed to be updated annually, providing a roadmap for accomplishing priorities outlined in key state documents and improving jurisdictional readiness.