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Training and Exercise

Training and Exercise

The Training and Exercise Unit coordinates the delivery of courses in the field for primarily county and first responders. The Training and Exercise Unit serves the training and exercise needs of Division staff and members of the State Emergency Response Team (SERT), which includes representatives of the state agencies and other organizations that staff the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC).

SERT TRAC

  • SERT TRAC  - State Emergency Response Team Training Resources and Activity Center is the statewide emergency management learning management system
  • Visit to browse a calendar for upcoming training opportunities
  • Create a profile to apply for courses and manage your emergency management training experience

 

The Professional Development Series (PDS) includes seven Emergency Management Institute independent study courses that provide a well-rounded set of fundamentals for those in the emergency management profession. Many students build on this foundation to develop their careers.

After successfully completing all 7 required PDS courses through the Independent Study program, a PDS certificate is automatically issued via email to the email address provided on your last exam submission.

PDS Required Courses

IS-120.c An Introduction to Exercises

IS-230.e Fundamentals of Emergency Management

IS-235.c Emergency Planning

IS-240.c Leadership and Influence

IS-241.c Decision Making and Problem Solving

IS-242.c Effective Communication

IS-244.b Developing and Managing Volunteers

Other Professional Programs
  • PLANNING PRACTITIONER PROGRAM (PPP)
    • Instructor-led courses allow planners to further develop their knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform effectively as lead planners and planning program managers
    • Series of two (2) resident courses (E0237: and E0238) that are each five (5) days in length, as well as Online Planning Practitioner Capstone (K0243).
    • Application period is open annually from April 1st to June 15th
    • Following courses must be completed in their entirety prior to applying: IS236 (in development), IS100, IS200, IS230, IS235, IS240, IS242, IS700, IS800
    • A certificate of graduation from the Emergency Management Professional Program (EMPP) Basic Academy from 2018, or later will satisfy the prerequisites for the PPP Program
    • FY2026 dates TBD
    • Additional information - https://training.fema.gov/programs/planning-practitioner/#prerequisites

 

  • MASTER EXERCISE PRACTITIONER PROGRAM (MEPP)
    • Program designed for experienced individuals with significant responsibility for progressive, all-hazard exercise programs consistent with the principles in the HSEEP doctrine.
    • Refine and practice skills critical to performing the phases of the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) cycle.
    • Consists of two (2) resident courses (E0132 and E0133) that are each four (4) days in length as well as conduct of an exercise for the candidate’s jurisdiction which is then presented to a panel (K0136).
    • Following courses must be completed in their entirety prior to submitting an application: L/K146 (HSEEP program), IS100, IS120, IS130, IS200, IS230, IS235, IS700, IS800, and IS2200
    • A certificate of graduation from the Emergency Management Professional Program (EMPP) Basic Academy from 2018, or later will satisfy the prerequisites for the MEP Program
    • Application period is open annually from April 1st to June 15th
    • https://training.fema.gov/programs/nsec/mepp/#how-to-apply

 

  • National Emergency Management Advanced Academy (NEMAA)
    • Reinforces the qualities needed to lead emergency management programs and provides relevant management theories and concepts, and utilizes appropriate case studies.
    • Series consists of four (4) resident courses that are each five (5) days in duration, as well as completing a comprehensive paper prior to graduation
    • Will start accepting applications for the National Emergency Management Advanced Academy (NEMAA) from April 1 – June 1, 2025 for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Cohorts.
    • Applications will be evaluated based on recommended prerequisites to include:

 

Applications cycles are not open but will open in the next four (4) months – if interested, used this time to complete prerequisites and prepare for course notifications. These courses are open to all 50 states and six (6) territories and are very competitive.

 

The original Advanced Professional Series (APS) course lineup was established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on November 27, 2001, to motivate and challenge students to continue emergency management training.

The APS provides Emergency Managers and First Responders the ability to perform essential work in a disaster that requires skills in emergency operations and management. These skills are developed through a series of courses that offer “how-to” training focused on practical information. This series emphasizes applied skills in disaster operations, management, and coordination.

On December 31, 2018, the Advanced Professional Series program was transferred to states for administration. Each state now issues its State Advanced Professional Series Certificates.

Below are the State of Florida Requirements as of March 1, 2022.

Required Courses

G-191 - Incident Command System/Emergency Operations Center Interface, or E/L449 ICS Train the Trainer

G-205 - Recovery from Disaster, the Local Government Role, or E-210 Recovery from Disaster, the Local Government Role

G-393 - Mitigation for Emergency Managers or G-318 – Mitigation Planning for Local Governments

G-557 - Rapid Assessment Workshop

G-2300 Intermediate Emergency Operations Center Functions

Elective Courses (choose any 5)

E/L/K-105 - Public Information Basics, or E-388 Advanced Public Information Officer or E/L-952 All-Hazards Public Information Officer

E/G-141 Instructional Presentation and Evaluation Skills or MGT-323 Instructor Development Workshop

E/L/K-146 - Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)

E/G/K-202 - Debris Management Planning for State, Local and Tribal Officials

E/L/K - 1301 Continuity Planning  

G-108 - Community Mass Care and Emergency Assistance

G-235 - Emergency Planning

G-271 - Hazardous Weather and Flood Preparedness, or IS-271 -  Anticipating Hazardous Weather and Community Risk

G-288 - Local Volunteer and Donations Management

G-358 - Evacuation and Re-entry Planning

G-361 - Flood Fight Operations

G-272 - Warning Coordination

G-386 - Mass Fatalities Incident Response Course

IS-703.b National Incident Management System Resource Management

L-363 Multi-Hazard Planning for Higher Education

APS Course Application Process

  • APS courses are classroom delivered courses unless otherwise noted.
  • APS courses are delivered through State Emergency Management Agencies, The National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, and the Emergency Management Institute.
  • Please review SERT TRAC (trac.floridadisaster.org) for a schedule of state offerings.

Requesting a Certificate of Completion

Students who complete the 5 required courses and any 5 of 15 elective courses are eligible to receive the Advanced Professional Series Certificate of Completion from the state.

Requests for the certificate of completion must be sent to State Training Coordinator, Mindy Dowling (mindy.dowling@em.myflorida.com) for verification. Include a copy of a completion certificate of each course completed. Also, include the mailing address that you would like your certificate sent.

For Further Information

If you have any questions or would like further information, contact The Florida Division of Emergency Management at FDEM.STO@em.myflorida.com.

Deputy State Training and Exercise Officer (DSTO) – Melissa Rudd
Office Number (850) 815-4301
Cell Number (850) 251-0962
Email: FDEM.STO@em.myflorida.com

Training & Education Specialist – Lyle Briggs
Regions 1, 2, 3, and 4 Training Coordinator
Office Number (850) 815-4363
Cell Number (850) 901-4972
Email: lyle.briggs@em.myflorida.com

Training & Exercise Specialist – Rick Knowles
Regions 6, 7, and 9 Training Coordinator
Office (850) 815-4307
Cell Number (850) 897-6174
Email: rick.knowles@em.myflorida.com

Training Specialist – Mindy Dowling
DHS Training Coordinator
Advanced Professional Series (APS) Requests
Office Number (850) 815-4302
Cell Number (850) 228-4593
Email: mindy.dowling@em.myflorida.com

 

 

Beginning in February 2024, FDEM partnered with FDLE and Hagerty Consulting, Inc. (Hagerty) to enhance Statewide terrorism preparedness through the development of planning toolkits and a series of exercises. The goal of the Toolkit is to empower jurisdictions and provide resources to holistically develop their own jurisdiction-specific Terrorism Response Plan, conduct training for stakeholders, and validate the plan through a tabletop exercise (TTX).

Terrorism Response Plan Toolkit - Instructional Guide

Terrorism Response Plan Toolkit - Flyer

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Florida Division of Emergency Management

2555 Shumard Oak Blvd. Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2100

Phone: 850-815-4000

For Florida Relay Service:
Dial 711 (TDD/TTY)        

Weather Outlook

Friday, December 6, 2024

...Isolated Showers Remain Possibel Through the Peninsula Today As A Cold Front Sinks Southward...Mostly Dry and Sunny Conditions Elsewhere...Cool and Dry Conditions Expected Across North Florida Behind the Cold Front This Afternoon...Dry Air and Breezy Winds to Give Way to Sensitive to Elevated Wildfire Conditions Across North Florida This Afternoon; Some Areas May See Near Critical Conditions; Red Flag Criteria Is Not Expected At This Time But Conditions Will Continue to Be Monitored...Freeze Watches Issued Across the Interior Northern Peninsula for Temperatures As Low As 27-Degrees Tonight...Low Temperatures In the Upper 20s to Middle 30s Elsewhere Across North Florida and Through the Nature Coast Tonight...Lingering Breey Winds To Cause Temperatures to Feel Like They Are In the Low to Middle 20s Through the Suwannee Valley, Upper 20s to Low 30s Across North Florida, and Low to Middle 30s Through the Nature Coast Early Saturday Morning...Moderate to High Risk For Rip Currents Along Florida Panhandle and East Coast As Ocean Swells and Hazardous Beach and Boating Conditions Develop...

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