Operations
The Operations Section monitors day-to-day incidents, activities, and events with the State of Florida that could require a State response. This section also ensures the operational readiness of the State Emergency Operations Center. The Operations Section includes the State Watch Office, Meteorology, Credentialing Unit and Human Services.
The State Watch Office operates 24/7, 365 days a year as a daily extension of the Florida State Emergency Operations Center. The State Watch Office monitors local, state, and national media as well as communicates with Florida’s counties and state agencies to ensure that the State Emergency Response Team is aware of any on-going or developing situations. The SWO maintains communications systems and warning capabilities to ensure that the state’s population and emergency management agencies are warned of developing emergency situations and can communicate emergency response decisions as mandated by § 252.35 F.S.
For more information regarding the State Watch Office and the list of reportable incidents, click on the following link: State Watch Office
Contact Us - To reach the State Watch Office, please call:
- 1-800-320-0519
- 850-815-4001
Sam Walters, Deputy Operations Section Chief, Safety Officer
Woody Harvey, Deputy Operations Chief, Mass Notification Specialist
Caitlyn Gillespie, Deputy State Meteorologist
The Meteorology Unit provides around the clock updates to the Division of Emergency Management and partners regarding weather and meteorological information. Collocated within Florida’s State Watch Office, the meteorology provides Operation’s staff with expertise and guidance on the hazards posed by current conditions. Going beyond just severe weather, this includes critical situational awareness, such as wind speed and direction during wildfires and events that can affect operational safety.
FY25-26 Florida Severe Weather Mesonet Documents
These documents are for government and official use only. Application and Memorandum of Agreement(s) to join Phase 7 of the Florida Severe Weather Mesonet are intended solely for consideration by local municipalities, county agencies, state agency partners, and 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations.
FY25-26 WeatherSTEM Application
Contacts
For more information regarding the Meteorology Unit, click on the following link: Meteorology
Amy Godsey, Chief State Meteorologist, Operations Section Chief, Deputy Bureau Chief of Response
Caitlyn Gillespie, Deputy State Meteorologist
Kennedy Tartt, Assistant State Meteorologist
Evan Newman, Assistant State Meteorologist
EOC Credentialing Program
The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Credentialing Program serves to qualify, certify and credential individuals across Florida for roles within an EOC. This program follows the Florida Qualifications System (FQS) to ensure personnel meet standardized qualifications, with requisite training, experience, and demonstrated capabilities to perform their duties during a deployment. The EOC Credentialing Program utilizes a comprehensive process to build and verify core competencies, including the use of Position Task Books for performance assessment & ongoing requirements to maintain credentials.
Historical Recognition for this program opens on December 1st, 2024, for the following positions:
- EOC Manager
- EOC Public Information Officer
- EOC Planning Section Coordinator
- EOC Logistics Section Coordinator
- EOC Operations Section Coordinator
- EOC Finance Section Coordinator
- EOC Branch Director
For more information on the EOC Credentialing Program, visit: EOC Position Credentialing Program | Florida Disaster
Connor Stolp, Credentialing Manager
Bailey Vandewalle, EOC Credentialing Coordinator
All Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Program
The All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) serves as the forward coordinating element for the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) and the State Coordinating Officer (SCO). AHIMTs do not typically assume operational control of an incident; however, they provide situational awareness and operational planning to the SERT and the SCO by incorporating information collected from the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC), County EOCs, local agencies. The AHIMT will assist in the coordination of necessary logistical support to the SCO and SERT for forward deployment.
Click on image for larger map.
Contacts
Connor Stolp, Credentialing Manager
Charles Walrath, All-Hazards Incident Management Team Program Manager
For more information on the AHIMT, visit All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT)| Florida Disaster
Specialty Response Team (SRT) Program
A Specialty Response Team (SRT) is a highly trained tactical unit that handles situations beyond the scope of regular first responders.
The SRT Program launched on August 5th, 2025 with select pilot counties and local emergency response agencies to participate in the first round of team credentialing and the initial validation of self-assessment.
Connor Stolp, Credentialing Manager
Charles Walrath, All-Hazards Incident Management Team Program Manager
The Human Services Program plays a vital role in the functionality of the Division’s response in support of Florida’s citizens. Focusing on the human aspect of a disaster, the program works alongside its Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) to ensure that the human needs are filled during a disaster.
These ESFs include Mass Care (ESF-6), Volunteer & Donation Management (ESF-15), Animal & Agriculture (ESF-17).
The program works tirelessly to ensure life-sustaining needs are met and through coordination, planning, and training, the Human Services Program work daily to ensure identify new projects and programs that will increase resiliency of the state.
Pamela Hughes, Human Services Program Manager
Octavio Rios, Human Services Program Coordinator
Amy Godsey, Deputy Bureau Chief of Response, Operations Section Chief, Chief State Meteorologist
Sam Walters, Deputy Operations Section Chief, Safety Officer
Woody Harvey, Deputy Operations Section Chief, Mass Notification Specialist
Connor Stolp, Deputy Operations Section Chief, Credentialing Manager
Pam Hughes, Human Services Program Manager
