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, the All-Hazards Incident Management Team Program, and Human Services.
Deputy Bureau Chief of Response
Operations Section Chief
Chief State Meteorologist
Deputy Operations Section Chief
State Watch Office Supervisor
Safety Officer
Deputy Operations Chief
State Watch Office Supervisor
Mass Notification Specialist
Deputy Operations Chief
State Watch Office Supervisor
Credentialing Unit Manager
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:
Contact Us
To reach the State Watch Office, please call
1-800-320-0519
850-815-4001
Sam Walters
State Watch Office Supervisor/Deputy Operations Section Chief/Safety Officer
Woody Harvey
State Watch Office Supervisor/Deputy Operations Chief/Mass Notification Specialist
Caitlyn Gillespie
Deputy State Meteorologist
State Watch Officer
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.
For more information regarding the Meteorology Unit, click on the following link:
Amy Godsey
Chief State Meteorologist
Operations Section Chief/Deputy Bureau Chief of Response
Caitlyn Gillespie
Deputy State Meteorologist
State Watch Officer
Kennedy Tartt
Assistant State Meteorologist
Melissa James
Assistant State Meteorologist
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.
For more information regarding the All-Hazards Incident Management Teams, click on the following link:
All-Hazards Incident Management Team
Taylor Cheney
Credentialing Manager
Charles Walrath
All-Hazards Incident Management 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), Food & Water (ESF-11), 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 Planner
