Florida Emergency Management and Homeland Security Statutory Authorities Summarized

Publication Date: March 2004

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

Type:

Coverage: Florida

Abstract:

The State Emergency Management Act sets out emergency powers and provides for mutual aid agreements. Seven entities are vested with specific statutory responsibilities in relation to emergency management. One notable agency is the Florida Domestic Security and Counter-Terrorism Intelligence Center, the role of which is to gather terrorism related data. The governor may assume full control of emergency management functions in an emergency. State financial assistance for the administration of state and local emergency management activities is derived from an emergency management fund. Continuity of government laws cover elected officials and the judiciary, and are geared toward effectively filling vacant positions, following lines of succession and relocating government during an emergency. Emergency management plans and emergency medical capabilities are exempt from standard public information provisions.