Broward County Emergency Management Division

Broward County Emergency Management Division
Name	Broward County Emergency Management Division
Jurisdiction	Broward County, Florida
Headquarters	Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Region served	South Florida
Parent agency	Broward County

Broward County Emergency Management Division is the primary local emergency management office serving Broward County, Florida, coordinating preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery for hazards affecting Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Hollywood, Florida, Pembroke Pines, Florida, Coral Springs, Florida, Pompano Beach, Florida, and other municipalities. The division operates within the administrative framework of Broward County and interfaces with regional, state, and federal partners including Florida Division of Emergency Management, Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Department of Homeland Security, Florida Department of Health, and Florida Department of Transportation. It maintains relationships with neighboring jurisdictions such as Miami-Dade County, Florida and Palm Beach County, Florida while supporting local entities like Broward County Public Schools, Broward Health, Florida Power & Light Company, and Port Everglades.

History

The division traces its roots to civil defense efforts during the Cold War era, reflecting influences from national initiatives such as Federal Civil Defense Administration and later organizational reforms following events like Hurricane Andrew and the September 11 attacks. In the wake of major incidents including Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Wilma, local authorities restructured emergency functions consistent with guidance from Stafford Act implementation and National Incident Management System adoption. Over time, the division incorporated lessons from disasters like Hurricane Irene and Hurricane Sandy and aligned protocols with standards from National Fire Protection Association and American Red Cross. Partnerships evolved with regional entities such as South Florida Regional Planning Council and federal programs like Emergency Management Assistance Compact. Engagements with academic institutions—Florida International University, University of Miami, Florida Atlantic University—have informed vulnerability assessments and resilience planning.

Organization and Leadership

The division is led by a director who coordinates with the Broward County Board of County Commissioners and works alongside officials from Broward County Office of the Mayor, Broward County Sheriff's Office, City of Fort Lauderdale Mayor's Office, and municipal managers from cities such as Deerfield Beach, Florida and Dania Beach, Florida. Functional components include operations, planning, logistics, finance, communications, and public affairs, reflecting structures recommended by Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Incident Management System. Leadership liaises with elected officials including county commissioners and state leaders like the Governor of Florida during state emergencies. The division coordinates with specialized agencies including Broward County Fire Rescue, Broward County Public Schools Police, Broward County Aviation Department, and healthcare partners such as Broward Health North.

Responsibilities and Services

Core responsibilities encompass hazard mitigation, emergency planning, disaster response, shelter operations, evacuation planning, continuity of operations, and recovery coordination in accordance with Florida emergency management statutes and federal guidance from FEMA Region IV. Services include operating emergency operations centers, managing public alert systems in partnership with National Weather Service Miami, disseminating evacuation zone information used by National Hurricane Center advisories, coordinating mass care with American Red Cross chapters, and overseeing debris management consistent with United States Army Corps of Engineers practices. The division supports critical infrastructure resilience involving entities such as Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Florida Power & Light Company, TECO Energy affiliate interactions, and transit authorities like Broward County Transit.

Hazard Planning and Preparedness

Planning addresses coastal hazards including storm surge and sea level rise informed by research from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Geological Survey, and academic studies at University of Florida and Florida International University. The division develops hazard mitigation plans, floodplain management, and risk assessments that reference standards from American Society of Civil Engineers and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Preparedness activities include hurricane readiness campaigns, mass evacuation modeling using guidance from Department of Transportation, sheltering strategies aligned with Department of Health and Human Services guidance for medical needs shelters, and continuity planning for institutions like Broward College and Nova Southeastern University.

Emergency Operations and Response

During activations, the division operates the County Emergency Operations Center consistent with National Incident Management System structure, coordinating multi-agency task forces involving Broward County Sheriff's Office law enforcement, Broward County Fire Rescue, Florida Highway Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Miami, and Florida National Guard when mobilized by the Governor of Florida. Operations include incident action planning, resource allocation through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, public sheltering with American Red Cross, medical surge coordination with Broward Health Medical Center and Holy Cross Health, and logistics support informed by practices from FEMA Logistics Management. The division has activated for storms, major fires, public health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and other incidents requiring unified command involving partners like Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Public Outreach and Education

Public education campaigns leverage partnerships with media outlets including Sun Sentinel and WPLG-TV and community organizations such as Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity. Programs include preparedness fairs, CERT training derived from FEMA Community Emergency Response Team curriculum, multilingual outreach for diverse communities including Haitian Creole and Spanish speakers connected to Haitian-American community and Hispanic and Latino American populations, and school-based initiatives with Broward County Public Schools. The division collaborates with nonprofits like United Way of Broward County, faith-based networks, and neighborhood associations to enhance community resilience and emergency preparedness.

Mutual Aid and Interagency Coordination

Mutual aid arrangements involve the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, coordination with neighboring counties including Miami-Dade County, Florida and Palm Beach County, Florida, and cooperative relationships with state and federal agencies such as Florida Division of Emergency Management and Federal Emergency Management Agency. Interagency coordination uses incident command structures compatible with National Response Framework, joint information systems aligning with FEMA guidance, and exercises with partners like U.S. Northern Command-affiliated entities and regional fusion centers. The division participates in regional planning with organizations such as South Florida Regional Planning Council, Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact, and multi-jurisdictional drills involving hospitals, ports, airports, and transit providers.

Category:Emergency services in Florida Category:Broward County, Florida