Palm Beach County Emergency Management Prepares for Disasters

Palm Beach County's Emergency Management Division works to reduce community vulnerability and minimize disaster impacts. The division focuses on preparation, response, and recovery efforts across the county, contributing to local, state, and federal committees to enhance Homeland Security and safety.

The team develops and modifies response plans for potential emergencies, including severe weather, civil disturbances, command team activations, continuity of operations, incident action plans, and the comprehensive emergency management plan. These plans coordinate with Directors of Public Safety and Emergency Management, as well as the Florida Fusion Center, for intelligence sharing and collaboration.

During emergencies, the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue (PBCFR) Emergency Management Division leads operations at the Emergency Operation Center (EOC). They oversee critical functions at Emergency Support Function desks 4 (Firefighting) and 9 (Search and Rescue). Unit leaders connect the EOC with field operations at schools, shelters, and healthcare facilities for coordinated responses.

The division also manages disaster deployment assistance. The Emergency Management Coordinator confirms disaster deployment rosters, ensuring personnel train for deployment outside Palm Beach County. PBCFR hosts the Southeast Florida Regional All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT), providing administrative, logistical, and financial support. PBCFR also represents the county in the Florida Statewide Emergency Response Plan, preparing strike team resources for deployment under the Statewide Mutual Aid Agreement.

PBCFR's Emergency Management Division participates in the Southeast Florida Regional Domestic Security Task Force (RDSTF), overseen by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The task force includes members from fire rescue, emergency management, public health, hospitals, and law enforcement. They conduct training exercises, coordinate resource distribution, and develop emergency response plans for the region.

To bolster preparedness, PBCFR collaborates with local, state, and federal agencies on training and exercises. These include drills at the EOC, responses to active shooter scenarios, and regional hazardous material incident response to ensure strong, unified command during large-scale incidents.

Residents can sign up for Palm Beach County's Emergency Notification System, ALERTPBC, to receive notifications via phone calls, text messages, and email based on their chosen locations. The EOC is located at 20 S. Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL 33415. The phone number is 561-712-6400.