CHAPTER 252

252.31 Short title. Sections 252.31-252.60 shall be known and may be cited as the “State Emergency Management Act.” History. — s. 1, ch. 74-285; s. 13, ch. 83-334. 252.311 Legislative intent. (1) The Legislature finds and declares that the state is vulnerable to a wide range of emergencies, including natural, technological, and manmade disasters, all of which threaten the life, health, and safety of its people; damage and destroy property; disrupt services and everyday business and recreational activities; and impede economic growth and development. The Legislature further finds that this vulnerability is exacerbated by the tremendous growth in the state’s population, especially the growth in the number of persons residing in coastal areas, in the elderly population, in the number of seasonal vacationers, and in the number of persons with special needs. This growth has greatly complicated the state’s ability to coordinate its emergency management resources and activities. (2) It is the intent of the Legislature to reduce the vulnerability of the people and property of this state; to prepare for efficient evacuation and shelter of threatened or affected persons; to provide for the rapid and orderly provision of relief to persons and for the restoration of services and property; to prepare for and efficiently respond to public health emergencies; and to provide for the coordination of activities relating to emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation among and between agencies and officials of this state, with similar agencies and officials of other states, with local and federal governments, with interstate organizations, and with the private sector. (3) It is further the intent of the Legislature to promote the state’s emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation capabilities through enhanced coordination, long-term planning, and adequate funding. State policy for responding to disasters is to support local emergency response efforts. In the case of a major or catastrophic disaster, however, the needs of residents and communities will likely be greater than local resources. In these situations, the state must be capable of providing effective, coordinated, and timely support to communities and the public. Therefore, the Legislature hereby determines and declares that the provisions of this act fulfill an important state interest. (4) It is further the intent of the Legislature to minimize the negative effects of an extended emergency, such as a pandemic or another public health emergency. The Legislature recognizes that there are significant negative impacts on children and families associated with school closures during a public health emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The Legislature also recognizes the significant negative impacts of such emergencies on the economy due to business closures. (5) It is further the intent of the Legislature that all aspects of emergency preparedness, response, and recovery be made transparent to the public to the greatest extent possible. History. — s. 8, ch. 93-211; s. 2, ch. 2021-8. 252.32 Policy and purpose. (1) Because of the existing and continuing possibility of the occurrence of emergencies and disasters resulting from natural, technological, or manmade causes; in order to ensure that preparations of this state will be adequate to deal with, reduce vulnerability to, and recover from such emergencies and disasters; to provide for the common defense and to protect the public peace, health, and safety; and to preserve the lives and property of the people of the state, it is hereby found and declared to be necessary: (a) To create a state emergency management agency to be known as the “Division of Emergency Management,” to authorize the creation of local organizations for emergency management in the political subdivisions of the state, and to authorize cooperation with the Federal Government and the governments of other states. (b) To confer upon the Governor, the Division of Emergency Management, and the governing body of each political subdivision of the state the emergency powers provided herein. (c) To provide for the rendering of mutual aid among the political subdivisions of the state, with other states, and with the Federal Government with respect to carrying out all emergency management functions and responsibilities. (d) To authorize the establishment of such organizations and the development and employment of such measures as are necessary and appropriate to carry out the provisions of ss. 252.31-252.90. (e) To provide the means to assist in the prevention or mitigation of emergencies which may be caused or aggravated by inadequate planning for, and regulation of, public and private facilities and land use. (2) It is further declared to be the purpose of ss. 252.31-252.90 and the policy of the state that all emergency management functions of the state be coordinated to the maximum extent with comparable functions of the Federal Government, including its various departments, agencies of other states and localities, and private agencies of every type, to the end that the most effective preparation and use may be made of the workforce, resources, and facilities of the nation for dealing with any emergency that may occur. History. — s. 1, ch. 74-285; s. 18, ch. 81-169; s. 14, ch. 83-334; s. 6, ch. 84-241; s. 9, ch. 93-211; s. 127, ch. 95-148; s. 30, ch. 2001-61. 252.33 Limitations. Nothing in ss. 252.31-252.60 shall be construed to: (1) Interfere with the course or conduct of a labor dispute, except that actions otherwise authorized by ss. 252.31-252.60 or other laws may be taken when necessary to forestall or mitigate imminent or existing danger to public health or safety. (2) Interfere with dissemination of news or comment on public affairs; but any communications facility or organization, including, but not limited to, radio and television stations, wire services, and newspapers, may be required to transmit or print public service messages furnishing information or instructions in connection with an emergency. (3) Affect the jurisdiction or responsibilities of police forces, firefighting forces, units of the Armed Forces of the United States, or any personnel thereof, when on active duty; but state, local, and interjurisdictional emergency plans shall place reliance upon the forces available for performance of functions related to emergencies. (4) Limit, modify, or abridge the authority of the Governor to proclaim martial law or exercise any other powers vested in the Governor under the constitution, statutes, or common law of this state independent of, or in conjunction with, any provisions of ss. 252.31-252.60. History. — s. 1, ch. 74-285; s. 15, ch. 83-334; s. 128, ch. 95-148. 252.34 Definitions. As used in this part, the term: (1) “Activate” means the execution and implementation of the necessary plans and activities required to mitigate, respond to, or recover from an emergency or disaster pursuant to this chapter and the state comprehensive emergency management plan. (2) “Disaster” means any natural, technological, or civil emergency that causes damage of sufficient severity and magnitude to result in a declaration of a state of emergency by a county, the Governor, or the President of the United States. Disasters shall be identified by the severity of resulting damage, as follows: (a) “Catastrophic disaster” means a disaster that will require massive state and federal assistance, including immediate military involvement. (b) “Major disaster” means a disaster that will likely exceed local capabilities and require a broad range of state and federal assistance. (c) “Minor disaster” means a disaster that is likely to be within the response capabilities of local government and to result in only a minimal need for state or federal assistance. (3) “Division” means the Division of Emergency Management within the Executive Office of the Governor, or the successor to that division. (4) “Emergency” means any occurrence, or threat thereof, whether natural, technological, or manmade, in war or in peace, which results or may result in substantial injury or harm to the population or substantial damage to or loss of property. (5) “Emergency management” means the preparation for, the mitigation of, the response to, and the recovery from emergencies and disasters. Specific emergency management responsibilities include, but are not limited to: (a) Reduction of vulnerability of people and communities of this state to damage, injury, and loss of life and property resulting from natural, technological, or manmade emergencies or hostile military or paramilitary action. (b) Preparation for prompt and efficient response and recovery to protect lives and property affected by emergencies. (c) Response to emergencies using all systems, plans, and resources necessary to preserve adequately the health, safety, and welfare of persons or property affected by the emergency. (d) Recovery from emergencies by providing for the rapid and orderly start of restoration and rehabilitation of persons and property affected by emergencies. (e) Provision of an emergency management system embodying all aspects of preemergency preparedness and postemergency response, recovery, and mitigation. (f) Assistance in anticipation, recognition, appraisal, prevention, and mitigation of emergencies which may be caused or aggravated by inadequate planning for, and regulation of, public and private facilities and land use. (6) “Local emergency management agency” means an organization created in accordance with the provisions of ss. 252.31-252.90 to discharge the emergency management responsibilities and functions of a political subdivision. (7) “Manmade emergency” means an emergency caused by an action against persons or society, including, but not limited to, enemy attack, sabotage, terrorism, civil unrest, or other action impairing the orderly administration of government. (8) “Natural emergency” means an emergency caused by a natural event, including, but not limited to, a hurricane, a storm, a flood, severe wave action, a drought, or an earthquake. (9) “Personal protective equipment” means protective clothing or equipment designed to protect an individual person from injury or the spread of infection. (10) “Political subdivision” means any county or municipality created pursuant to law. (11) “Public health emergency” means any occurrence, or threat thereof, whether natural or manmade, which results or may result in substantial injury or harm to the public health from infectious disease, chemical agents, nuclear agents, biological toxins, or situations involving mass casualties or natural disasters, declared as a public health emergency as declared by the State Health Officer. (12) “Technological emergency” means an emergency caused by a technological failure or accident, including, but not limited to, an explosion, transportation accident, radiological accident, or chemical or other hazardous material incident. History. — s. 1, ch. 74-285; s. 19, ch. 81-169; s. 22, ch. 83-55; s. 16, ch. 83-334; s. 7, ch. 84-241; s. 10, ch. 93-211; s. 31, ch. 2001-61; s. 98, ch. 2011-142; s. 1, ch. 2016-198; s. 3, ch. 2021-8. 252.35 Emergency management powers; Division of Emergency Management. (1) The division is responsible for maintaining a comprehensive statewide program of emergency management. The division is responsible for coordination with efforts of the Federal Government with other departments and agencies of state government, with county and municipal governments and school boards, and with private agencies that have a role in emergency management. (2) The division is responsible for carrying out the provisions of ss. 252.31-252.90. In performing its duties, the division shall: (a) Prepare a state comprehensive emergency management plan, which must be integrated into and coordinated with the emergency management plans and programs of the Federal Government. The division shall adopt the plan as a rule in accordance with chapter 120. The plan must be implemented by a continuous, integrated comprehensive emergency management program. The plan must contain provisions to ensure that the state is prepared for emergencies and minor, major, and catastrophic disasters, and the division shall work closely with local governments and agencies and organizations with emergency management responsibilities in preparing and maintaining the plan. The state comprehensive emergency management plan must be operations oriented and: 1. Include an evacuation component that includes specific regional and interregional planning provisions and promotes intergovernmental coordination of evacuation activities. This component must, at a minimum: contain guidelines for lifting tolls on state highways; ensure coordination pertaining to evacuees crossing county lines; set forth procedures for directing people caught on evacuation routes to safe shelter; establish strategies for ensuring sufficient, reasonably priced fueling locations along evacuation routes; and establish policies and strategies for emergency medical evacuations. 2. Include a shelter component that includes specific regional and interregional planning provisions and promotes coordination of shelter activities between the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. This component must, at a minimum: contain strategies to ensure the availability of adequate public shelter space in each county; establish strategies for refuge-of-last-resort programs; provide strategies to assist local emergency management efforts to ensure that adequate staffing plans exist for all shelters, including medical and security personnel; provide for a postdisaster communications system for public shelters; establish model shelter guidelines for operations, registration, inventory, power generation capability, information management, and staffing; and set forth policy guidance for sheltering people with special needs. 3. Include a postdisaster response and recovery component that includes specific regional and interregional planning provisions and promotes intergovernmental coordination of postdisaster response and recovery activities. This component must provide for postdisaster response and recovery strategies according to whether a disaster is minor, major, or catastrophic. The postdisaster response and recovery component must, at a minimum: establish the structure of the state’s postdisaster response and recovery organization; establish procedures for activating the state’s plan; set forth policies used to guide postdisaster response and recovery activities; describe the chain of command during the postdisaster response and recovery period; describe initial and continuous postdisaster response and recovery actions; identify the roles and responsibilities of each involved agency and organization; provide for a comprehensive communications plan; establish procedures for coordinating and monitoring statewide mutual aid agreements reimbursable under federal public disaster assistance programs; provide for rapid impact assessment teams; ensure the availability of an effective statewide urban search and rescue program coordinated with the fire services; ensure the existence of a comprehensive statewide medical care and relief plan administered by the Department of Health; and establish systems for coordinating volunteers and accepting and distributing donated funds and goods. 4. Include additional provisions addressing aspects of preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation as determined necessary by the division. 5. Address the need for coordinated and expeditious deployment of state resources, including the Florida National Guard. In the case of an imminent major disaster, procedures should address predeployment of the Florida National Guard, and, in the case of an imminent catastrophic disaster, procedures should address predeployment of the Florida National Guard and the United States Armed Forces. 6. Establish a system of communications and warning to ensure that the state’s population and emergency management agencies are warned of developing emergency situations, including public health emergencies, and can communicate emergency response decisions. 7. Establish guidelines and schedules for annual exercises that evaluate the ability of the state and its political subdivisions to respond to minor, major, and catastrophic disasters and support local emergency management agencies. Such exercises shall be coordinated with local governments and, to the extent possible, the Federal Government. 8. Assign lead and support responsibilities to state agencies and personnel for emergency support functions and other support activities. 9. Include the public health emergency plan developed by the Department of Health pursuant to s. 381.00315. 10. Include an update on the status of the emergency management capabilities of the state and its political subdivisions. The update must include the emergency management capabilities related to public health emergencies, as determined in collaboration with the Department of Health. The complete state comprehensive emergency management plan must be submitted to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Governor on February 1 of every even-numbered year. (b) Adopt standards and requirements for county emergency management plans. The standards and requirements must ensure that county plans are coordinated and consistent with the state comprehensive emergency management plan. If a municipality elects to establish an emergency management program, it must adopt a city emergency management plan that complies with all standards and requirements applicable to county emergency management plans. (c) Assist political subdivisions in preparing and maintaining emergency management plans. Such assistance must include the development of a template for comprehensive emergency management plans, including plans for natural disasters, and guidance on the development of mutual aid agreements. (d) Review periodically political subdivision emergency management plans for consistency with the state comprehensive emergency management plan and standards and requirements adopted under this section. (e) Cooperate with the President, the heads of the Armed Forces, the various federal emergency management agencies, federal or state health agencies, and the officers and agencies of other states in matters pertaining to emergency management in the state and the nation and incidents thereof and, in connection therewith, take any measures that it deems proper to carry into effect any request of the President and the appropriate federal officers and agencies for any emergency management action, including the direction or control of: 1. Emergency management drills, tests, or exercises of whatever nature. 2. Warnings and signals for tests and drills, attacks, or other imminent emergencies or threats thereof and the mechanical devices to be used in connection with such warnings and signals. (f) Make recommendations to the Legislature, building code organizations, and political subdivisions for zoning, building, and other land use controls; safety measures for securing mobile homes or other nonpermanent or semipermanent structures; and other preparedness, prevention, and mitigation measures designed to eliminate emergencies or reduce their impact. (g) In accordance with the state comprehensive emergency management plan and program for emergency management, ascertain the requirements of the state and its political subdivisions for equipment and supplies of all kinds in the event of an emergency; plan for and either procure supplies, medicines, materials, and equipment or enter into memoranda of agreement or open purchase orders that will ensure their availability; and use and employ from time to time any of the property, services, and resources within the state in accordance with ss. 252.31-252.90. (h) Anticipate trends and promote innovations that will enhance the emergency management system. (i) Institute statewide public awareness programs, including an intensive public educational campaign on emergency preparedness issues. Such programs must include, but need not be limited to, the personal responsibility of individual residents to be self-sufficient for up to 72 hours following a natural or manmade disaster or a public health emergency. The public educational campaign must include relevant information on public health emergency mitigation, statewide disaster plans, evacuation routes, fuel suppliers, and shelters. All educational materials must be available in alternative formats and mediums to ensure that they are available to persons with disabilities. (j) In cooperation with the Department of Education, coordinate with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to provide an educational outreach program on disaster preparedness and readiness to individuals who have limited English skills and identify persons who are in need of assistance but are not defined under special-needs criteria. (k) Prepare and distribute to appropriate state and local officials catalogs of federal, state, and private assistance programs. (l) Coordinate federal, state, and local emergency management activities and take all other steps, including the partial or full mobilization of emergency management forces and organizations in advance of an actual emergency, to ensure the availability of adequately trained and equipped forces of emergency management personnel before, during, and after emergencies and disasters. (m) Establish a schedule of fees that may be charged by local emergency management agencies for review of emergency management plans on behalf of external agencies and institutions. In establishing such schedule, the division shall consider facility size, review complexity, and other factors. (n) Implement training programs to maintain this state’s status as a national leader in emergency management and improve the ability of state and local emergency management personnel to prepare and implement emergency management plans and programs. This must include a continuous training program for agencies and individuals who will be called on to perform key roles in state and local postdisaster response and recovery efforts and for local government personnel on federal and state postdisaster response and recovery strategies and procedures. The division shall specify requirements for the minimum number of training hours that county or municipal administrators, county or city managers, county or municipal emergency management directors, and county or municipal public works directors or other officials responsible for the construction and maintenance of public infrastructure must complete biennially in addition to the training required pursuant to s. 252.38(1)(b). Such training may be provided by the division or, for county personnel, by a foundation that is a not-for-profit corporation under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and has a governing board that includes in its membership county commissioners and professional county staff. If training is provided by a foundation, such training must be approved by the division. (o) Review periodically emergency operating procedures of state agencies and recommend revisions as needed to ensure consistency with the state comprehensive emergency management plan and program. (p) Make such surveys of industries, resources, and facilities within the state, both public and private, as are necessary to carry out the purposes of ss. 252.31-252.90. (q) Prepare, in advance whenever possible, such executive orders, proclamations, and rules for issuance by the Governor as are necessary or appropriate for coping with emergencies and disasters. (r) Cooperate with the Federal Government and any public or private agency or entity in achieving any purpose of ss. 252.31-252.90 and in implementing programs for mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery. (s) Complete an inventory of portable generators owned by the state and local governments which are capable of operating during a major disaster. The inventory must identify, at a minimum, the location of each generator, the number of generators stored at each specific location, the agency to which each generator belongs, the primary use of the generator by the owner agency, and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of persons having the authority to loan the stored generators as authorized by the division during a declared emergency. (t) Maintain an inventory list of generators owned by the state and local governments. In addition, the division may keep a list of private entities, along with appropriate contact information, which offer generators for sale or lease. The list of private entities shall be available to the public for inspection in written and electronic formats. (u) Acquire and maintain a supply of personal protective equipment owned by the state for use by state agencies and to assist local governments and the private sector, when determined to be necessary by the State Coordinating Officer, in meeting safety needs during a declared emergency. The division shall conduct regular inventories of the supply, which must include projections of the need for additional personal protective equipment, as assessed by each governmental agency, to maintain the supply and replace expired items. The division shall maintain and replace the equipment on a standardized schedule that recognizes equipment expiration and obsolescence. This paragraph is subject to appropriation. The inventory must be reported annually by December 31 to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. (v) Assist political subdivisions with the creation and training of urban search and rescue teams and promote the development and maintenance of a state urban search and rescue program. (w) Delegate, as necessary and appropriate, authority vested in it under ss. 252.31-252.90 and provide for the subdelegation of such authority. The duration of each such delegation or subdelegation during an emergency may not exceed 60 days; however, a delegation or subdelegation may be renewed during the emergency, as necessary. (x) In accordance with chapter 120, create, implement, administer, adopt, amend, and rescind rules, programs, and plans needed to carry out ss. 252.31-252.90 with due consideration for, and in cooperating with, the plans and programs of the Federal Government. In addition, the division may adopt rules in accordance with chapter 120 to administer and distribute federal financial predisaster and postdisaster assistance for prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. (y) Do other things necessary, incidental, or appropriate for the implementation of ss. 252.31-252.90. (z) Identify and maintain an inventory of available digitally displayed automatic changeable facing signs capable of providing the immediate distribution of critical information to the public in times of declared emergency and regarding missing endangered persons. (aa) Post on its website a model of a local government contract for debris removal to be used by political subdivisions. The initial model contract must be posted to the website no later than June 1, 2023, and, thereafter, the model contract must be annually updated and posted to the website no later than June 1. (bb) Prioritize technical assistance and training to fiscally constrained counties as defined in s. 218.67(1) on aspects of safety measures, preparedness, prevention, response, recovery, and mitigation relating to natural disasters and emergencies. (cc) Administer a revolving loan program for local government hazard mitigation projects. (dd) Conduct, by April 1 of each year, an annual hurricane readiness session in each region designated by the division to facilitate coordination between all emergency management stakeholders. Each county emergency management director or his or her designee shall, and other county and municipal personnel may, attend the session for his or her region. A session must include, but is not limited to, guidance on timelines for preparation and response, information on state and federal postdisaster resources and assistance, guidance to promote efficient and expedited rebuilding of the community after a hurricane, best practices for coordination and communication among entities engaged in postdisaster response and recovery, and discussion of any outstanding county or municipal preparedness or readiness needs. History. — s. 1, ch. 74-285; s. 20, ch. 81-169; s. 17, ch. 83-334; s. 8, ch. 84-241; s. 12, ch. 93-211; s. 45, ch. 99-8; s. 4, ch. 2000-140; s. 32, ch. 2001-61; s. 13, ch. 2006-71; s. 29, ch. 2007-5; s. 99, ch. 2011-142; s. 4, ch. 2021-8; s. 1, ch. 2021-93; s. 56, ch. 2023-8; s. 3, ch. 2023-304; s. 7, ch. 2025-190. 252.351 Mandatory reporting of certain incidents by political subdivisions. (1) For purposes of this section, the term “office” means the State Watch Office established within the division pursuant to s. 14.2016. (2) The division shall create and maintain a list of reportable incidents. The list shall include, but is not limited to, the following events: (a) Major fires, including wildfires, commercial or multiunit residential fires, or industrial fires. (b) Search and rescue operations, including structure collapses or urban search and rescue responses. (c) Bomb threats or threats to inflict harm on a large number of people or significant infrastructure, suspicious devices, or device detonations. (d) Natural hazards and severe weather, including earthquakes, landslides, or ground subsidence or sinkholes. (e) Public health and population protective actions, including public health hazards, evacuation orders, or emergency shelter openings. (f) Animal or agricultural events, including suspected or confirmed animal diseases, suspected or confirmed agricultural diseases, crop failures, or food supply contamination. (g) Environmental concerns, including an incident of reportable pollution release as required in s. 403.077(2). (h) Nuclear power plant events, including events in process or that have occurred which indicate a potential degradation of the level of safety of the plant or which indicate a security threat to facility protection. (i) Major transportation events, including aircraft or airport incidents, passenger or commercial railroad incidents, major road or bridge closures, or marine incidents involving a blocked navigable channel of a major waterway. (j) Major utility or infrastructure events, including dam failures or overtopping, drinking water facility breaches, or major utility outages or disruptions involving transmission lines or substations. (k) Military events, when information regarding such activities is provided to a political subdivision. (3) As soon as practicable following its initial response to an incident, a political subdivision shall provide notification to the office that an incident specified on the list of reportable incidents has occurred within its geographical boundaries. The division may establish guidelines specifying the method and format a political subdivision must use when reporting an incident. (4) Beginning December 1, 2020, and by December 1 every year thereafter, the division must provide the list of reportable incidents to each political subdivision. History. — s. 1, ch. 2020-53. 252.355 Registry of persons with special needs; notice; registration program. (1) In order to meet the special needs of persons who would need assistance during evacuations and sheltering because of physical, mental, cognitive impairment, or sensory disabilities, the division, in coordination with each local emergency management agency in the state, shall maintain a registry of persons with special needs located within the jurisdiction of the local agency. The registration shall identify those persons in need of assistance and plan for resource allocation to meet those identified needs. (2) In order to ensure that all persons with special needs may register, the division shall develop and maintain a special needs shelter registration program. During a public health emergency in which physical distancing is necessary, as determined by the State Health Officer, the division must maintain information on special needs shelter options that mitigate the threat of the spread of infectious diseases. (a) The registration program shall include, at a minimum, a uniform electronic registration form and a database for uploading and storing submitted registration forms that may be accessed by the appropriate local emergency management agency. The link to the registration form shall be easily accessible on each local emergency management agency’s website. Upon receipt of a paper registration form, the local emergency management agency shall enter the person’s registration information into the database. (b) To assist in identifying persons with special needs, home health agencies, hospices, nurse registries, home medical equipment providers, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Health, the Agency for Health Care Administration, the Department of Education, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the Department of Elderly Affairs, and memory disorder clinics shall, and any physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 and any pharmacy licensed under chapter 465 may, annually provide registration information to all of their special needs clients or their caregivers. The Florida Housing Finance Corporation shall enter into memoranda of understanding with the Department of Elderly Affairs and with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to ensure special needs registration information is provided to residents of low-income senior independent living properties and independent living properties for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities funded by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, respectively. The division shall develop a brochure that provides information regarding special needs shelter registration procedures. The brochure must be easily accessible on the division’s website. All appropriate agencies and community-based service providers, including aging and disability resource centers, memory disorder clinics, home health care providers, hospices, nurse registries, and home medical equipment providers, shall, and any physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 may, assist emergency management agencies by annually registering persons with special needs for special needs shelters, collecting registration information for persons with special needs as part of the program intake process, and establishing programs to educate clients about the registration process and disaster preparedness safety procedures. A client of a state-funded or federally funded service program who has a physical, mental, or cognitive impairment or sensory disability and who needs assistance in evacuating, or when in a shelter, must register as a person with special needs. The registration program shall give persons with special needs the option of preauthorizing emergency response personnel to enter their homes during search and rescue operations if necessary to ensure their safety and welfare following disasters. (c) The division shall be the designated lead agency responsible for community education and outreach to the public, including special needs clients, regarding registration and special needs shelters and general information regarding shelter stays. (d) On or before May 31 of each year, each electric utility in the state shall annually notify residential customers in its service area of the availability of the registration program available through their local emergency management agency by: 1. An initial notification upon the activation of new residential service with the electric utility, followed by one annual notification between January 1 and May 31; or 2. Two separate annual notifications between January 1 and May 31. The notification may be made by any available means, including, but not limited to, written, electronic, or verbal notification, and may be made concurrently with any other notification to residential customers required by law or rule. (3) A person with special needs must be allowed to bring his or her service animal into a special needs shelter in accordance with s. 413.08. (4) The caregiver of a person with special needs who is eligible for admission to a special needs shelter, and all persons for whom he or she is the caregiver, shall be allowed to shelter together in the special needs shelter. If a person with special needs is responsible for the care of persons without special needs, those persons shall be allowed to use the special needs shelter with the person with special needs. (5) All records, data, information, correspondence, and communications relating to the registration of persons with special needs as provided in subsection (1) are confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1), except that such information shall be available to other emergency response agencies, as determined by the local emergency management director. Local law enforcement agencies shall be given complete shelter roster information upon request. History. — ss. 1, 2, 3, 4, ch. 80-191; s. 18, ch. 83-334; s. 1, ch. 89-184; s. 85, ch. 90-360; s. 15, ch. 93-211; s. 107, ch. 96-406; s. 46, ch. 99-8; s. 10, ch. 2000-140; s. 16, ch. 2006-71; s. 100, ch. 2011-142; s. 48, ch. 2014-19; s. 1, ch. 2014-163; s. 5, ch. 2021-8; s. 14, ch. 2021-51; s. 8, ch. 2025-190. 252.356 Emergency and disaster planning provisions to assist persons with disabilities or limitations. State agencies that contract with providers for the care of persons with disabilities or limitations that make such persons dependent upon the care of others shall include emergency and disaster planning provisions in such contracts at the time the contracts are initiated or upon renewal. These provisions shall include, but shall not be limited to: (1) The designation of an emergency coordinating officer. (2) A procedure to contact, prior to or immediately following an emergency or disaster, all persons, on a priority basis, who need assistance and sheltering during evacuations because of physical, mental, or sensory disabilities and whose care is provided under the contract. (3) A procedure to help persons who would need assistance and sheltering during evacuations because of physical, mental, or sensory disabilities register with the local emergency management agency as provided in s. 252.355. (4) A procedure to dispatch the emergency coordinating officer or other staff members to special needs shelters to assist clients with special needs, if necessary. (5) A procedure for providing the essential services the organization currently provides to special needs clients in preparation for, during, and following a disaster, including, but not limited to, a public health emergency. History. — s. 21, ch. 2000-140; s. 6, ch. 2021-8. 252.3568 Emergency sheltering of persons with pets. (1) In accordance with s. 252.35, the division shall address strategies for the evacuation of persons with pets in the shelter component of the state comprehensive emergency management plan and shall include the requirement for similar strategies in its standards and requirements for local comprehensive emergency management plans. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Department of Education shall assist the division in determining strategies regarding this activity. (2) If a county maintains designated shelters, it must also designate a shelter that can accommodate persons with pets. The shelter must be in compliance with applicable FEMA Disaster Assistance Policies and Procedures and with safety procedures regarding the sheltering of pets established in the shelter component of both local and state comprehensive emergency management plans. History. — s. 17, ch. 2006-71; s. 1, ch. 2020-132. 252.3569 Florida state agricultural response team; emergency response to animal, agricultural, and vector issues. The Legislature finds that the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is the lead agency for animal, agricultural, and vector issues in the state. Pursuant to this responsibility, there is established within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services a state agricultural response team. (1) The state agricultural response team, in coordination with the division, is responsible for the development, training, and support of county agricultural response teams and other nonemergency support functions. (2) During emergency or disaster situations, as described by the Florida Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, the division shall coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for the purposes of: (a) Oversight of the emergency management functions of preparedness, recovery, mitigation, and response with all agencies and organizations that are involved with the state’s response activities to animal, agricultural, and vector issues; and (b) Staffing the Emergency Support Function 17 at the State Emergency Operations Center and staffing, as necessary, at county emergency operations centers. History. — s. 2, ch. 2018-84. 252.357 Monitoring of nursing homes and assisted living facilities during disaster. The Florida Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan shall permit the Agency for Health Care Administration, working from the agency’s offices or in the Emergency Operations Center, ESF-8, to make initial contact with each nursing home and assisted living facility in the disaster area. The agency, by July 15, annually, shall publish on the Internet an emergency telephone number that may be used by nursing homes and assisted living facilities to contact the agency on a schedule established by the agency to report requests for assistance. The agency may also provide the telephone number to each facility when it makes the initial facility call. History. — s. 18, ch. 2006-71; s. 19, ch. 2018-110. 252.358 Emergency-preparedness prescription medication refills. All health insurers, managed care organizations, and other entities that are licensed by the Office of Insurance Regulation and provide prescription medication coverage as part of a policy or contract shall waive time restrictions on prescription medication refills, which include suspension of electronic “refill too soon” edits to pharmacies, to enable insureds or subscribers to refill prescriptions in advance, if there are authorized refills remaining, and shall authorize payment to pharmacies for at least a 30-day supply of any prescription medication, regardless of the date upon which the prescription had most recently been filled by a pharmacist, when the following conditions occur: (1) The person seeking the prescription medication refill resides in a county that: (a) Is under a hurricane warning issued by the National Weather Service; (b) Is declared to be under a state of emergency in an executive order issued by the Governor; or (c) Has activated its emergency operations center and its emergency management plan. (2) The prescription medication refill is requested within 30 days after the origination date of the conditions stated in this section or until such conditions are terminated by the issuing authority or no longer exist. The time period for the waiver of prescription medication refills may be extended in 15- or 30-day increments by emergency orders issued by the Office of Insurance Regulation. This section does not excuse or exempt an insured or subscriber from compliance with all other terms of the policy or contract providing prescription medication coverage. History. — s. 29, ch. 2006-71; s. 20, ch. 2018-110. 252.359 Ensuring availability of emergency supplies. (1) In order to meet the needs of residents affected during a declared emergency and to ensure the continuing economic resilience of communities impacted by disaster, the division shall establish a statewide system to facilitate the transport and distribution of essentials in commerce. (2) As used in this section, the term “essentials” means goods that are consumed or used as a direct result of a declared emergency, or that are consumed or used to preserve, protect, or sustain life, health, safety, or economic well-being. The term includes, but is not limited to, personal protective equipment used in the event of a public health emergency. (3) The division shall develop a system to certify each person who facilitates the transport or distribution of essentials in commerce. The division may not certify a person other than a person who routinely transports or distributes essentials. In developing the system, the division: (a) May provide for a preemergency or postemergency declaration certification. (b) Shall allow the certification of an employer, if requested by the employer, to constitute a certification of the employer’s employees. (c) Shall create an easily recognizable indicium of certification to assist local officials’ efforts in determining which persons have been certified under this subsection. (d) Shall limit the duration of each certificate to no more than 1 year. Each certificate may be renewed so long as the criteria for certification are met. (4) A person or employer certified under subsection (3) is not required to obtain any additional certification or fulfill any additional requirement to transport or distribute essentials. (5) Notwithstanding any curfew, a person or employer certified under subsection (3) may enter or remain in the curfew area for the limited purpose of facilitating the transport or distribution of essentials and may provide service that exceeds otherwise applicable hours of service maximums to the extent authorized by a duly executed declaration of a state of emergency. (6) This section does not prohibit a law enforcement officer from specifying the permissible route of ingress or egress for a person certified under subsection (3). History. — s. 2, ch. 2016-198; s. 7, ch. 2021-8. 252.36 Emergency management powers of the Governor. (1)(a) The Governor is responsible for meeting the dangers presented to this state and its people by emergencies. In the event of an emergency beyond local control, the Governor, or, in the Governor’s absence, her or his successor as provided by law, may assume direct operational control over all or any part of the emergency management functions within this state, and she or he shall have the power through proper process of law to carry out the provisions of this section. The Governor is authorized to delegate such powers as she or he may deem prudent. (b) Pursuant to the authority vested in her or him under paragraph (a), the Governor may issue executive orders, proclamations, and rules and may amend or rescind them. Such executive orders, proclamations, and rules shall have the force and effect of law. An executive order, a proclamation, or a rule must be limited to a duration of not more than 60 days and may be renewed as necessary during the duration of the emergency. If renewed, the order, proclamation, or rule must specifically state which provisions are being renewed. (c) The Legislature intends that, during an extended public health emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, there should be a presumption that K-12 public schools, to the greatest extent possible, should remain open so long as the health and safety of students and school personnel can be maintained by specific public health mitigation strategies recommended by federal or state health agencies for educational settings. The Legislature also intends that during such an event, there be a presumption that businesses should remain open to the greatest extent possible so long as the health and safety of employees and customers can be reasonably protected by specific public health mitigation strategies recommended by federal or state health agencies, including, but not limited, to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 1. If the Governor declares by executive order or proclamation that the emergency requires closure of or restricted in-person attendance at K-12 public schools, the executive order or proclamation must contain specific reasons for those determinations, and he or she must review and reassess the situation regularly. 2. If the Governor declares by executive order or proclamation that the emergency requires businesses to restrict their operations or close, the executive order or proclamation must contain specific reasons for those determinations, and he or she must review and reassess the situation regularly. (2) A state of emergency must be declared by executive order or proclamation of the Governor if she or he finds an emergency has occurred or that the occurrence or the threat thereof is imminent. The state of emergency must continue until the Governor finds that the threat or danger has been dealt with to the extent that the emergency conditions no longer exist and she or he terminates the state of emergency by executive order or proclamation, but no state of emergency may continue for longer than 60 days unless renewed by the Governor. All executive orders or proclamations issued under this section must indicate the nature of the emergency, the area or areas threatened, and the conditions which brought the emergency about or which make possible its termination. An executive order or proclamation must be promptly disseminated by means calculated to bring its contents to the attention of the general public; and, unless the circumstances attendant upon the emergency prevent or impede such filing, the order or proclamation must be filed promptly with the Department of State, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the offices of the county commissioners in the counties to which the order or proclamation applies. (3)(a) At any time, the Legislature, by concurrent resolution, may terminate a state of emergency or any specific order, proclamation, or rule thereunder. Upon such concurrent resolution, the Governor shall issue an executive order or proclamation consistent with the concurrent resolution. (b) Notwithstanding s. 252.46(2), all emergency declarations and orders, regardless of how titled, issued under the authority of this part by the Governor or any agency, whether by direct, delegated, or subdelegated authority, before, during, or after a declared emergency, must be immediately filed with the Division of Administrative Hearings. Failure to file any such declaration or order with the division within 5 days after issuance voids the declaration or order. The division shall index all such declarations and orders and make them available in searchable format on its website within 3 days of filing. The searchable format must include, but is not limited to, searches by term, referenced statutes, and rules and must include a search category that specifically identifies emergency orders in effect at any given time. A link to the division’s index must be placed in a conspicuous location on the Division of Emergency Management’s website. (4) An executive order or proclamation of a state of emergency shall: (a) Activate the emergency mitigation, response, and recovery aspects of the state, local, and interjurisdictional emergency management plans applicable to the political subdivision or area in question; and (b) Be authority for the deployment and use of any forces to which the plan or plans apply and for the use or distribution of any supplies, equipment, and materials and facilities assembled, stockpiled, or arranged to be made available pursuant to ss. 252.31-252.90 or any other provision of law relating to emergencies. (c) Identify whether the state of emergency is due to a minor, major, or catastrophic disaster. 1. For a major or catastrophic disaster, the proclamation is authority for a health care practitioner licensed in another state to assist in providing health care in the disaster area according to the provisions specified in the proclamation. 2. For a catastrophic disaster, the proclamation constitutes a formal request for mobilization of the military, which shall be communicated to the President of the United States. (5) During the continuance of a state of emergency, the Governor is commander in chief of the Florida National Guard and of all other forces available for emergency duty. To the greatest extent practicable, the Governor shall delegate or assign command authority by prior arrangement embodied in appropriate executive orders or rules, but nothing herein restricts the Governor’s authority to do so by orders issued at the time of the emergency. (6) In addition to any other powers conferred upon the Governor by law, she or he may: (a) Suspend the provisions of any regulatory statute prescribing the procedures for conduct of state business or the orders or rules of any state agency, if strict compliance with the provisions of any such statute, order, or rule would in any way prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with the emergency. (b) Utilize all available resources of the state government and of each political subdivision of the state, as reasonably necessary to cope with the emergency. (c) Transfer the direction, personnel, or functions of state departments and agencies or units thereof for the purpose of performing or facilitating emergency services. The transfer of the direction, personnel, or functions of state departments and agencies must be reported monthly on a cumulative basis to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. (d) Subject to any applicable requirements for compensation under s. 252.43, commandeer or utilize any private property if she or he finds this necessary to cope with the emergency. (e) Direct and compel the evacuation of all or part of the population from any stricken or threatened area within the state if she or he deems this action necessary for the preservation of life or other emergency mitigation, response, or recovery. (f) Prescribe routes, modes of transportation, and destinations in connection with evacuation. (g) Control ingress and egress to and from an emergency area, the movement of persons within the area, and the occupancy of premises therein. (h) Suspend or limit the sale, dispensing, or transportation of alcoholic beverages, firearms, explosives, and combustibles. However, nothing contained in ss. 252.31-252.90 shall be construed to authorize the seizure, taking, or confiscation of firearms that are lawfully possessed, unless a person is engaged in the commission of a criminal act. (i) Make provision for the availability and use of temporary emergency housing. (j) Take effective measures for limiting or suspending lighting devices and appliances, gas and water mains, electric power distribution, and all other utility services in the general public interest. (k) Take measures concerning the conduct of civilians, the movement and cessation of movement of pedestrian and vehicular traffic prior to, during, and subsequent to drills and actual or threatened emergencies, the calling of public meetings and gatherings, and the evacuation and reception of civilian population, as provided in the emergency management plan of the state and political subdivisions thereof. (l) Authorize the use of forces already mobilized as the result of an executive order, rule, or proclamation to assist the private citizens of the state in cleanup and recovery operations during emergencies when proper permission to enter onto or into private property has been obtained from the property owner. The provisions of s. 768.28(9) apply to this paragraph. (m) Authorize businesses and their employees who sell commodities as defined in s. 501.160(1)(a) to exceed the times of curfews for the purpose of ensuring that the supplies of commodities are made available to the public and direct local law enforcement to assist and accommodate those businesses and their employees in ensuring that commodities are available in coping with the emergency. (n) By executive order, authorize the operator of solid waste disposal facilities to extend operating hours to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the general public. (o) Waive the patient eligibility requirements of s. 465.1902. (7) The Governor shall take such action and give such direction to state and local law enforcement officers and agencies as may be reasonable and necessary for the purpose of securing compliance with the provisions of ss. 252.31-252.90 and with the orders and rules made pursuant thereto. (8) The Governor shall employ such measures and give such directions to the Department of Health and the Agency for Health Care Administration as may be reasonably necessary for the purpose of securing compliance with the provisions of ss. 252.31-252.90 or with the findings or recommendations of such agency of health by reason of conditions arising from emergencies or threats of emergency. (9) The Governor shall delegate emergency responsibilities to the officers and agencies of the state and of the political subdivisions thereof prior to an emergency or threat of an emergency and shall utilize the services and facilities of existing officers and agencies of the state and of the political subdivisions thereof, including their personnel and other resources, as the primary emergency management forces of the state, and all such officers and agencies shall cooperate with and extend their services and facilities to the division, as it may require. (10) The Governor and the division shall establish agencies and offices and appoint executive, professional, technical, clerical, and other personnel as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of ss. 252.31-252.90. (11) The Governor shall formulate and execute plans and rules for the control of traffic in order to provide for the rapid and safe movement or evacuation over public highways and streets of people, troops, or vehicles and materials for national defense or for use in any defense industry and may coordinate the activities of the departments or agencies of the state and the political subdivisions thereof concerned directly or indirectly with public highways and streets in a manner which will best effectuate such plans. (12) During a declared state of emergency, the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Surgeon General, the Director of the Division of Emergency Management, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives may disseminate public service announcements concerning the emergency and the provisions of ss. 112.3148 and 112.3215 do not apply. History. — s. 1, ch. 74-285; s. 1, ch. 77-47; s. 4, ch. 79-12; s. 21, ch. 81-169; s. 2, ch. 83-44; s. 19, ch. 83-334; s. 11, ch. 93-211; s. 129, ch. 95-148; s. 47, ch. 99-8; s. 33, ch. 2001-61; s. 2, ch. 2005-283; s. 1, ch. 2006-100; s. 2, ch. 2020-23; s. 8, ch. 2021-8. 252.3611 Transparency; audits. (1) Each order, proclamation, or rule issued by the Governor, the division, or any agency must specify the statute or rule being amended or waived, if applicable, and the expiration date for the order, proclamation, or rule. (2) If the duration of a declaration of a state of emergency issued by the Governor exceeds 90 days: (a)1. The Executive Office of the Governor or the appropriate agency, within 72 hours after executing a contract executed with moneys authorized for expenditure to support the response to the declared state of emergency, must submit a copy of such contract to the Legislature. For contracts executed durin