Emergency Management

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Emergency Management

Quick Notes

The Emergency Management Division is one of four divisions within the Public Safety Department. The Division is responsible for all Emergency Management Operations, the Special Care Program, E9-1-1 Operations, the Communications Center, E9-1-1 Addressing, Radio Services, and Emergency Management Public Education Programs. With a total of 80 employees, many dedicated volunteers and coordinating agencies, the Division is committed to joining all other county departments and divisions to make Polk County the “County of Choice.”

Emergency Management Operations

The Emergency Management Operations section is the emergency planning branch for Polk County. This section is responsible for the County’s All-Hazard Comprehensive Emergency Plan and Local Mitigation Strategy. It also coordinates the activation of the County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The EOC is where representatives of local government and private sector agencies convene during disasters to provide resources in support of emergency responders to potential hazards in the County.

E-9-1-1 Administration

The Emergency Management Division is responsible for overseeing the Enhanced 9-1-1 (E9-1-1) Communications System in Polk County. This includes maintenance of all E9-1-1 System equipment, network, connections mapping, and databases. The Addressing Office assigns all new building addresses in the unincorporated area and coordinates with various municipalities and county agencies to ensure that there is no duplication of street names within emergency response zones. This office of the Emergency Management Division is responsible for ensuring that the addressing in unincorporated Polk County meets national standards in order to enhance the delivery of emergency services. If you observe any addressing discrepancies, please alert the E9-1-1 office at (863) 534-5639.

Emergency Communications Center

The Emergency Communication Center processes Emergency calls for: Polk County Fire Services, Polk County Emergency Medical Services, the City of Auburndale Fire Department, the City of Winter Haven Fire Department, and the City of Mulberry Fire Department. In addition to the life safety and property protection events, after hour requests for county services are also processed. These requests consist of requests for: Polk County Utilities, Roadway Maintenance, Fleet Management, signs and signals, plus a variety of other services. The Emergency Communication Center is staffed by four Supervisors, four Chief Operators, and twenty three Emergency Communication Operators. All Communication Center staff have been certified by the Association of Public Safety Communication Officials, International (APCO). The center operates 24 hours per day, and processes 170,000 calls per year for service.

Radio Services

Radio Services is the emergency communication network for all County departments/divisions and most municipal police and fire agencies. Polk County rescue units utilize the 800 Megahertz radio system to ensure a quick response to emergencies. Each year the system processes over 10 million radio transmissions. This Emergency Management Division section maintains the network by: repairing/replacing radio equipment, responding to critical off-site requests, conducting infrastructure site inspections, conducting preventative maintenance service on equipment and providing 24-hour-a-day field support for major emergencies and special events.

Special Needs Program

The Special Needs Program provides shelter and/or transportation for persons needing assistance with physical or non-acute medical conditions who must evacuate during an emergency. It is specifically for those persons who have no other transportation or shelter options and must rely on local government assistance. To request a special care/transportation registration form or to obtain additional information, call (863) 534-5606 or the Citizen's Information Line at (863)534-0321 or toll free at 1-(866)661-0228.

Public Education Program

Educating Polk County citizens on issues such as severe weather awareness, disaster preparedness and Emergency 9-1-1 is a priority of the Emergency Management Division. If your civic organization, business, or community is interested in an Emergency Management presentation, call the Communications Office at (863) 534-5608. For the latest local information during times of disaster, concerned citizens should call the Citizen’s Information Line at (863) 534-0321 or toll free at 1-(866)661-0228.

Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public-records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.