EMERGENCY RESPONSE ISSUES

The Florida Division of Emergency Management is a shining spot in Florida government. Since Hurricane Andrew devastated South Florida in 1992 the Division has continued to grow stronger and to learn more from each event – especially hurricane response. As a division directly under the Executive Office of the Governor, there is great potential to make the division even stronger by expanding its mission.

As governor, I would expand the mission of the DEM to include working with the Florida Department of Health on disease outbreaks such as zika or food-borne illnesses. While the DOH does a good job surveilling and responding to these outbreaks, adding the resources of the DEM in a coordinated effort would bring the expertise of the DEM and result in a more effective and efficient response. Additionally, I believe that there is a similar role for the DEM in responses to man-made disasters such as building or bridge collapses, terrorist attacks, and mass shootings.

One change that I would work to make specifically in the case of natural disasters such as hurricanes regards those who are under a mandatory evacuation, but do not evacuate. I fully understand and agree that the government should not be able to force the evacuation of one’s home. I also agree that local and state governments cannot ignore calls for help from those that don’t evacuate and need help – as long as the responders are not in serious danger to their own health or lives. However, the cost of rescue efforts by those who were ordered to evacuate, and were able to do so, should not be borne by the citizens of Florida. I would work with the legislature to pass a law allowing local and state governments to obtain a judgment against such individuals for the total cost of rescue efforts attributable to them, and to apply liens to any real property owned based on the judgements.

At the same time, there are many Florida citizens unable to comply with evacuation orders due to lack of transportation, lack of money for alternate lodging, or health issues. I will convene a workgroup consisting of representatives from the DEM, other state agencies, local school districts and local governments to devise a plan to help these citizens evacuate to safety. Details would need to be worked out, but this may include the use of school buses – including those with wheelchair lifts – to evacuate people who otherwise are unable to do so. It may also include hotel vouchers for those in areas with no open shelters within a reasonable distance. This would ensure the safety of Florida citizens that want to evacuate but are unable to.