Lazaro Aleman
ECB Publishing, Inc.
At the request of Emergency Management Director Kristy Anderson, county officials approved the 2025 Jefferson County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) on Thursday evening, Feb. 5.
“Staff will be trained once you adopt this plan,” Anderson told the commission prior to the CEMP’s adoption. “We're going to hold trainings throughout the county departments, and we're going to make sure that everyone is on the same page, so that everyone understands this plan.”
A lengthy document that aligns local emergency operations with state and federal requirements, the CEMP sets the framework for coordinated response, recovery, mitigation and preparedness efforts for all hazards that may affect Jefferson County.
Florida law requires that CEMPs be reviewed, updated and readopted every five years to ensure that they remain viable and compliant with the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM). The 2025 update, according to Anderson, incorporates current hazards; operational changes; updated roles and responsibilities; lessons learned from recent incidents; and coordination with partner agencies and municipalities.
Per the resolution that the commission adopted, the CEMP supports the National Response Framework and puts the National Incident Management System into the county emergency management processes. The plan specifies the authorities, functions and responsibilities of establishing collaborative action between county, state, federal, volunteer, private and public sector organizations. By coordinating all phases of emergency management, the plan aims to assist the various organizations in minimizing the impacts of disasters and emergencies in Jefferson County, according to the resolution.
It further provides a significant tool for saving lives, protecting property, sustaining the economy and preserving the environment, the resolution states.
Finally, per the resolution, the CEMP underscores the primary goals of emergency management, which are to support the local EM operation and maintain a comprehensive internal process so as to ensure the continuity of government and its ability to conduct daily business before, during and after a catastrophic incident.
As it states in the 187-page CEMP for 2021, citizens have an expectation that their government will marshal its resources and channel the entire community’s efforts during emergencies, including using the help of voluntary organizations, the private sector, and if necessary, solicit outside assistance to deal with a catastrophic event.
The CEMP contains the basic plan for Jefferson County in such circumstances. It outlines the general purpose, scope and methodology and planning assumption, as well as identifying specific hazards to which the county is vulnerable.
It further establishes the coordination, control and organization structure, as well as define the operational responsibilities of the different agencies and resources that will be mobilized to assist in the recovery effort during and post a disaster.
The Jefferson County Disaster Preparedness Guide 2025 is available online by visiting the Jefferson County Emergency Management website at www.jeffersoncountyfl.gov/p/county-departments/emergency-management and clicking on the appropriate link, identified as guide.