Improved Emergency Preparedness

n 1992 Hurricane Andrew struck South Florida leaving behind a tragic toll — 85 deaths, 160,000 homeless, more than $30 billion in damage and 8,000 businesses destroyed or damaged. Hurricane Andrew changed the landscape of South Florida, but it also changed the face of emergency management in Florida.

In the wake of Hurricane Andrew and the devastating Winter Storm of 1993, Governor Chiles pushed for sweeping changes in the structure, funding, and priority given to emergency management in Florida.

The Emergency Management Preparedness Trust Fund was established to improve the state's emergency management capabilities. Florida is the only state in the nation to place a surcharge on private and commercial insurance policies to fund such an initiative.

Governor Chiles and former Governor Carroll Campbell of South Carolina formed the Southern Emergency Management Assistance Compact (SEMAC), later changed to the EMAC. Signed in 1993, the compact ties states together under an agreement so resources can be easily shared across state borders. Governor Chiles' original idea has now grown to include 23 states and one territory.

With the demise of the National Warning System in 1994, the Chiles/MacKay administration supported the purchase of a statewide emergency management satellite system tied into all county emergency management offices, all National Weather Services offices in Florida, all Emergency Alert System radio stations and the National Hurricane Center.

The administration also initiated the Rapid Impact Assessment Team concept. The RIAT has been used several times since its inception to determine the needs of people in the wake of a disaster. Along with RIAT, the administration also started an aggressive emergency shelter identification program in 1994.

The state now operates the Florida Emergency Response Network with around-the-clock broadcast capabilities to provide citizens and communities the most up to date emergency information. The network is activated at the Governor's direction when storms or severe conditions warrant a high level of public information.


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	n 1992 Hurricane Andrew struck South Florida leaving behind a tragic toll — 85 deaths, 160,000 homeless, more than $30 billion in damage and 8,000 businesses destroyed or damaged. Hurricane Andrew changed the landscape of South Florida, but it also changed the face of emergency management in Florida. In the wake of Hurricane Andrew and the devastating Winter Storm of 1993, Governor Chiles pushed for sweeping changes in the structure, funding, and priority given to emergency management in Florida. The Emergency Management Preparedness Trust Fund was established to improve the state's emergency management capabilities. Florida is the only state in the nation to place a surcharge on private and commercial insurance policies to fund such an initiative. Governor Chiles and former Governor Carroll Campbell of South Carolina formed the Southern Emergency Management Assistance Compact (SEMAC), later changed to the EMAC. Signed in 1993, the compact ties states together under an agreement so resources can be easily shared across state borders. Governor Chiles' original idea has now grown to include 23 states and one territory. With the demise of the National Warning System in 1994, the Chiles/MacKay administration supported the purchase of a statewide emergency management satellite system tied into all county emergency management offices, all National Weather Services offices in Florida, all Emergency Alert System radio stations and the National Hurricane Center. The administration also initiated the Rapid Impact Assessment Team concept. The RIAT has been used several times since its inception to determine the needs of people in the wake of a disaster. Along with RIAT, the administration also started an aggressive emergency shelter identification program in 1994. The state now operates the Florida Emergency Response Network with around-the-clock broadcast capabilities to provide citizens and communities the most up to date emergency information. The network is activated at the Governor's direction when storms or severe conditions warrant a high level of public information.
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