About Suwannee County’s Dept. of Emergency Management
The Suwannee County’s Dept. of Emergency Management serves as the coordinating agency for development and implementation of a countywide emergency management program designed to protect life and property. This department maintains a comprehensive view of emergencies that is risk based and all hazards in its approach, and covers all four phases of emergency management: preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.
This department provides for activities to saving lives and protecting property from natural, manmade, and technological emergencies. DEM is responsible for reducing the effects of potential disasters before they occur, planning for and coordinating the operations and response to a disaster, managing resources and coordination of recovery efforts following a disaster, as well as providing public education and information.
Provisions of an emergency management program are mandated by Florida Statues Chapter 252.
Suwannee County Department of Emergency Management 617 Ontario Avenue SW Suite 200 Live Oak, FL 32064-2047 Phone (386) 364-3405 Fax (386) 362-0584 E-Mail:
Kimberly Thomas – Assistant Director / E-Mail:
Sharon Hingson – DEM Specialist / E-Mail:
ABOUT THE CERT PROGRAM
What is CERT? The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program trains people to be prepared for emergency situations in their community and neighborhood. CERT members give critical support to first responders in emergencies, provide immediate assistance to victims, collect disaster information to support first responder efforts and provide that first neighborhood help in the immediate hours following a major emergency. It's families helping themselves and neighbors helping neighbors to prepare, respond and recover in their own neighborhood.
Why CERT?: Hurricanes Andrew, Hugo and Floyd , tornadoes, large wildfires, hazardous materials incidents and acts of terrorism (WTC) have clearly shown during the initial hours following the disaster, emergency personnel are overloaded, unable to reach areas or are short of personnel to respond. Others often have had to pitch in to help persons in their immediate neighborhood. CERT training gives you the decision-making and physical skills to offer immediate assistance to family members, neighbors and business associates in an efficient and effective manner without placing yourself in unnecessary danger.
When, how and where is CERT?CERT is "now". A CERT team is your neighbors and business colleagues, who following training, initiate neighborhood or business teams, whose actions make a difference. Following a 21 hour basic training program and on-going efforts, the team can manage utilities, put out small fires, provide lifesaving interventions, perform basic search and rescue operations, and assist in damage assessment, evacuation and rapid sheltering. Administrative support and organizing positions are also available. CERT is active in over 30 Florida counties with over 5,000 neighborhood trained personnel. It is a "local" program formed through your local department of emergency management.
Our local Suwannee Valley CERT is under the direction of Suwannee County’s Dept of Emergency Management serving a Tri-County area of Columbia, Hamilton, and Suwannee Counties. Suwannee County DEM will serve as a facilitator; provide staff support; and shall have the authority to exercise all the powers to accomplish its charitable and educational purposes including but not limited to the power to accept donations of money or property.
For more information about CERT contact Kimberly Thomas
Suwannee County Department of Emergency Management 617 Ontario Avenue SW Suite 200 Live Oak, FL 32064-2047 Phone (386) 364-3405 Fax (386) 362-0584 E-Mail:
Emergency Management
