Here are some frequently asked questions relating to emergency management.
General Questions
EM is the process of preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery from/for
disasters.
An emergency is any unplanned event that can cause injury, death, and destruction.
An emergency can impact our county physically, environmentally, and financially.
Emergencies can be natural such as hurricanes, floods, fire, and tornadoes; or
emergencies can be man-made such as hazardous materials incidents, transportation
accidents, radiological accidents, civil disturbances, and acts of terrorism.
Osceola County has adopted the National Incident Management System (NIMS) as the method by which to control and organize any and all incidents, emergencies and disasters. In 2003, Homeland Security Presidential Directive #5 mandated the use of the NIMS and its corresponding six core components.
As a result of NIMS, Osceola County has revised many required plans as well as operational methods. Typically, emergency operations centers are organized by emergency support functions (ESF) with a coordinating agency responsible for reporting activity within the ESF. With eighteen ESF’s in Osceola County, span of control is exceeded significantly. To effectively manage these coordinating functions, Osceola County has integrated the Incident Command System (ICS) to maximize the benefits of an effective management tool. The use of the ICS within the EOC coupled with a multijurisdictional/agency Executive Policy Group, Osceola can manage any incident with clear direction, excellent, effective planning all while minimizing duplication of efforts. For a complete review of Osceola County’s EOC Operational Guidelines, please refer to the CEMP Appendix A.
Whenever you add, remove, renovate or upgrade a new or existing fire suppression, alarm or
hood system.
Minimum of two weeks, maximum of three weeks if no provisions are required.
Yes. Provided permissions has been granted and the applicant has a reasonable situation for
request.
Current editions of all N.F.P.A. codes, Florida State Uniform Codes, Florida State Fire Codes
4A-60, N.F.P.A. Life Safety 101 and County Land Development Code.
48 hours in advance.
Flow tests must be performed by a certified contractor or engineer.
Special Needs Program Questions
Persons with Special Needs are those with disabilities, medical problems or mobility
problems that may need transportation assistance with evacuations or disaster sheltering
in an emergency. Emergencies such as hurricanes can present a special challenge.
Once you are registered with the program, in an emergency a vehicle will be sent for you
to transport you to a public shelter or the hospital. You will be sheltered according to
your needs.
Please call the Osceola County Office of Emergency Management at (407) 343-7000 from
Monday – Friday: 8 am – 5 pm.
A questionnaire will be sent to you to be filled out and signed. You will also receive
a letter for your physician and your utility company. Discuss your condition with your
physician to determine what will be best for you during an evacuation. Please have your
doctor sign these letters, if they pertain to your condition. Once the paperwork is
returned to Emergency Management, you will be entered into a computer registry.
Yes. Protecting yourself and your family requires planning ahead of time.
Meet with your caregiver to discuss the dangers of fire, severe weather, and other
emergencies that may affect you. Decide what you will need to do for each type of
emergency. Determine ahead of time what will be your alternative shelter, and how you
will get there. Make a list of items you need to take with you in case of an evacuation.
Wildfire Related Questions
The land use in your area and the type of vegetation around your home contributes to
wildfire risk. Living in a woodland setting, in or near rural areas is also a risk factor.
People start most wildfires. Incendiary items like smoking materials not disposed of
properly and arson are the causes. Arson, escaped debris burning and lightening are
also causes.
Design and landscape your home with wildfire safety in mind. Plan fire-resistant shrubs
and trees. Create a defensible space around your home. Use fire-resistant roof and exterior
construction. Or treat wood or combustible material used in roofs, siding, decking or trim
with UL-approved fire retardant chemicals. Create a disaster plan. Make sure your house
number is easy to read on your home.
It is at least 30 feet of lean, clean and green space surrounding your home. This space
gives firefighters room to put out fires.
Make your yard lean by pruning shrubs and tree branches within 15 feet of your chimney
or stovepipe. Remove dead tree branches that extend over the roof. Make your yard clean
by raking leaves and removing dead tree limbs and twigs. Stack firewood at least 100 feet
away from your home. Make your yard green by removing flammable vegetation and replacing it
with fire-resistant plants.
Dogwood, viburnum, redbud, sycamore, magnolia, beauty berry, oaks, red maple, wild azalea,
sweet gum, coontie, winged elm, black cherry, persimmon, wild plum, sugarberry, Florida
soapberry, fringe tree, ferns, wild olive, blue beech, hop hornbeam and sparkleberry.
Class-A asphalt shingles, metal, cement and concrete products help resist fires. Added
protection is a fire-resistant sub-roof.
Fire-resistant wall materials are cement, plaster, stucco and concrete masonry. Windows
that are double paned glass can also help a home be more resistant to heat and flames.
If you are warned that a wildfire is threatening your home, stay tuned to your radio or
television for evacuation information and updates. It is very important to follow the
instructions of local officials! If advised to evacuate, do so immediately!
- Back your car into the garage or park it in an open space facing the direction of escape. Shut doors and roll up windows. Disconnect automatic door openers, so you can escape if the power fails. Close all garage doors and windows.
- Confine pets to one room so they can be easily located.
- Arrange temporary housing at a friend or relatives house outside of the threatened area.
- Place valuable papers like insurance policies, birth certificates and other documents in the car for fast get away. Put family photographs and other memorabilia in the car that you may want to take.
- Keep your radio and television tuned to a local station for fire reports and evacuation information.
- Put your Disaster Supply Kit in the car.
- Make sure your escape route takes you away from dangerous areas.
Make sure infants, children and other family members are present before you drive off.
Load pets into car.
Lock your home.
Leave immediately!
If You are Sure You Have Time, Take Steps to Protect Your Home:
Inside Your Home
- Close windows, vents, and doors. This will help prevent drafts and will stop sparks from blowing inside.
- Remove lightweight curtains to prevent them from being ignited by radiated heat.
- Close mini-blinds and heavy drapes to keep out heat and to provide safety in case heat or wind breaks windows.
- Turn on a light in each room to increase the visibility of your home in heavy smoke.
- Turn off pilot lights. Shut off gas at the meter.
- Open the fireplace damper to stabilize inside/outside pressure. Close the fireplace screens to keep sparks from starting a fire in the house.
- Move flammable furniture away from windows and sliding doors to reduce the possibility of ignition.
Outside Your Home
- Turn off propane tanks.
- Place combustible patio furniture inside of the house, garage or barn.
- Seal attic and ground vents with precut plywood or storm shutters to keep out sparks.
- Make sure the garden hoses are connected to the outside taps.
- If you have a portable gasoline powered pump to take water from a swimming pool or pond, make sure it’s in place and ready to run.
- Place lawn sprinklers on the roof and near above ground fuel tanks. Wet the roof of your home.
- Wet shrubs within 15 feet of your home.
