OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Severe weather can pose major challenges, but Marion County agencies work together behind the scenes to make crisis response appear seamless.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management partners with the county in multiple ways, said Preston Bowlin, emergency management director.

“These methods include ongoing planning meetings, briefings and unified command decision making in the Emergency Operations Center,” said Bowlin.

So how do agencies, departments, and the community know what to do during a weather emergency? And how can residents stay informed and prepared?

“Marion County Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management provides for schools, living facilities, communities and businesses to schedule time with our emergency management staff for hurricane preparedness presentations throughout the year,” said Bowlin. “Emergency management staff also attends many different events, and they set up a table that provides information to the community on hurricane and disaster preparedness.”

To support effective crisis response, mutual aid agreements are in place between the county, municipalities, and other agencies. MCSO has numerous agreements that ensure coordination during natural disasters.

“We utilize the online database, Web EOC, to organize and track our missions to the State Emergency Operations Center and for local resources and response,” Bowlin said. “Marion County Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management also responds to other areas of the state when requested to help other disaster areas around the State of Florida.”

Strong communication and relationships across agencies are essential to a unified response.

“Clear communication enables emergency managers, government officials and first responders to coordinate effectively, especially during fast-moving or complex incidents like natural disasters, mass casualty events, or active threats,” said Bowlin. “Miscommunication can delay response or even put lives at risk. Ongoing cooperative relationships between agencies, and between agencies and communities, build trust.”

When agencies train and work together regularly, they can:

  • Anticipate each other’s needs and responses
  • Share resources seamlessly
  • Reduce duplication of efforts

Information sharing, setting expectations, asking questions, and reviewing scenarios all contribute to successful outcomes.

“By sharing information, we ensure that everyone will operate on the same page when it comes to working with one another during a disaster incident,” said Bowlin. “Being able to discuss expectations allows the partners to know what all the other partners want and need, and they will come prepared to the incident.”

He added: “Asking questions is just as important. We deal with high stress situations and the more someone understands the task at hand or what is going on the better. When we review scenarios with our partners, it allows us to see how everyone would respond in a controlled environment and better prepare for future incidents.”

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