About Us

Our Mission 

Walton County Emergency Management's mission is to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from all hazards, emergencies and disasters in Walton County, using a whole community approach.


Our Vision

Walton County Emergency Management's vision is to continue to be a recognized leader in emergency management by building strategic community partnerships and effective public education.


What is Emergency Management?

Emergency Management is the coordination of residents, community partners, and responding agencies to mitigate against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from threatened or actual natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made disasters. Emergency Managers are responsible for creating the framework to reduce the vulnerability of a community. 

Through the integration of eduction, training, and planning, Walton County Emergency Management serves as the managerial function of emergencies, providing adequate communication and resource management during a disaster.


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Response Authorities

See below for the federal and state provisions used to define the response authority for emergency managers.
  • The Congressional Act of 1803 was the earliest effort to provide disaster relief on a Federal level after a fire devastated a New Hampshire town.   
  • Defense Production Act of 1950 was the first comprehensive legislation pertaining to Federal disaster relief. Executive Order 10427 emphasized that Federal disaster assistance was supplemental to State, local, and private-sector support.
  • Executive Order 12127 merged many of the separate disaster-related responsibilities into a new Federal Emergency Management Agency.
  • The Stafford Act is legislation focused on providing Federal aid in an emergency. The Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (PKEMRA) includes a key provision that accelerated assistance can be provided by FEMA in the absence of a State request.
  • The Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013 made changes to the way disaster assistance is delivered under a variety of programs and authorized tribal governments to request a declaration of an emergency or major disaster without going through the State.
  • Florida Statute 252.35 Emergency Management powers; Division of Emergency Management serves as the guiding statute for local emergency managers' responsibilities, liabilities, and role in disaster response.