The Future of Emergency Management: Dreaming Bigger and Moving Faster
By Monica Corbin , Client Partner , Slalom W hen Hurricane Michael slammed into Florida’s
Salesforce. Leveraging this technology has led to the replacement of paper- based forms and legacy operations. From finance to preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation, DEMES is changing the way Florida responds to emergencies. “With the support of Governor DeSantis and processes across the Division’s business
Panhandle in October 2018, it left an 80-mile swath of destruction in its wake. Power grids flattened. Normal channels of communication inaccessible. Homes destroyed. Livelihoods devastated. To make matters worse, the Category 5 storm impacted some of the most rural and financially constrained counties in the state. Local emergency management officials needed help providing immediate relief and long-term recovery options for residents. The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), a direct arm of the Executive Office of the Governor, is the central command post for responding to any disaster, weather-related or otherwise. Kevin Guthrie, who has since been appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis as FDEM Executive Director, recalls one employee walking from office to office with a clipboard to obtain signatures needed for invoice payments. Considering the Division’s mission “to provide for the safety and well-
being of Floridians through rapid, coordinated, and effective response to and recovery from emergencies,” he knew there was a better way. Guthrie is one of few executive leaders to have successfully survived the gauntlet of federal paperwork. With a background that includes database operations, he knew there was technology that could automate, streamline, and expedite complex processes across an organization. The aftermath of Hurricane Michael highlighted key areas where a technology-based approach could help FDEM fulfill its responsibilities more effectively. Since 2022, Slalom has been a proud partner of FDEM by helping develop and implement the Division of Emergency Management Enterprise System (DEMES), a digital infrastructure built in
the Legislature, Florida is developing a first-of-its-kind model for emergency management. This technology is changing the way we coordinate, collaborate, and communicate with community stakeholders to create a more
resilient Florida. I’m incredibly proud of how our team and partners are leveraging technology to
22 – Florida Technology Magazine – 2024 Fall Edition
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