work with partners to facilitate the fastest and easiest recovery possible before, during, and after an emergency. What does all this mean? It means your local first responders can receive resources and funding in a matter of weeks or months, not years. It means our communities and residents can prepare,
eliminate bureaucracy and using all means to protect and serve our great state,” said FDEM Executive Director Kevin Guthrie. Fundamentally, DEMES is increasing the Division’s efficiency, making it possible to get resources and cash to local emergency
response partners and residents faster than ever. Since its implementation, DEMES has yielded a 200% return on investment, allowing the State to pay out more than $4.5 billion
process mutual aid payments to local public safety partners from 450 days to 70 days. DEMES is quickly being recognized as a national best practice for emergency management operations. Currently, there are 22 reported states studying Florida in this emerging and innovative use of technology. Under Guthrie’s leadership, FDEM is one of the state’s fastest-moving agencies, working to promote the development and deployment of an enterprise-wide software solution using the most effective technology and artificial intelligence systems. In fact, this is in direct alignment with Florida’s newly formed Government Technology Modernization Council, which aims to empower state agencies to quickly adopt new enterprise technology systems. Modern cloud software connects internal operations to business partners and networks. These connections
respond, and recover from disasters like never before. It means Florida has taken a major step forward in protecting and serving its own. Experts have projected that 2024 will yield a record number of high- intensity hurricanes. While we can all hope these predictions miss the mark, an active hurricane season sets the stage and highlights the necessity for seamless response and recovery processes. Together, FDEM and Slalom are creating a cutting-edge model for emergency management. They have opened a door that allows the industry and even other state agencies to dream bigger and move faster. Most importantly, they are making it possible for disaster survivors to recover more easily and return to normal faster. This is resilience. This is Florida.
“ Quickly adopting new
enterprise technology is imperative to boosting productivity, enhancing government customer service, and cutting costs. By developing new capabilities, we are positioned to serve Floridians in smarter ways and face inevitable changes in the future. ”
within 22 months, the most FDEM has paid out within that time frame in the last 11 years. For Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, DEMES reduced the time it took to intake, review, and send requests for information for over 650 applications and more than $1 billion in hazard mitigation grant funding – a return on investment of more than 9,000%. Additionally, DEMES has reduced the time to
give state agencies a
system that provides the flexibility and speed they need to serve. That is, of course, the core of FDEM’s mission: to
Florida Technology Magazine – 2024 Fall Edition – 23
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