The director oversees the day-to-day operations of the agency, including direct supervision of the functional areas tasked with Preparedness, Response, Recovery, Mitigation, and Finance and Administration.
The 1941 Act authorized the Governor to establish a State Defense Council by proclamation in times of need or emergency.
Use of existing facilities, and resources was emphasized as well as formation of defense councils at local levels of government.
This Act anticipated need for fire services beyond that available in a particular community and specified the rights, powers, and duties of firemen rendering aid outside jurisdictional boundaries.
[2][3] The storm demonstrated the vulnerability of Florida to natural disasters and ultimately led to the passage of the Emergency Management Preparedness and Assistance Trust Fund.
[citation needed] In 1997, DCA announced a $21 million plan, "Breaking the Cycle", that was intended to create disaster-resistant communities throughout the state.
[citation needed] In 1998 the Division received a federal grant that allowed for the purchase of a NOAA Weather Radio for every public school in Florida.
In 1998 over 12,000 fire and emergency workers battled wildfires over the summer burning nearly 1/2 million acres (2000 km²) of wild and urban lands.
[citation needed] In 1998 a landmark agreement for mass migration response was signed by Governor Chiles and the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Commissioner.
[citation needed] During 1951 the legislature expanded civil defense legislation to include response to and recovery from natural emergencies.
This action was in response to lessons learned during a number of hurricanes that threatened or struck the state and an increase in population.
The 1951 Act recognized the importance of the role of local government by directing that each county establish a civil defense council.
Each local council was authorized to appoint a director responsible for all civil defense functions within that political subdivision.
Each political subdivision was authorized to spend funds and enter into contracts to provide for the health and safety of local residents in the event of a disaster.
The state and local governments were not liable for damage to persons or property caused by civil defense activity.
A section was also added which conferred on governing bodies of counties and municipalities the authority to declare a state of local emergency within their boundaries.
During the period of emergency the Governor and political subdivisions could do what was necessary to alleviate suffering and restore public facilities and services.
Centralization would permit detailed standards, planning, and other requirements which the locals would have to comply with to be in conformance with the law.14 This approach was naive and unrealistic as was seen in later developments.
The 1974 Act provided the Division with substantial authority to supervise and control all and any problems arising from a disaster and to promulgate rules and regulations having the force of law.
Detailed planning requirements and other prescriptive regulations were subsequently promulgated by the Division which also performed as a clearinghouse for information.
The Act required each political subdivision to create a local organization to support the State's program.
During 1980 legislation was enacted requiring local agencies to provide for voluntary registration of disabled citizens within the area (Chapter 80-191, Laws of Florida).
Of some consequence, in response to a challenge of the provisions of the 1974 Act concerning local disaster preparedness directors, the Attorney General (AGO 76-84) rendered an opinion that the director was responsible only to the governing body of the county and the Division of Disaster Preparedness, and could not be placed under supervision of an intermediate county official.