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Flagler County emergency manager briefs commissioners on hurricane readiness, volunteer growth and grant-funded EOC repairs
Summary
Emergency Management reported a busy FY2025, an accredited program status, a near‑$1M roof replacement largely grant‑funded, a volunteer corps contributing substantial in‑kind hours and expectations for a slightly below‑average hurricane season while warning that any storm would still require full local preparedness.
Emergency Management told the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners on May 18 that its small core staff and growing volunteer program are key to maintaining readiness for the 2026 hurricane season.
Jonathan Lord, the county’s emergency management lead, summarized fiscal‑year 2025 accomplishments and readiness work, noting the department’s accreditation—the county is one of seven Florida counties with that status—and a near‑$1 million EOC roof replacement that was about 90% covered by federal grant funds. Lord said the department is separating outreach from education work this year and has increased community training and partner exercises.
Lord said the department operates 24/7 with on‑call duty officers and continues regular exercises, including a recent mock EOC activation involving county, city and nonprofit partners. He listed grants and projects under the office’s management, including the Expo Hall coordination and a compound flood analysis now handed off to engineering.
On staffing, Lord said the emergency‑management team has fluctuated and was recently running with five full‑time staff, supplemented by about 30 active volunteers (defined as people contributing roughly four hours per week). He said volunteers supplied more than $176,000 worth of services to the county in 2025 and that small budget lines support shirts and modest appreciation events.
Lord also reviewed federal proposals stemming from a FEMA review council report. He said recommendations under discussion at the federal level could shrink certain federal grant programs or shift program design (for example, focusing assistance more on temporary housing rather than home repairs), and that any change would require Congressional action.
On seasonal forecasts, Lord said forecasters expect a slightly below‑average hurricane season but repeated a familiar emergency‑management warning: a single storm, however small the season overall, can still cause major local impacts and so readiness must remain high.
The board did not take action on the presentation; commissioners thanked staff and asked for continued outreach and public‑education efforts ahead of the season.
