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FEPA Mid-Year Meeting

FLORIDA EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS ASSOCIATION
he 2020 Mid-Year Meeting and Work Session was August 28, 2020 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am (Eastern).
scheduled for August 5-7, 2020 in Crystal River, The session included General Session presentations
TFlorida and FEPA was very excited to visit a new and comments as well as a FEPA Membership Business
venue right on the river! As with many events in 2020 Meeting. FEPA thanks Dr. Meggen Sixbey, University of
the in-person meeting was cancelled due to COVID Florida Counseling and Wellness Center, for her remarks
precautions and extended activation and operations on “Psychological Considerations for Emergency
related to response to the pandemic. To replace the Managers During COVID-19 Operations” which were
in-person event, FEPA developed a week of virtual extremely timely and well received. Following Dr.
committee and working group meetings as well as Sixbey’s presentation, Florida Division of Emergency
General Sessions and a Membership Business Meeting Management Director Jared Moskowitz addressed
for the same dates. However, as the calendar closed participants and shared recent updates on the Division’s
for July, Hurricane Isaias reached hurricane status response and recovery activities as well as insights on
and Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-181 key emergency management policy issues affecting the
declaring a State of Emergency for parts of Florida profession and emergency management practitioners.
prompting a cancellation of the virtual Mid-Year Work A summary of the 2020 Mid Year Meeting and
Session. related materials are available on the FEPA website
Fortunately, the state did not sustain significant under the Meetings/Training tab. FEPA thanks IEM for
damage due to Isaias and Association leadership re- their financial support for the expanded technology that
tooled the summer meeting format to be conducted allowed the Association to conduct the meeting using a
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during a two-hour virtual meeting. An abbreviated Mid- virtual platform.
Year Meeting was conducted via webinar on Friday

FEPA 2021 Awards Program

With Fall appearing on the calendars, it is time to
announce the opening of the nomination period for the
Association’s Annual Awards Program. Under the program,
individuals, agencies, and organizations are recognized for
their service and contributions to emergency management
under seven award categories: Distinguished Service,
Legislative, Volunteer, Corporate, Media, Gary Arnold and the
“Chad Reed” Emergency Manager of the Year. A description
of each Award category as well as lists of previous award
recipients are available on the FEPA website under the
Membership Tab. Award nominations should be submitted
through the Awards portal on the Awards and Nominations
page of the Membership Tab. This page also includes
details on the requirements for nominations and submission
instructions.
Given the extraordinary emergency activities of 2020,
FEPA expects a very strong response to the Call for
Nominations. The deadline to submit nominations through
the portal is December 1, 2020. Please take time to recognize
the great work of emergency management colleagues and
organizations that support your programs.

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