The Office of Emergency Management, a division of the Fire Rescue Department, is responsible for planning and coordinating actions to prepare, respond, and recover from natural or man-made disasters in Hillsborough County.
It manages the County Emergency Operations Center, which is the central coordination facility for all disasters. It also plans and conducts emergency training and serves as a liaison with state and federal emergency agencies.
The Office of Emergency Management also partners to produce the annual Hurricane Guide, online apps such as the Hurricane Evacuation Assessment Tool (HEAT), and educational events such as the annual Tampa Bay Hurricane Expo, to help citizens prepare themselves for a potential disaster.