CCSO hosts Florida Sheriff's Association Regional Task Force Summit
Photo courtesy of CCSO with Sheriff Prendergast at podium, in front of base camp set-up.
Citrus County, Florida - On January 18, 2024, the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) hosted the Florida Sheriff's Association (FSA) Regional Task Force Summit. Seven sheriffs, along with members of their staff, along with representatives of the FSA attended the summit to discuss recent deployments to gauge what has worked and how each region can improve its capabilities.
Florida is an all-hazards state. Thanks to the mutual aid agreement, when a natural or man-made disaster impacts an area, a sheriff from that region can request assistance from other sheriff's offices through the FSA. During storm recoveries, task forces, like the CCSO's Sheriff's Mutual Aid Response Team (SMART), can provide immediate services that aid in daily operations. These services ensure that the citizens of that region can continue to receive adequate public safety services to protect their lives and property while beginning recovery efforts.
"We've learned over the past few years, that when the unexpected comes along, it can happen to any county in Florida. None of us can do it alone, and it's important to know that you can count on your fellow Florida sheriffs for help," said FSA President Sheriff Bill Leaper from Nassau County. "I want to thank (Citrus County) Sheriff (Mike) Prendergast for hosting this meeting and showcasing the equipment that will be used as we respond quickly and safely to affected areas, helping citizens receive the assistance they need."
The FSA Task Force is divided into seven regions. Recently, the CCSO was selected to maintain the Region Four Disaster Base Camp, for lodging personnel during mutual aid missions. The FSA furnished the CCSO with the first of many planned base camp set-ups, which include two large inflatable tents, cots, portable air conditioners, bathroom trailers, a water trailer, generators, and a mobile kitchen.
The CCSO utilized the above set-up in August 2023 when Hurricane Idalia made landfall in northwest Florida as a category four hurricane with sustained winds of 125 mph. Just hours after Hurricane Idalia struck, the CCSO efficiently deployed 18 deputies, who were part of SMART, to Dixie County, Florida with all of its new assets.
"This is personal to me," said FSA Task Force Chairman, Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford. "2018, Hurricane Michael, a major category five hurricane, struck Bay County. I can't tell you how it felt to have our community destroyed and then have over 600 sheriff deputies respond from throughout the state into our community to help us, so it is an honor for me to serve on the task force. We have received gracious support for the task forces, and we're working to have base camps like this stationed at various areas throughout the state, because it's important when we respond to a disaster that the sheriff's offices coming in are self-supporting and have a place to stay and feed their people, so they don't become a further burden on the requesting community."
During the morning's news conference, Sheriff Ford announced that the FSA Shared Assets Committee is working to purchase a second base camp, and that they aim to start supplying smaller counties, that cannot be self-sustainable during a disaster, with the equipment.
"At the end of the day, it's about excellence in public safety - plain and simple," said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast. "Each member of each sheriff's office within the FSA took an oath to protect and serve, and when our neighbors need help, we will be there, gear in tow, ready and willing to help in any way necessary. Thankfully, because of our state's past amazing leader's forethought, we can sleep soundly knowing that if we need any aid, our FSA partners have our backs."
Those who attended the summit and contributed to these important discussions included:
Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leaper,
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw,
Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford,
Highlands County Sheriff Paul Blackman,
Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter,
Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers,
Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden,
FSA System Coordinator Eric Owens,
FSA Law Enforcement Coordinator David Brand, and
FSA Public Safety Coordinator Steve Cole.
About the FSA Task Force:
The FSA Regional Task Force is comprised of the CCSO and 66 other sheriff's offices, divided into seven regions and headed by a Chair who is the Sheriff of a county in the region.
Citrus County is in Region Four, encompassing Citrus, Sumter, Hernando, Pasco, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk, and Hardee counties. Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast is the Region Four Chair.