District Monitors Wildfires Across the Region

News Release

_*Emergency Operations Center at Level 2 Activation*_

Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) officials are monitoring a series of wildfires throughout our 16-county region and have raised the activation level of the District's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to Level 2. This action is consistent with the State of Florida's level of EOC activation, and the District will coordinate with the State Emergency Response Teams to direct District resources and activities during Florida's wildfire emergency event.

The EOC provides direction and controls District activities during an emergency event.

Level 2 activation is utilized when a specific emergency event has reached a point where the District may be adversely affected. Level 2 is a partial activation, and the EOC will:

•Mobilize appropriate District emergency personnel to support EOC activities. The rest of the District remains at normal operating conditions.
•Monitor existing wildfires throughout the District's 16–county area as needed.
•Maintain direct communications with the state and affected county EOCs.
•Ensure current event information is distributed to all District staff.

The EOC also directs District field crews, responds to requests from the state EOC, and provides water resource updates to state and local emergency management agencies, the media, and the general public. The District EOC will expand to include additional emergency personnel as the situation demands.

Additional information about District properties closed due to wildfires can be found on the District's website at WaterMatters.org.