On July 6, Neptune Beach officials adopted an amended emergency management plan to establish framework for preparedness, response and recovery policies in the event of such disasters as the COVID-19 response and the 2020 hurricane season.
City Manager Stefen Wynn submitted the updated Municipal Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (MCEMP) in accordance with Duval County’s Comprehensive Management Plan and the state of Florida and Federal Reserve Plan. The goal is to protect citizens, preserve public property, restore government function and maintain a public information system.
“Our citizens rely on government to respond with needed assistance whenever a local disaster strikes. The role of each city department and each employee is to assist the city in minimizing the impact of a disaster,” said Mayor Elaine Brown, who serves as the city’s liaison for Neptune Beach with the city of Jacksonville as a member of the Security and Emergency Preparedness Planning Council.
“The task of protecting the city and restoring critical infrastructure and services is impossible without a workable plan. It is my sincere hope that we never have to use this comprehensive plan, but as history has proven, disasters can occur at any time.”
Hazard analysis defines hurricanes and other severe weather events, including wind, flooding, storm surge, lightning strikes and tornadoes, as natural events that can causes serious damage. It also includes such man-made combustible agents such as gasoline or chemical spills, fire or explosions, critical infrastructure disruption, civil disorder, disease or pandemic, earthquakes and tsunamis, and terrorism among the hazardous events.
“It is very comprehensive,” said Councilman Kerry Chin. “There’s a section that said you can’t predict every situation that comes up and we’ll adjust for it. I think that’s good.”
In March, language was incorporated to provide paid leave of absence for city employees during a public health crisis. It also includes a short-term agreement for telecommuting during a weather disaster, epidemic or pandemic, and a COVID-19 reduction strategy and recovery plan.
The scope of the plan outlines the responsibilities, organization and mitigation during a catastrophic event, and also establishes financial authorities during post-disaster recovery. Neptune Beach does not utilize a full-time emergency operations center or emergency management staff, but will staff a series of localized command posts.
According to the plan, the Neptune Beach chief of police will serve as the emergency management coordinator, and the Police Department will be the emergency operations headquarters. Staging will be established at various points throughout the Beaches including Jarboe Park, Baptist Medical Center, Neptune Beach City Hall and the Jacksonville Beach Operations and Maintenance Facility located on Shetter Avenue, or a site west of the intracoastal as determined by the Beaches cities.
Councilman Scott Wiley questioned whether the Beaches EOC complex identified in the plan as a unified command center for the Beaches cities had been utilized during previous hurricane seasons.
“The Beaches in and of itself decided about two years ago to send individual representatives to EOC downtown,” said Police Cmdr. Michael Key, who represents the city of Neptune Beach.
“While the Jacksonville Beach EOC stood up, we want to have a voice in Jacksonville to make sure we are represented at a county facility.”
June 15, 2026
