Florida launches nonprofit to support incident management teams

By AI, Created 9:46 PM UTC, June 03, 2026, /AGP/ – Florida Incident Management Teams Foundation, Inc. launched at the 2026 Florida Training for Emergency Management Symposium in Orlando to bolster workforce development, deployment readiness and operational support for incident management teams. The nonprofit aims to strengthen Florida’s disaster response capacity and help build the state’s emergency management workforce pipeline.

Why it matters: - Florida’s emergency response system depends on trained incident management teams for hurricanes, building collapses, active shooter incidents, terrorism events, EOC staffing augmentation and public health crises. - The new foundation is designed to fill gaps in finance, recruitment, preparedness, logistics and planning support for those teams. - Stronger training and readiness could improve how Florida deploys specialized responders during disasters and complex incidents.

What happened: - The Florida Incident Management Teams Foundation, Inc. (FIMTF) announced its official launch at the 2026 Florida Training for Emergency Management (FTEM) Symposium in Orlando. - FIMTF is a nonprofit focused on statewide resilience through support for Florida’s All-Hazards Incident Management Teams (AHIMTs). - Christopher Todd, FIMTF executive director, said the launch marks a new milestone for emergency and incident management in Florida.

The details: - FIMTF’s core mission centers on three areas: workforce development, deployment readiness and operational support. - Workforce development programs aim to expand the pipeline of trained incident management professionals across Florida. - Deployment readiness efforts are intended to ensure teams have the equipment, logistics and planning resources needed to sustain operations in the field. - Operational support work is meant to coordinate resources before, during and after complex incidents. - Florida AHIMTs have deployed to major events including multiple hurricane activations, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Champlain Towers South building collapse in Surfside, Florida. - The foundation says most teams still face unmet needs around finance, recruitment and preparedness for training and response operations. - FIMTF is headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida, and is registered as a Florida 501(c)(3) nonprofit. - More information is available on FIMTF’s website. - FIMTF also lists a LinkedIn page at its social media profile.

Between the lines: - The launch suggests Florida emergency managers see a need for a dedicated organization to support the behind-the-scenes infrastructure of incident response. - FIMTF is also positioning itself as a bridge between emergency management education and formalized training and certification. - Todd said FIMTF is uniquely positioned to support Florida’s Coalition for Operational Readiness in Education, or CORE. - CORE brings together the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the Florida Department of Education, FloridaCommerce, higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations and private-sector partners to strengthen the future workforce pipeline.

What’s next: - FIMTF is expected to support CORE as the coalition builds a stronger emergency management workforce pipeline. - The foundation will likely focus on expanding training, readiness and operational support for incident management teams across the state. - Supporters can learn more or contribute through the organization’s website.