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Walton Co. EOC Officials Not Pleased with Unofficial State Ratings

By: Meagan O'Halloran Email
Updated: Sat 7:04 AM, Aug 04, 2012

After preliminary scores of a state-wide survey rating the local emergency operations centers in all 67 Florida counties showed up in the papers, one local county isn't pleased with the scores.

The Walton County EOC has reportedly ranked as one of just two counties that did not meet the highest "exemplary" grade, but did score above program standards. This initial information was first discovered in an article written in a South Florida newspaper, but local EOC officials who operate the command center from the Sheriff's Office say they have yet to see any official survey data and were told by state officials that Governor Rick Scott has not yet seen the results himself.

"I believe when this comes out we will be fully vindicated and much to do about nothing. We have the plans in place and we are fully capable and fully staffed and fully prepared to handle any kind of natural disaster or man-made disaster that may come to Walton County" said Major Joseph Preston, Director of the Walton County EOC.

The less than perfect scores apparently stem from a debris removal program that the county was currently updating. Walton county officials say they even suggested submitting the old plans during the survey so it wouldn't negatively affect the score.


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