SARASOTA COUNTY – Sarasota County Emergency Management received accreditation from the Emergency Management Accreditation Program Sept. 29, 2025; a measure of excellence that shows Sarasota County Emergency Management’s commitment to a high level of service, education, preparation, response, recovery and mitigation.

Sarasota County Emergency Management is one of seven governement agencies in Florida, and the first program in Sarasota County to achieve this accreditation. The EMAP Commission approved Sarasota County’s certification after an in-depth assessment of the county’s emergency response program against 73 national standards, in compliance with the Emergency Management Standards, certified by the American National Standards Institute.

Accreditation fosters excellence and accountability in emergency management programs through a voluntary, peer-review process using these credible standards. This further demonstrates the county’s commitment to continuous preparedness and improvement. 

“Accreditation is a tangible testament to the team’s dedication to ensuring Sarasota County is prepared to respond, recover from and mitigate against disasters with a focus on the community’s best interest,” said Sarasota County Emergency Services Director Rich Collins. “Emergency Management is committed to continuous high levels of service by aligning with industry best practices to provide resources to our community."

Emergency Management continually assesses service delivery and performance, as well as opportunity for enhancements.

“This is a great accomplishment for Sarasota County and the community as achieving accreditation was a detailed and exhaustive process,” said Sarasota County Emergency Management Chief Sandra Tapfumaneyi. “We look forward to using tools from this accreditation in our proactive planning for the future.”

About Sarasota County Emergency Management:
Sarasota County Emergency Management is an accredited agency responsible for planning, coordinating, and overseeing countywide disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation efforts.