Kevin Guthrie to Remain as Director of Emergency Management, Oversaw Response to Surfside and Hurricane Ian

By Eric Daugherty

Published Nov. 21, 2022, 2:00 p.m. ET | Updated Nov. 21, 2022

Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie.

TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie will remain at his post for the governor’s second term.

Guthrie notably oversaw Florida’s response to the Surfside condo collapse in 2021, along with responding to Hurricane Ian and Nicole in the past couple months.

In a video, DeSantis highlights some of Guthrie’s key moments.

From the tragic condo collapse in Surfside to the destructive Hurricane Ian, Kevin Guthrie has led emergency response efforts with leadership and skill.

It is my pleasure to announce that he will be returning as the Director of @FLSERT in our second term! pic.twitter.com/1o84K18r2m
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) November 21, 2022

Guthrie became the Chief of Staff for FDEM in October 2018 under Gov. Rick Scott, and was then appointed by DeSantis to Deputy Director in January 2019. He became the director in May 2021.

Recently during the impacts of Hurricane Ian, before, during, and after, Guthrie accompanied the governor at the plethora of press conferences, sometimes totaling upwards of five per day.

“There has not been a secretary, agency head, group of individuals that have worked better together than in this disaster [Ian],” Guthrie said. “We’re getting the right thing done.”

Guthrie is not the only official who will remain on for DeSantis’ second term: Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue and Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo will also remain.