For Pinellas County, the ACS unit of the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) provides a
variety of professional unpaid (volunteer) skills, including administrative, technical and operational,
for emergency tactical, administrative and logistical communications between the State and its
agencies, its Regions, county and city governments and neighboring state governments.

Specific mission assignments include on-going ACS bulletins, assistance to counties and cities in
developing ACS units in their jurisdictions; and coordination with other State agency ACS units once
they are formed, and support of the State Emergency Operations Center.
The Pinellas County ACS/ARES Unit provides, supplements, or augments Government
communications and Other Agencies as needed
during emergencies where normal
communication systems have sustained damaged, are being over
taxed or over-burdened, or backup radio operators are required. ACS/ARES may be
used in a wide variety of situations, including but not limited to:

Florida Hazards Cold Tornado Thunderstorm Wildfire Lightning Flood Terrorism Drought Heat Wave Hurricane Animal Nuclear Hazmat Computer Info Warfare Aircraft Bombs