East Central Florida Regional Planning Council

08/05/2026

This is what regional collaboration is all about! Exercises like this really showcase the power of our regional collaboration! A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this exercise a success! We’re already planning the next one!

Nearly 100 first responders, emergency managers and volunteers took part in "Operation Dark Horizon" — a full-scale nighttime emergency response exercise at Orlando International Airport simulating a natural gas pipeline rupture and explosion, according to officials.

🔗 in the comments 👇

08/05/2026

Don't let the August heat slow you down because it's another busy month here at the ECFRPC! We're excited to share two important webinars this month, and our annual photo contest and Diamond Awards applications are in full swing! Make sure to visit our website to keep up with the latest happenings of the ECFRPC across our region. https://www.ecfrpc.org/photos

07/28/2026

Join us on August 13 for a special crossover session of the Portals of Innovation webinar series. This penultimate session of the 2026 series will dive into the unique relationship between Florida's Regional Planning Councils and Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) and how we're working together to ensure our communities and state are ready whenever there's a hazmat incident or other emergencies. eaede3d4-32c5-462e-aebf-ebcb0034a2c7@748f10a3-a06a-4587-9db3-39817a95776c" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/eaede3d4-32c5-462e-aebf-ebcb0034a2c7@748f10a3-a06a-4587-9db3-39817a95776c

07/27/2026

Sci-fi fans know 42 as the ultimate answer, but photographers know it pops up throughout photo history, from classic M42 mounts and 42MP sensors to the 42mm sweet spot that matches human vision. It also happens to be how many days are left to submit your photos for the 2026 ECF Photo Contest! Don't panic, but don't wait until the end of the universe to submit your photos! https://www.ecfrpc.org/photos

07/24/2026

Got a camera roll full of incredible Florida shots? The 5th Annual ECF Photo Contest is officially open!

From Space Coast launches and foggy mornings on the water to our unforgettable sunsets, we want to see East Central Florida through your lens.

It’s completely free to enter and open to everyone in the region. Plus, all the winning photos will be featured at the 2027 ECF Diamond Awards Luncheon this February.

Show us what makes our region so unique! Submit your best photos by September 7th at https://www.ecfrpc.org/photos or just scan/screenshot the QR code.

07/22/2026

For this week's Where in the Region, we're heading indoors for a special USA semiquincentennial display celebrating local history. This display can be found in a round building that was built in 1975 and was designed by Sanford based firm Gutmann, Dregash & Matz (the same firm behind Seminole County's Civil Courthouse that was built around the same time). Today, people know this building as 'The Round Building' and during the holiday season, it is typically decorated to look like a large drum. Do you know where in the region you can find this semiquincentennial display? What downtown is this building located in? If so, comment below with your best guess!

07/21/2026

If you work in planning, stormwater management, resilience, GIS, or emergency management, this conversation is built for you. Join us on August 7 at 10:00 AM ET for a statewide webinar exploring Extreme Rainfall & Flood Mitigation Through Regional Collaboration.

We'll be diving into how regional coordination keeps our communities safe and resilient.

Plus, the session is approved for 1.5 FLAPA Suncoast Chapter CM Credits and 1.0 Sustainability & Resilience Credit.

Registration is completely free. Sign up today and join the conversation on building a more resilient Florida: a9b9a0a2-5ca7-4ae3-8d43-2afe346aca2c@748f10a3-a06a-4587-9db3-39817a95776c" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/a9b9a0a2-5ca7-4ae3-8d43-2afe346aca2c@748f10a3-a06a-4587-9db3-39817a95776c

07/20/2026

Love the beauty of our region? Then share it! The 5th Annual East Central Florida Photo Contest is well underway! There are only a few more weeks to submit your photos for consideration in this year's contest! Free to submit, and all winners receive free tickets to attend and be recognized at the 2027 ECF Diamond Awards! https://www.ecfrpc.org/photos

07/18/2026

41 years ago, one of the worst industrial disasters in human history occurred, killing thousands and forever changing its community. That's why today we have the federally mandated Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs). Florida has 10 LEPCs supported by your regional planning councils. Learn how they help your community, the role of Regional Planning Councils and LEPCs, and best practices for keeping your community safe. Join us on August 13 for this special webinar with our LEPC Coordinator and Emergency Preparedness Director. Registration is now open. eaede3d4-32c5-462e-aebf-ebcb0034a2c7@748f10a3-a06a-4587-9db3-39817a95776c" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/eaede3d4-32c5-462e-aebf-ebcb0034a2c7@748f10a3-a06a-4587-9db3-39817a95776c

07/08/2026

Join us tomorrow for our next Portals of Innovation webinar! This month, we're featuring the City of Cape Canaveral staff sharing their award-winning resilience projects, the story behind them, and why they aimed for the ECF Diamond Award. Register today to not miss this exciting webinar! e83d9005-b799-4225-84fc-1999235fc009@748f10a3-a06a-4587-9db3-39817a95776c" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e83d9005-b799-4225-84fc-1999235fc009@748f10a3-a06a-4587-9db3-39817a95776c