From Crisis...
In times of disaster, the Matrix Community Outreach Center serves as a key partner in Walton County’s emergency response and recovery efforts helping stabilize lives and rebuild communities with care and compassion. In partnership with the Walton County Board of County Commissioners and Walton County Emergency Management, the Matrix fulfills a critical leadership role by serving as the Human Services Branch Director during disaster activations. This role established in the County’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) places the Matrix at the center of coordinating services that meet the basic human needs of those affected by emergencies.
...to Comeback
What is the Human Services Branch?
The Human Services Branch plays a critical role in disaster relief by coordinating services that support basic human needs before, during, and after a disaster. Our goal is to ensure that individuals and families have access to shelter, food, medical care, and recovery resources when it matters most.
Emergency Support Functions (ESFs)
The Human Services Branch supports the following
Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) and Units
ESF 6
Mass Care
Oversees sheltering, feeding, and distribution of emergency supplies.
ESF 11
Food &
Water
Coordinates emergency food and water supply distribution in partnership with food banks and community providers.
ESF 18
Business &
Industry
Engages local businesses in disaster response and recovery to ensure economic resilience and support continuity of services.
Support Unit
Unmet Needs
Unit
Helps connect survivors to additional recovery resources when needs extend beyond what standard programs can meet.
ESF 8
Health &
Medical
Supports access to essential health services, crisis intervention, and public health resources.
ESF 15
Volunteers &
Donations
Organizes volunteer efforts and manages the intake and distribution of donated goods and services.
Support Unit
Housing
Unit
Assists displaced individuals with identifying temporary shelter and long-term housing solutions.
Help Strengthen Our Community Response
Are you an individual, business, agency, civic group, or organization interested in helping during disasters? We’re building a network of local partners who can share resources, information, and support when our community needs it most.
​
This quick survey helps us understand what resources are available locally and who’s willing to step in before, during, or after a disaster.
Every response helps us build a stronger, more prepared Walton County.
Cold Weather Shelter:
When the temperature drops, Matrix Community Outreach Center steps in to make sure no one in Walton County is left out in the cold.
In partnership with Walton County Emergency Management, we coordinate and operate Cold Weather Shelters whenever conditions meet the county’s activation threshold. Emergency Management monitors weather forecasts and makes the official call to activate. Once activated the Matrix steps in to manage shelter coordination, ensuring a safe, welcoming environment and meeting essential needs with care and dignity.
Shelters are open to anyone without safe or sufficient heat, including individuals experiencing homelessness or those living in homes that can't keep the cold out.
To keep the community informed, Matrix also offers a text notification system that sends out updates when cold weather shelters are scheduled to open. This helps ensure that those who may need shelter or those helping connect others to services have timely, accurate information.
While not part of the county’s formal disaster response plan, Cold Weather Shelter operations are a vital part of our mission. It’s one more way we work to protect our most vulnerable neighbors and support a stronger, more compassionate community, one warm night at a time