Actions Completed for Emergency Preparedness:

The Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES) conducted Alerting and Warning workshops to ensure that emergency information is conveyed to the public in a timely and effective manner.

OES developed Evacuation Guidelines that identify authorities and responsibilities for flood evacuations that will assist local governments in emergency response.

OES conducted flood awareness and preparedness workshops throughout the Inland Region with levee maintaining agencies and local governments. These workshops identify the methods and procedures to obtain assistance and maintain a clear communication during a potential flood fight.

OES developed guidance to enhance SEMS Guidelines regarding how state and federal agencies with field operations can more effectively coordinate their actions with local governments under SEMS and use of organizational tools, such as Area Command, that have already been developed for use in the Incident Command System (ICS). Guidance also addressed resource allocation improvements and the fiscal responsibilities of the various participating agencies.

OES developed draft emergency planning guidance for levee maintaining agencies which is in final review. Distribution and training on the guidance is scheduled for October 1997.

OES developed emergency planning guidance for mobile home and RV parks in conjunction with the Department of Water Resources (DWR). This guidance includes a model plan for mobile home parks, with emergency information for residents.

OES conducted, with DOOR, joint planning sessions to develop methods for SEMS to conduct multi-jurisdictional flood fighting operations. The procedures are in final review and will be ready for use by the end of October 1997.

OES expanded the Response Information Management System (RIMS). OES has connected 15 State agencies, 52 counties, FEMA Region IX, the American Red Cross HQ in Long Beach and the United States Coast Guard HQ in Alameda. OES projects to have the remaining 6 counties connected by the end of October 1997.

OES developed a levee status database that will facilitate the flow of critical levee information from DWR to county EOCs.

OES provided introductory SEMS training at a meeting of the California Animal Control Directors' Association. OES has also developed a model Memorandum of Understanding to be used by local governments in their emergency planning that will include animal care agencies.

OES developed, in cooperation with the state Department of Boating and Waterways, the U.S. Coastguard and Delta Commission, a protocol for emergency boating restrictions and closure of waterways. This will provide a timely response to the need to restrict nonessential boating activities during flood fight efforts.

OES developed, and is testing, an interactive computer-based matrix outlining the process for requesting financial assistance and the types of assistance available under various emergency proclamations and declarations. The matrix will identify responsible state or federal agencies and governing authorities. It will be available in October 1997 and available in an electronic format on RIMS by the end of the year/early 1998.

OES initiated a process to facilitate expedited payments to local agencies for the cost of emergency response operations including a model for levee maintaining agencies to seek payment of flood emergency requirements consistent with FEMA requirements.

Actions to be Taken to Prepare for El Niño:

All three OES regions will address flood awareness activities for the next Mutual Aid Region Advisory Committees (MARACs). The materials to be discussed were developed in response to the FEAT Report, and the Governor's El Niño Executive Order will be shared and discussed with regional representatives of state agencies and local governments.

OES California Specialized Training Institute (CSTI), in late October 1997, will be conducting a specially designed flood scenario emergency maintenance management class oriented toward local governments to include levee maintaining agencies.

OES is continuing to improve its ability to deploy Geographic Information System (GIS) teams to support incident command posts.

OES is developing written guidance that identifies emergency response and recovery costs which are generally reimbursable.

OES is conducting workshops with local governments to provide training and guidance on methods for recovering costs associated with flood emergencies.

OES is conducting its Annual Winter Storm Awareness Campaign from October 27-31. The office is working with other state agencies to link critical disaster information available to the general public on the Internet.

Public Information Contact:

Tom Mullins
916/262-1843
916/262-1832 (Emergency News Center)