CC - Item 3F - Interim Standardize Emergency Management System (SEMS) PlanROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JEFF ALLRED, CITY MANAGER
(11/I
DATE: JULY 28, 2009 ~7V1 'V
SUBJECT: INTERIM STANDARDIZED EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
(SEMS) PLAN
SUMMARY
Government Code 8607, the Emergency Services Act, requires each. local agency, in
order to be eligible for any reimbursement of response-related costs, to adopt and use
the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) plan when responding to
major emergencies that involve multi-agencies. Local jurisdictions were required to
adopt the plan by December 1, 1996. A few months ago, City Council inquired about
the status of the of the City's emergency preparedness plan. Staff was directed to
research the City's plan and provide City Council with an overview.
The California Emergency Management Agency confirmed that the City has not
submitted an adopted SEMS plan. As a result, during the last few months, staff
developed the City's interim emergency plan, in addition to conducting a tabletop
exercise to ensure it meets the needs of the City.
In 2006, a Homeland Security Presidential Directive ordered the creation of the National
Incident Management System (NIMS), which requires cities to adopt NIMS into their
SEMS plan in a phased implementation. In 2006, City Council adopted a resolution
stating that the City would implement NIMS into its SEMS plan.
Disaster Management Area D (Area D) is still currently developing the SEMS plan with
the NIMS requirements. Rather than wait for the updated SEMS plan, which
incorporates NIMS, the City developed the attached interim plan to ensure that we meet
the requirements of the Emergency Services Act. Staff is continuing to work on other
sections of the interim plan, but as recommended by the City's Area D Coordinator, staff
has completed the Emergency Operations Plan, Section 2 to ensure we meet the
minimal requirements to be eligible for emergency response-related reimbursements.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council approve and adopt the attached interim SEMS
plan.
DISCUSSION
The SEMS plan was developed by the State of California as a result of failed
communications and uncoordinated emergency response efforts during the 1991
Oakland-Berkley fire. With hundreds of agencies responding.to the Oakland fire, each
APPROVED FOR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA: ITEM N®. ~E
City Council Meeting
July 28, 2009
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agency was using their own method of communications and emergency response
without any coordination or designation of a lead agency. SEMS ensures that
emergency response is standardized amongst public agencies in California.
OVERVIEW OF SEMS PLAN
The SEMS model consists of five organizational levels: field response, local
government, operational area, regional, and state. As a local government, the role of
the City is to manage and coordinate the overall emergency response and recovery
activities within Rosemead.
When responding to a major disaster such an earthquake, the City would activate an
Emergency Operations Center (EOC) based on the SEMS plan that follows the Incident
Command System (ICS) by implementing five primary functions such as Management
Section, Operations Section, Planning/Intelligence Section, Logistic Section, and
Finance/Administration Section.
In the event of an emergency, the City Manager, who is designated as the Director of
Emergency Services, or his designee, the Assistant City Manager or the Chief of Police
can activate the City's EOC. The Public Safety Center has been designated as the
EOC, with City Hall being designated as the alternate EOC.
Management Section
The Management Section is responsible for overall emergency policy and coordination
through joint efforts of governmental agencies and private organizations. This section is
also responsible for the dissemination of information to the media and the public. This
section includes City Council, City Attorney, City Manager, Assistant City Manager, City
Clerk, and Public Information Officer. The City Council is responsible for ratifying a
local emergency, approving emergency orders, and serving as City Officials.
Planning/Intelligence Section
The primary responsibility of this section is to collect, evaluate, display, and disseminate
pertinent information regarding the incident. Planning/Intelligence provides anticipatory
appraisals and develops plans as necessary to address the changing events in the field.
The Planning/Intelligence. Section prepares action reports and after action reports in
coordination with other sections.
Operations Section
This section is responsible for response that takes place out in the field such as
evacuating affected neighborhoods, controlling traffic, maintaining public facilities,
restoring utilities, removing debris that may be blocking roadways, coordinating
transportation, and providing equipment. The Operations Section includes Public
Safety, Law Enforcement, Fire Department, and Public Works.
Under the Operations Section is the Care and Shelter Branch, which is responsible for
working with the American Red Cross to coordinate evacuation shelters. The Parks and
Recreation Department manages the Care and Shelter Branch.
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Logistics Section
The Logistics Section's responsibility is to ensure acquisition, transportation, and
mobilization of resources, including personnel, to support the response effort at the
disaster sites, public shelters, and the EOC. Human Resources, the City Clerk's Office
and the Finance Department all assist with coordinating this function.
Finance/Administration Section
This section, coordinated by the Finance Department, is responsible for financial
activities such as documenting all emergency response expenses to help ensure the
City is reimbursed by the state or FEMA for all emergency response-related costs.
ADDITIONAL SEMS REQUIREMENTS
SEMS also requires the establishment of Operational Areas, which are defined by
County boundaries. The Operational Area is the critical link between local governments
and the state before, during, and after an emergency. The Los Angeles County Office
of Emergency Management (OEM) carries out the duties of the Operational Area. The
county is then divided into Disaster Management Areas. The City of Rosemead falls
into the boundaries of Area D. Disaster Management Area Coordinators act as the
county's liaison to the cities within its area boundaries and coordinate training and
ensure local jurisdictions are up-to-date regarding emergency preparedness, response,
and mitigation mandates.
The state also requires that the plan is reviewed and updated on a regular basis and
exercised by staff to ensure that each employee is familiar with their function during an
emergency. The Pubic Safety Coordinator serves as the City's Emergency Services
Coordinator, and is responsible for ensuring that the City meets these mandates.
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
This item has been noticed through the regular agenda notification process.
Prepared by:
Aileen Flores
Public Affairs Manager
Attachments: Interim Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) Plan