Unit Plans

California has several laws that impact emergency response plans. One is the Disaster Service Worker Volunteer Program (DSWVP) causing governments to require volunteers to be registered in the DSWVP. Another law is the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS), which was created after the devastating Oakland Firestorm to strengthen standardization and the implementation of mutual aid.

SEMS and the California Emergency Plan require the State and its Counties and Cities to develop and use plans consistent with one another. For that purpose State OES prepared a Model ACS Plan and a Model RACES Plan. Each jurisdiction specifies the parameters of the service (such as how it is to be used and activated) while standardization of plan layout to the common terms and provisions assures consistency. Plan adoption shows the potential of a communications mutual aid resource that meets with the state standard and has local jurisdictional approval. Copies of adopted plans in CA are provided to the respective State OES Region Operations Center (REOC) in furtherance of ACS and RACES Communications Mutual Aid.

Also due to SEMS legislation, California established communications support procedures and systems to provide information links for elements of the California Emergency Organization; specifically between the OA, the OES REOC, the State Operations Center (SOC), and other state agencies. This communications infrastructure includes the Response Information Management System (RIMS), and the California portion of the National Warning system.

PREPARING, PROCESSING and FILING the ACS or RACES PLAN for California jurisdictions:

City plans need approval by the County (Operational Areas or OA) as Cities are part of that OA under SEMS.
An exception is that very large cities fall in the OA plan category. Los Angeles is an example.

Operational Areas plans need a signature of an authorized government official along with
the concurrence of the state ACS Officer and OES Communications Coordinator.

When plans are finalized they are filed with the next level of mutual aid assistance, such as City
with County, County with Region and State. Then State OES files OA plans with FEMA

Obtaining plan concurrence and filing of the approved plan is vital for doing so:

- Provides a single point of reference for essential data for communications mutual aid, such as: Is there a current plan? Who is the OA coordinator? Who is authorized to request/deploy the unit? Is there more than one level of participant? Are special limitations imposed by the local jurisdiction? Does it screen participants? What OA authority approved the plan? Who are the authorized unit officers? What is the chain of authority? How does it provide for frequency coordination? What level nets are provided on what frequencies? Does is comply with SEMS and RIMS? What is the plan life or review period?

- Signifies a prepared jurisdiction with an on-going active unit as part of its preparations for its citizens care in emergencies, and assures potential uniut participants as to the jurisdicitons compliance with the requirements of the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS).

- Is a pre-qualification requirement for FEMA funding for the unit if and when such funds become available. An approved plan, along with an operating unit prior to fund availability, can be factors in determining eligibility.

 The State ACS Officer is available to assist jurisdictions with plan drafting, preparation, and/or help with, or questions on, the process.
Contact him by email to Cary Mangum State ACS Officer, or by FAX: (916) 845-8606 or call 916-845-8619.
 

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Updated:12/8/04