The overall objective of emergency management
is to ensure the effective management of response forces and resources
in preparing for and responding to situations associated with
natural disasters, technological incidents and national security
emergencies. The City of Santa Clarita goals in an emergency
are to save lives, protect property and the environment. These
goals are accomplished by the following emergency management objectives:
In an emergency, governmental response is an
extraordinary extension of responsibility and action, coupled
with normal day-to-day activity. Normal governmental duties will
be maintained, with emergency operations carried out by those
agencies assigned specific emergency functions. The Standardized
Emergency Management System (SEMS) has been adopted by the City
of Santa Clarita for managing response to multi-agency and multi-jurisdiction
emergencies and to facilitate communications and coordination
among all levels of the system and among all responding agencies.
Chapter 1 of Division 2 of Title 19 of the California Code of
Regulations establishes the standard response structure and basic
protocols to be used in emergency response and recovery.
City of Santa Clarita Emergency
Operations Center (EOC)
An EOC is a location from which centralized emergency
management can be performed during a major emergency or disaster.
This facilitates a coordinated response by the Director of Emergency
Services (City Manager), Emergency Management Staff, and representatives
from agencies who are assigned emergency management responsibilities.
The level of EOC staffing will vary with the specific emergency
situation.
An EOC provides a central location of authority
and information, and allows for face-to-face coordination among
personnel who must make emergency decisions. The following functions
are performed in the City of Santa Clarita's EOC:
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Managing and coordinating
emergency operations.
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Receiving and disseminating
warning information.
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Developing emergency policies
and procedures.
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Collecting intelligence
from, and disseminating information to, the various EOC representatives,
and, as appropriate, to County and State agencies, military,
and federal agencies.
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Preparing intelligence/information
summaries, situation reports, operational reports, and other
reports as required.
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Maintaining general and
specific maps, information display boards, and other data pertaining
to emergency operations.
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Continuing analysis and
evaluation of all data pertaining to emergency operations.
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Controlling and coordinating,
within established policy, the operational and logistical support
of departmental resources committed to the emergency.
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Maintaining contact and
coordination with field units, and other local government EOCs,
and the Los Angeles County Operational Area.
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Providing emergency information
and instructions to the public, making official releases to
the news media and the scheduling of press conferences as necessary.
