After the 1991 East Bay hills firestorm, the California Emergency Services Act was amended to establish a Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) in California. An important component of SEMS is the Operational Area, defined as an intermediate level of the state emergency services organization consisting of a county and all political subdivisions within the county area (Govt.§8559 (b)).
The purpose of the Operational Area is to coordinate emergency activities and to serve as a link in the communications system during a state of emergency or a local emergency. The Operational Area serves to strengthen mutual coordination, provide a focal point and conduit for disaster information, and assist in the efficient management of resources.
State regulations assigned responsibility for developing the Operational Area Emergency Management Organization to the County Board of Supervisors. In January 1995, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors accepted the recommendation to form a task force to implement an Operational Area in Alameda County.
The potential for a major catastrophic disaster due either to natural or human causes is a concern to all government entities within Alameda County. It is vital that we be prepared to share resources and information among ourselves as well as with the State of California in order to protect the public welfare. Greater efficiency and disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation can be achieved by joining the efforts of the County of Alameda, other cities, special districts, and other public benefit non-profit corporations together in pre-disaster agreements.
The preservation of life, property, and the environment is the responsibility of local, state, and federal government. Alameda County, in cooperation with: the cities of Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Leandro, and Union City; special districts; and public benefit non-profit corporations has decided to participate in the Operational Area Emergency Management Organization to ensure a unified and coordinated effort between state and local government agencies to facilitate mutual aid and to ensure the efficient use of regional and local resources in the event of a catastrophe.
The Alameda County Operational Area Emergency Management Organization is an intermediate level of the state of emergency services organization, consisting of the county and all political subdivisions within the County area. The agreement will serve to incorporate and coordinate available facilities and personnel of the County and all its member agencies into an efficient and effective organization by establishing tasks, specific policies, and general procedures using the SEMS. This will provide for the most effective and economical allocation of resources. The agreement provides a foundation for the emergency management organization structure and provides a systematic approach for addressing key issues during an emergency such as communications, equipment use, medical services, budgetary transactions, and resources, as well as emergency preparedness on a day-to day basis through cooperative training and exercises.
The Agreement designates the County Sheriff/Director of Emergency Services as the Operational Area Coordinator. The Operational Area Coordinator is to encourage equal representation by the parties and to include representatives of affected parties and mutual aid coordinators in operational decision making “before, during, and after” a disaster.
The Agreement also provides that each of the parties will designate individuals to be trained to represent their agency in the Operational Area Emergency Management Organization. The training will be an orientation on the policies and procedures of the Operational Area Emergency Management Organization. Each party is also to designate, in writing, a line of succession of officials who are empowered to represent the party to the Operational Area Emergency Management Organization.
The agreement will be effective until December 31, 2025 and may be terminated prior to the conclusion by mutual agreement of a majority of party members. Any party may withdraw from the agreement upon thirty (30) days written notice. Additional parties within geographical boundaries of Alameda County may join and become a member.