Camarillo Municipal Code Ch. 2.32 Emergency Management Systems

The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the preparation for, response to, and recovery from emergencies in accordance with the California Emergency Services Act (Government Code Section 8550 and following) and its implementing regulations.

(Ord. 970 § 2 (part), 2004.)

When used in this chapter the definitions set forth in this section will apply. In the event of any conflict between these definitions and the provisions of the Emergency Services Act and its implementing regulations, the act and its regulations will control.

"Action plan" or "EOC action plan" means the plan containing the emergency response objectives of the SEMS level reflecting overall priorities and supporting activities for a designated period.

"Disaster" means a sudden calamitous emergency event resulting in loss of life, and great damage or destruction.

"Emergency" means a condition of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property caused by such conditions as air pollution, fire, flood, hazardous material incident, storm, epidemic, riot, drought, sudden and severe energy shortage, plant or animal infestation or disease, an earthquake warning or conditions other than those resulting from a labor controversy.

"Emergency operations center" (EOC) means the location from which centralized emergency management is performed.

"Local emergency" means the duly proclaimed existence of emergency conditions or a disaster of the city, which conditions are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the city and requires the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat.

"Master mutual aid agreement" means an agreement entered into by and between the state of California, its various departments and agencies, and the various political subdivision, municipal corporations, and other public agencies of the state of California to assist each other by providing resources during an emergency. Mutual aid occurs when two or more parties agree to furnish resources and facilities and to render services to each other to prevent and respond to any type of disaster or emergency.

"Multi-hazard function plan" (MHFP) means the official plan of the city, as approved by the state office of emergency services, and adopted by the city council, which is organized pursuant to SEMS, and which details the city's organized planning for, response to, and recovery from emergency situations of local, regional, and statewide impact.

"Office of emergency services" (OES) means the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, or regionally, the Ventura County sheriff's office of emergency services.

"Standardized emergency management system" (SEMS) means a system required by the California Government Code for managing responses to multi-agency and multi-jurisdiction emergencies throughout California.

"State of emergency" means the duly proclaimed existence of conditions of a disaster or emergency.

"State of war emergency" means the condition, which exists immediately, with or without a proclamation thereof by the governor, whenever the state or nation is directly attacked by an enemy of the United States, or upon the receipt by the state of a warning from the federal government that such an enemy attack is probable or imminent.

(Ord. 970 § 2 (part), 2004.)

A. The city manager serves as the EOC director for the city.

B. The powers and duties of the EOC director include to:

1. Activate the EOC.

2. Develop an EOC action plan, and in doing so, indicate the probable timeframe for EOC and field operations.

3. Manage and coordinate the city's EOC action plan and ensure multi-agency or inter-agency coordination.

4. Develop and issue rules, regulations, proclamations on matters reasonably related to the protection of life and property as affected by the applicable disaster or emergency; provided, however, such rules and regulations must be confirmed at the earliest practicable time by the city council.

5. Obtain vital supplies, equipment and such other property found lacking and needed for the protection of the life and property of the people and bind the city for the fair value thereof, and if required immediately, to commandeer the same for public use;

6. Require emergency services of any city officer or employee and, in the event of the proclamation of a state of disaster or state of emergency by the governor in the region in which the city is located, or a proclamation of a local disaster or emergency, to command the aid of as many citizens of the community as the director thinks necessary in the execution of the director's duties. All such persons who provide emergency services will be entitled to all privileges, benefits and immunities as are provided by state law for registered civil defense and emergency service volunteers.

7. Requisition necessary personnel or material of any city department or agency.

8. Execute all of the director's ordinary power as city manager, all of the special powers conferred upon the director by this chapter or by resolution adopted pursuant thereto, all powers conferred by statute, agreement approved by the city council, or by any other lawful authority, and in conformity with Government Code Section 38791, to exercise complete authority over the city and to exercise all police power vested in the city by the state constitution and general laws.

(Ord. 970 § 2 (part), 2004.)

Should the city manager be unavailable or unable to serve as EOC director, the individuals who hold permanent appointments to the following positions in the city will automatically serve as acting director, in the order indicated below. The individual who serves as acting director will have the authority and powers of the director throughout the existence of the declared local emergency, and will serve until the director is again able to serve, or until a successor has been appointed by the city council.

A. First alternate: assistant city manager;

B. Second alternate: director of public works;

C. Third alternate: director of finance.

(Ord. 970 § 2 (part), 2004.)

A. The EOC will be activated under the following circumstances:

1. After a significant earthquake, which causes damage in the city or neighboring jurisdictions;

2. The uncontrolled release or failure of the Bard Reservoir in Simi Valley;

3. An impending or declared state of emergency or state of war emergency;

4. Any other emergency or disaster that has occurred or might occur of such a magnitude that it will require a large commitment of resources from two or more city departments over an extended period of time.

B. The following individuals, either acting as the EOC director or on behalf of the EOC director, are authorized to activate the EOC:

1. City manager;

2. Assistant city manager;

3. Director of public works.

(Ord. 970 § 2 (part), 2004.)

The city council shall adopt by resolution a multi-hazard functional plan (MHFP) in accordance with the Emergency Services Act and the provisions of SEMS. The MHFP will provide for the effective mobilization of all available resources of the city, both public and private, to address any condition constituting a local emergency, state of emergency, or state of war emergency; and will provide for the organization, powers, duties, and services of the city's emergency response efforts.

(Ord. 970 § 2 (part), 2004.)