San Francisco County Municipal Code Ch. 7 Disaster Council

Sec. 7.1. Chapter – Purposes; "Emergency" Defined and Construed. Sec. 7.2. Agreement to Abide by State Master Mutual-Aid Agreement. Sec. 7.3. Disaster Council – Created; Composition; Appointment of Members. Sec. 7.4. Disaster Council – Powers and Duties. Sec. 7.5. The Emergency Services of San Francisco – Composition. Sec. 7.6. The Emergency Services of San Francisco – Mayor; Powers and Duties. Sec. 7.6-1. The Emergency Services of San Francisco – Use of the Standardized Emergency Management System. Sec. 7.7. The Emergency Services of San Francisco – Director; Powers and Duties. Sec. 7.9. The Emergency Services of San Francisco – Organizational Provisions. Sec. 7.10. Police Auxiliary Reserve. Sec. 7.11. Fire Auxiliary Reserve. Sec. 7.15. Powers to Combat Contaminating Agents. Sec. 7.16. Compensation, Immunities and Oath of Members. Sec. 7.17. Violations of Chapter; Penalty. Sec. 7.18. Expenditures. Sec. 7.19. Board of Supervisors' Review of City's State of Disaster Preparedness. Sec. 7.20. Disaster Service Worker Training, Reporting and Contact Update.

(a) Chapter. The declared purposes of this Chapter are to provide for the preparation and carrying out of plans for the protection of persons and property within this City and County in the event of an emergency; the direction of emergency services; and the coordination of the emergency functions of this City and County with all other public agencies, corporations, organizations, and affected private persons. (b) "Emergency" Defined and Construed. As used in this Chapter, an emergency shall exist when proclaimed by the Mayor. It

shall include, but is not limited to, the actual or threatened existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within this City and County caused by such conditions as air pollution, fire, flood, storm, epidemic, riot, or earthquake, including conditions resulting from war or imminent threat of war or any actual or threatened enemy attack or sabotage, and upon which occurrences the responsibility devolves upon the regularly constituted authorities for the maintenance of public peace and order and to preserve life and property, but other than conditions resulting from a labor controversy, which conditions are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of this City and County, requiring the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat. (Amended by Ord. 40-72, App. 2/25/72)

The Board of Supervisors does, by resolution, hereby approve and agree to abide by the California Disaster and Civil Defense Master Mutual-Aid Agreement. (Resolution 11053 (Series of 1939))

(a) The Disaster Council is hereby created as an Advisory Body, as that term is defined in Section 5.1-1 of the Administrative Code, and shall consist of the following: (1) The Mayor, who shall serve as Co-Chair; (2) The Executive Director of the Department of Emergency Management, who shall serve as Co-Chair; (3) A staff member of the Department of Emergency Management designated by the Executive Director, who shall serve as Secretary; (4) The Chief of Police; (5) The Chief of the Fire Department; (6) The Director of Public Health; (7) The Executive Director of the Port of San Francisco; (8) The Executive Director of the Human Services Agency; (9) The Director of Transportation; (10) The Director of Public Works; (11) The Director of Resilience and Capital Planning; (12) The Controller; (13) Three members of the Board of Supervisors, appointed by the President of the Board; and (14) A Disaster Preparedness Coordinator Chair, appointed by the Executive Director of the Department of Emergency Management, from among the Disaster Preparedness Coordinators of the City. (b) The Council shall invite representatives of civic, business, labor, veterans, professional, and other organizations to present regularly. (c) The Co-Chairs of the Council shall each retain authority to appoint additional members in their discretion. A quorum of the Council shall consist of a majority of the number of members appointed at the time. (d) Notwithstanding Section 5.1-4 of the Administrative Code, members of the Disaster Council shall serve indefinite terms and are not subject to term limits. (Amended by Ord. 40-72, App. 2/25/72; Ord. 278-96, App. 7/3/96; Ord. 99-26, File No. 260217, App. 5/29/2026, Eff. 6/29/2026)

All officers and employees of the City and County, together with those volunteer forces enrolled to aid them during an emergency, and all groups, organizations and persons who may by agreement or operation of law, including persons impressed into service under the provisions of Section 7.6, Subsection (b), paragraph (3) of this Chapter, be charged with duties incident to the protection of life and property in the City and County during such emergency, shall constitute the City and County of San Francisco Emergency Services organization. The structure, organization, duties, and functions of the City and County Emergency Services shall be set forth in the emergency plan duly recommended for approval by the Disaster Council and approved and promulgated by the Mayor. (Amended by Ord. 40-72, App. 2/25/72)

The Executive Director of the Department of Emergency Management, subject to the general supervision of the Mayor, shall be responsible for the development, management, and implementation of the City’s emergency plans and coordination of emergency services. The Executive Director shall collaborate with the Disaster Council by providing regular updates and reports, ensuring alignment between the Council’s advisory responsibilities and the Department’s strategic objectives and functions. (Amended by Ord. 40-72, App. 2/25/72; Ord. 419-93, App. 12/23/93; Ord. 278-96, App. 7/3/96; Ord. 286-98, App. 9/18/98; Ord. 261-06, File No. 061116, App. 10/13/2006; Ord. 99-26, File No. 260217, App. 5/29/2026, Eff. 6/29/2026)

The emergency functions of the Emergency Services organization shall be set forth in the Emergency Operations Plan of the City. Department heads responsible for planning, coordination, and integration of personnel from other City departments and agencies into their services for emergency operations shall be designated in the plan. These designated department heads shall formulate functional emergency plans which, when approved by the Disaster Council, shall become an annex to the Emergency Operations Plan. These department heads shall also develop such mutual aid agreements as may be approved by the Board of Supervisors. Departments with area-wide functions and responsibilities may become parties to joint venture emergency action agreements or compacts with the recommended approval of the Disaster Council. Purchaser of Supplies. The Purchaser of Supplies of the City and County shall be the custodian of special equipment and other property obtained from any source for use of the Emergency Services Organization. He or she is authorized to act as the agent of the City and County to receive from any agency the loan of any such equipment or property upon such conditions as may be prescribed by such agency. He or she shall keep an account of the property entrusted to his or her control according to the terms of its acceptance, and where there are no terms provided by such agency, then upon such terms as the commander may prescribe. He or she shall keep records of the receipt and distribution of such property and may issue or distribute such property only to the persons entitled thereto under the rules of the Emergency Services. Any property now held by him or her for the use of the City and County Disaster Corps shall be transferred to the use of the Emergency Services of San Francisco. American Red Cross. The American Red Cross is an independent organization that works in close collaboration with local governments on emergency and disaster relief. The Bay Area Chapter of the American Red Cross shall operate as a component of the City's Emergency Services organization and the chapter chair or the chair's designee shall serve as a liaison between the chapter and the Emergency Services organization. The chapter shall furnish basic emergency assistance to individuals affected by disaster, such as food, clothing, emergency shelter, registration, disaster welfare inquiry, supplemental basic medical services, and other types of assistance. The Red Cross, as an independent non-profit organization, shall fund all its relief activities. When requested, personnel and other resources of the Emergency Services organization may be used to supplement the Red Cross during disasters or emergencies. (Amended by Ord. 40-72, App. 2/25/72; Ord. 259-99, File No. 991364, App. 10/15/99)

The following terms as used in this Section shall have the meaning ascribed to them, as follows: "Chief" shall mean the Chief of Police. "Commission" shall mean the Police Com-mission. "Members" shall mean member of the San Francisco Police Auxiliary Reserve. "Reserve" shall mean the San Francisco Police Auxiliary Reserve. (a) The San Francisco Police Auxiliary Reserve is hereby created. The Reserve of not more than 800 members shall be under the direction of the Chief of Police and shall be subject to such rules and regulations as the Police Commission may prescribe. (b) The Commission shall, by rule, prescribe the qualifications and standards by which applicants for membership in the Reserve shall be governed. Persons possessing the qualifications and conforming to the standards may be appointed to the Reserve by the Chief. (c) Members shall perform such public service as may be ordered by the Chief. It shall be unlawful for any person wilfully to resist, delay or obstruct any member in the discharge, or the attempt to discharge, of any duties of his or her office. (d) The Reserve is hereby assigned the duty of preparing against the perils to life and property that may be expected to result from enemy attack or sabotage, or from any emergency that may threaten lives and property. Any duties assigned to its members shall be deemed to be training in preparation against such perils. (e) In the enforcement of the penal laws of the State of California, the penal ordinances of the City and County and in the performance of such other duties as may be designated by the Chief, every duly authorized member shall be deemed to have all the powers of a peace officer. (f) The approved dress, star and equipment to be worn and carried by the members shall be as determined by rule of the Commission, subject to the fiscal provisions of the Charter. (g) It shall be unlawful for any person to impersonate or falsely represent himself or herself to be a member, or, without authorization, to wear, use or possess a star used by the Reserve. (h) The Chief may dismiss a member from the Reserve, without any hearing whatsoever. Each member shall have the right to resign from the Reserve at any time (i) To be eligible for membership in the Reserve, each applicant must indicate his or her willingness to serve an average minimum of 16 hours per month in the public service. Where any member has failed to give such minimum hours of service for a period of two months, the Chief shall inquire into the reasons therefor. Unless good reason is shown for such failure to render the minimum hours herein required, the Chief may dismiss the member from the Reserve. (j) The Reserve shall be deemed to be a part of the law enforcement and traffic service of the Emergency Services organization. (k) The Commission is hereby authorized, directed and empowered to prepare and promulgate such rules, regulations and revisions, and amendments thereof, as may, in its discretion, be necessary to carry out the express intent of this Section. (Amended by Ord. 40-72, App. 2/25/72; Ord. 259-99, File No. 991364, App. 10/15/99)

The following terms as used in this Section shall have the meaning ascribed to them, as follows: "Chief" shall mean the Chief of the Fire Department. "Commission" shall mean the Fire Commission. "Member" shall mean member of the San Francisco Fire Auxiliary Reserve. "Reserve" shall mean the San Francisco Fire Auxiliary Reserve. (a) The San Francisco Fire Auxiliary Reserve is hereby created. The Reserve of not more than 800 members shall be under the direction of the Chief of the Fire Department and shall be subject to such rules and regulations as the Fire Commission may prescribe. (b) The Commission shall, by rule, prescribe the qualifications and standards by which applications for membership in the Reserve shall be governed and persons possessing the qualifications and conforming to the standards may be appointed to the Reserve by the Chief. (c) Members shall perform such public service as may be ordered by the Chief. It shall be unlawful for any person wilfully to resist,

delay, or obstruct any member in the discharge, or the attempt to discharge, of any duties of his or her office. (d) The Reserve is hereby assigned the duty of preparing against the perils to life and property that may be expected to result from enemy attack or sabotage or from any emergency that may threaten lives and property. Any duties assigned to the members shall be deemed to be training in preparation against such perils. (e) The approved dress, badge and equipment to be worn and carried by the members shall be as determined by rule of the Commission, subject to the fiscal provisions of the Charter. (f) It shall be unlawful for any person to impersonate or falsely represent himself of herself to be a member, or, without authorization, to wear, use or possess a badge used by the Reserve. (g) The Chief may dismiss a member from the Reserve, without any hearing whatsoever, and each member shall have the right to resign from the Reserve at any time. (h) To be eligible for membership in the Reserve, each applicant must indicate his or her willingness to serve an average minimum of 16 hours per month in the public service. Where any member has failed to give such minimum hours of service for a period of two months, the Chief shall inquire into the reasons therefor. Unless good reason is shown for such failure to render the minimum hours herein required, the Chief may dismiss the member from the Reserve. (i) The Reserve shall be deemed to be a part of the Auxiliary Fire Service of the Fire and Rescue Service of the Emergency Services organization. (j) The Commission is hereby authorized, directed and empowered to prepare and promulgate such rules, regulations and revisions, and amendments thereof, as may, in its discretion, be necessary to carry out the express intent of this Section. (Amended by Ord. 40-72, App. 2/25/72; Ord. 259-99, File No. 991364, App. 10/15/99)

The following terms as used in this Section shall have the meaning ascribed to them, as follows: "Contaminated" shall signify the condition wherein any person or thing has come in contact with a contaminating agent, and in so doing, has become an actual or potential menace to the health of himself or herself or that of any person by reason of such contact. "Contaminating agent" shall include, but not be specifically limited to, such items as chemical substances, bacteriological media, radiation or radio-active substances which may be employed in or result from an enemy attack or may be present within an area following a natural disaster or domestic accident. Whenever an emergency occurs in the City and County wherein it becomes evident or reasonable to assume that as a result of such emergency a contaminating agent is present within a specific area, which contaminating agent is injurious to and endangering the public health, the Director of Public Health, or his or her duly authorized representative, shall have the following powers: (a) To monitor with prescribed detection devices any person whom he or she has reason to believe has become contaminated; (b) To cause any person to discard any wearing apparel which he or she has reason to believe has become contaminated; (c) To cause any person to discard any property which monitoring or other evidence has revealed to be contaminated to a degree injurious to the health of any person; (d) To prohibit any person who is contaminated, or who is wearing contaminated clothing, from entering an uncontaminated area without undergoing prescribed decontamination procedures; (e) To cause any person who has become contaminated to undergo prescribed decontamination procedures; (f) To cause any person to vacate an area which he has reason to believe has become contaminated, or where other great menace to health resulting from such emergency exists; (g) To prohibit entry of any unauthorized person to an area where there is evidence of contamination, or where other great menace to health resulting from such emergency exists; (h) To set up areas for the reception and storage of contaminated property and materials; and (i) To prohibit any unauthorized person from removing any article which has been placed in an area for the reception and storage of contaminated property and materials. For the purpose of this Section, the Chief of Police and every police officer, and every auxiliary police reserve officer acting under the orders of the Chief of Police shall be deemed a duly authorized representative of the Director of Public Health. (Amended by Ord. 40-72, App. 2/25/72)

All persons, other than officers and employees of the City and County volunteering services pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter and the Emergency Plan, shall serve without compensation from the City and County. While engaged in such services, they shall have the same immunities as officers and employees of the City and County performing similar duties. All volunteers, other than noncitizen volunteers, shall be required to take an oath in a form to be prescribed and approved by the Disaster Council, the oath to be administered to the noncitizen volunteer worker only upon consent of the worker. Current data maintained to provide information for deployment of volunteer workers shall include the status of the oath for each such workers. (Amended by Ord. 40-72, App. 2/25/72; Ord. 259-99, File No. 991364, App. 10/15/99)

It shall be a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not to exceed $1,000, or by imprisonment for not to exceed one year, or both, for any person, during an emergency to: (a) Wilfully obstruct, hinder or delay any member of the Emergency Services in the enforcement of any lawful rule or regulation issued pursuant to this Chapter, or in the performance of any duty imposed upon him or her by virtue of this Chapter; (b) Do any act forbidden by any lawful rule or regulation issued pursuant to this Chapter, if such act is of such a nature as to give, or be likely to give, assistance to the enemy, or to imperil the lives or property of inhabitants of this City and County, or to prevent, hinder or delay the defense or protection thereof; (c) Wear, carry, or display, without authority, any means of identification specified by the Emergency Agency of the State of California or by the Director of Emergency Services for the City and County of San Francisco. (Amended by Ord. 40-72, App. 2/25/72; Ord. 259-99, File No. 991364, App. 10/15/99)

Any expenditures made in connection with emergency activities, including mutual aid activities, shall be deemed conclusively to be for the direct protection and benefit of the inhabitants and property of the City and County. (Added by Ord. 40-72, App. 2/25/72)

At least once a year, if requested by the Mayor, the Board of Supervisors, sitting as a committee of the whole, or a committee of the Board, shall hold a hearing on the state of the City's disaster preparedness. The Board may call upon any City officer, employee, or department to provide information necessary or appropriate for the hearing. (Added by Ord. 134-05, File No. 050698, App. 6/30/2005)

All City departments shall ensure that their staffs have completed personal preparedness training by December 31, 2008. All City departments shall ensure that their staffs have completed both the Department of Human Resources Disaster Service Worker (DSW) and any federally required National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command Systems (ICS) training no later than December 31, 2008. All City Departments shall annually update the contact information of all employees including home phone, personal cell phone, work phone(s), home address, work address and worker skill sets. Further, departments shall ensure that employee contact information, skill sets, required NIMS/ICS compliance and DSW training compliance data is entered into the designated Citywide Human Resource Management System each year no later than June 30. Departments shall report compliance with this section annually as part of the Performance Goals Reporting and Evaluation required by Administrative Code Chapter 88. (Added by Ord. 189-08, File No. 080774, App. 8/7/2008)