CAO Emergency Services
0001-101315
Division Overview
The Office of Emergency Services (OES) is a department housed in the County Administrator's Office which acts as the lead agency fulfilling the County's requirements under the Emergency Services Act to coordinate the County government's role in response to disaster or critical event, whether it is a natural or man-made emergency. The OES serves as the emergency management agency for the County and the lead agency that fulfills the county’s requirements under the Emergency Services Act (Govt. code Section 8550 et. Seq.). OES also follows County Ordinance Code Chapter 2.40.
The purpose of OES is to coordinate emergency preparedness, response, and recovery within Tuolumne County. OES works collaboratively with other county departments, other jurisdictional partners, and the community to fulfill its purpose. Funding from an annual allocation of Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) funds are used to cover costs.
Allocated Positions by Year
Organizational Chart
Adopted Budget By Year
* Each department is part of a "Fund". Many times, a department or even a fund may show greater expense then revenues for the current fiscal year. This does not account for money that was not spent in prior years, also known as "beginning fund balance". When creating the annual budget Counties are required by law to adopt a balanced budget, meaning the total expense cannot exceed the sum of revenue plus beginning fund balances.
Recent Accomplishments
• OES coordinated Firewise educational booths on multiple occasions, assisted with creating Firewise Communities within Tuolumne County.
• Provided staff support to the newly formed BOS Fire Safety Advisory Committee that meets monthly with local stakeholders and members of the public to discuss important issues such as education and outreach, evacuation planning and any governance issues that pertain to Fire Safety.
• Provided staff support to both Natural Resources Committee and Water Policy Advisory Committees that meet regularly to advise the BOS on multiple issues.
• Coordinated with Operational Area partners and key stakeholders within Tuolumne County on issues such as Fire, Drought, COVID, Extreme Temperature, Tree Mortality etc.
• OES staff coordinated and attended monthly meetings with Operational Area stakeholders, Fire Chiefs Association, Public Health Care and Safety Coalition, SWIFT, among others in an effort to coordinate emergency services within Tuolumne County.
• Coordinated and facilitated monthly Body of 5 meetings made up of Tuolumne County Sheriff, Tuolumne County Fire, Tuolumne County public Health, Sonora City Fire, Sonora City Police, that oversees Homeland Security Grant funds.
• Developed and applied for grants such as CCI Fire Prevention, Cal OES Mitigation Project funding among others for the Office of Emergency Services.
• Coordinated video project with County Sheriff, County Fire and Stanislaus National Forest to inform residents and visitors on preparedness and emergency alert notification system.
• Successfully managed multiple grants including Cal OES Hazard Mitigation Plan Grant, Cal OES Emergency Management Performance Grant, CCI Fire Prevention Grant and CCI Forest Health Grant.
• Provided coordination for response during several county wide events such as Fire, PSPS, Winter Storm, COVID, Extreme Temperature and Drought Proclamations.
• Reinstated Tuolumne County Drought Task Force meetings to coordinate drought response with county partners.
• Increased education and outreach through Tuolumne County OES webpage and Tuolumne County OES Facebook page.
Top Departmental Concerns
- Emergency Operations Center
- Need for county wide staffing plan to ensure adequate support during an emergency or disaster. This includes needed training for county employees in ICS and EOC Planning that will better prepare employees for a possible role in the EOC during an emergency.
- Replacement of outdated AV equipment for the EOC that is paramount to efficiently coordinating the County's response to any potential disaster or emergency.
- Purchase of computer equipment and supplies dedicated to improve efficiency of EOC.
- Office of Emergency Services
- Need for increased training of OES staff to assist with departmental goals.
- Need for designated OES vehicle to respond to or have available during emergencies.
- Need for additional funding to work on updating Emergency Operations Plan, Hazard Mitigation Plan, Continuity of Operations Plan, and Evacuation Planning maps as needed.
- Volunteers
- Need for trained volunteers prior to, during or after an emergency or disaster.
- Funding for CERT and volunteer program for training, equipment and supplies.
Looking Forward- Planning Goals
- Continue to seek out funding for:
- Update of emergency services plans such as Emergency Operations Plan, Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan, Continuity of Operations Plan etc.
- AV equipment replacement in Emergency Operations Center
- Training of county employees to staff EOC during an emergency
- Acquisition of a designated OES vehicle
- Hazardous fuels reduction work
- Wildfire Mitigation funding
- CERT and Volunteer Program training, equipment and supplies.
- Continue to work collaboratively and openly with local partners and interested stakeholders through Operational Area Briefings and meetings with the Public.
- Update of Tuolumne County Evacuation Pamphlet.
- Continue outreach to communities and organizations about preparedness, firewise, evacuations and emergency alert notification.
- Improve volunteer program
- Increasing volunteer recruitment outreach and program development
- Provide training and coordination for volunteers
- Develop CERT training program for interested volunteers within Tuolumne County