Agenda Item   

AGENDA STAFF REPORT

 

                                                                                                                        ASR Control  25-000903

 

MEETING DATE:

12/16/25

legal entity taking action:

Board of Supervisors

board of supervisors district(s):

All Districts

SUBMITTING Agency/Department:

Sheriff-Coroner   (Approved)

Department contact person(s):

Cory Martino (714) 647-1817 

 

 

Michelle Anderson (714) 628-7158

 

 

Subject:  County of Orange and Orange County Operational Area Unified Emergency Operations

 

     ceo CONCUR

County Counsel Review

Clerk of the Board

          Concur

Approved Resolution to Form

Discussion

 

 

3 Votes Board Majority

 

 

 

    Budgeted: N/A

Current Year Cost:  N/A

Annual Cost: N/A

 

 

 

    Staffing Impact:

No

# of Positions:           

Sole Source:   N/A

    Current Fiscal Year Revenue: N/A

   Funding Source:    N/A

County Audit in last 3 years: No

   Levine Act Review Completed: N/A

 

    Prior Board Action:         3/12/2024 #5, 11/16/2021 #13, 8/27/2019 #4, 2/14/2017 #7

 

RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):

 

 

1.

Adopt by Resolution the County of Orange and Orange County Operational Area Unified Emergency Operations Plan, as approved by the Emergency Management Council and the Operational Area Executive Board.

 

2.

Authorize the Chairperson to execute the Letter of Promulgation.

 

 

 

 

 

SUMMARY:

 

Adoption of the County of Orange and Orange County Operational Area Unified Emergency Operations Plan  (“Plan”) by proposed Resolution and the execution of the Letter of Promulgation will: provide for consistent emergency planning, operations, and recovery across the jurisdictions within Orange County; ensure that the County is in compliance with the California Emergency Services Act, local Emergency Services Ordinance, and the Orange County Operational Area Agreement; establish public policy to protect community members, critical facilities infrastructure, private property and the environment from hazards in the unincorporated areas of the County and County-owned facilities; and ensure the County's continued eligibility for disaster relief funds from the Federal and State government.

 

 

 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

 

The County is required to maintain a comprehensive emergency operations plan per the California Emergency Services Act, the Orange County (OC) Ordinance (Title 3, Division 1, Article 1, Section 3-1-7),  and the Orange County Operational Area Agreement. 

 

Prior to 2017, the County maintained two emergency operations plans. The first was a County-only plan which covered the unincorporated areas and countywide disasters where County agencies had primary responsibility or authorities. The second was an Operational Area plan where the County served as the lead organization for all jurisdictions within the County. The County of Orange Emergency Operations Plan and the OC Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan were consolidated into a unified document (Plan) in 2017. The Plan outlines improved coordination of information amongst jurisdictions and provides for the powers, duties and functional assignments of the County of Orange emergency organization. The Board of Supervisors (Board) adopted resolutions approving prior Unified County of Orange and Orange County Operational Emergency Operations Plans on March 12, 2024, November 16, 2021, August 27, 2019, February 14, 2017, June 24, 2014, August 3, 2004, and September 30, 1997.

  

In March 2025, the Plan revision process began, including researching updates to the County hazards, updating Emergency Operations Center positions, and assessing the Plan using the Federal Emergency Management Agency Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101 (v.3.1, May 2025) and the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) Standards. Stakeholders, including the Emergency Management Council Subcommittee (EMC-S, all County agencies) and the Orange County Emergency Management Organization (OCEMO, all jurisdictions), participated in planning meetings and provided input into the revision. The Plan includes all annexes and procedures that were adopted from 2021 through the present. To incorporate Whole Community planning, and to meet the intent of AB2311, the Plan and its annexes are reviewed by the Orange County Operational Area Disabilities, Access and Functional Needs Working Group as part of the revision cycle. The revision was completed in October 2025. The Plan was approved by the EMC and OC Operational Area Executive Board on November 12, 2025. 

 

The revised Plan presented for consideration today includes a table of revisions. Highlights of those changes include:

•

Updated the disclosure and exemptions to include the California Government Code

•

Added a table specific to Orange County proclaimed disasters

•

Updated hazard profiles

-Added three new hazard profiles: Air Quality, Electromagnetic Pulse Attack, and  Geomagnetic Storm/Space Weather

•

Updated the Hazard Analysis table, probability of occurrence

•

Added a Care and Shelter Field Liaison position

•

Added a section on transitioning to the recovery phase after an incident

•

Updated the Alert and Warning language

•

Updated information on the mutual aid systems for the Medical and Health, Social Services, and Water/Wastewater systems

•

Updated information related to the Collaborative Organizations Active in Disasters (COAD) and the CERT Mutual Aid Program (CMAP)

 

The Sheriff-Coroner Department, on behalf of the County of Orange Emergency Management Council and the Orange County Operational Area Executive Board, requests that the Board adopt the Plan by Resolution and to authorize the Chairperson to execute the Letter of Promulgation.

 

 

 

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

 

N/A

 

 

 

STAFFING IMPACT:

 

N/A

 

ATTACHMENT(S):

 

Attachment A - 2025 Unified County & Operational Area Unified Emergency Operations Plan
Attachment B - Orange County Ordinance, Title 3, Division 1, Article 1, Section 3-1-7
Attachment C - EMC and OC Operational Area Executive Board Promulgation Letter
Attachment D - Draft Resolution
Attachment E - Draft Letter of Promulgation