Disaster Preparedness: Is Orange County Ready? 1. Summary Abbreviations a recent Los Angeles Times article headlined

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Westminster should include representa- tives from supervision and appropriate field (1) The respondent agrees with the finding. operations in quarterly “tabletop” exercises; (2) The respondent disagrees wholly or CERT volunteers should help to set up the partially with the finding, in which case EOC during activation and be included in” the response shall specify the portion of the tabletop” exercises. finding that is disputed and shall include an

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Costa Mesa should find a backup EOC explanation of the reasons therefore. location that is not within the Civic Center (b) For purposes of subdivision (b) of Section complex. 933, as to each grand jury recommendation, the

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Santa Ana should recruit and train CERT responding person or entity shall report one of the volunteers and staff located in the Public following actions: Works Administration Building to help set (1) The recommendation has been imple- up the EOC during activation. Firefighters mented, with a summary regarding the from station #3 should be utilized to evalu- implemented action. ate emergency needs throughout the city. (2) The recommendation has not yet been

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Although the time taken to set up San Clem- implemented, but will be implemented in ente’s EOC to make it operational has been the future, with a timeframe for implemen- deemed adequate, the city should consider tation. adding wiring and permanent displays to the (3) The recommendation requires further EOC facility to reduce setup time. analysis, with an explanation and the scope

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Orange County and its municipalities should and parameters of an analysis or study, and continue to make public safety and disaster a timeframe for the matter to be prepared preparedness the number one priority. Public for discussion by the officer or head of the education should be stressed through www. agency or department being investigated readyoc.org and emergency management or reviewed, including the governing body expos. of the public agency when applicable. This Responses to Recommendation R.2 are re- timeframe shall not exceed six months from quired from the Mayor, City of Westminster. the date of publication of the grand jury Responses to Recommendation R.3 are required report. from the Mayor, City of Costa Mesa. Responses (4) The recommendation will not be imple- to Recommendation R.4 are required from the mented because it is not warranted or is not Mayor, City of Santa Ana. Responses to Recom- reasonable, with an explanation therefore. mendation R.5 are required from the Mayor, City of San Clemente. 8. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 7. REQUIRED RESPONSES The 2009-2010 Orange County Grand Jury acknowledges the following individuals and organi- The California Penal Code specifies the required zations for their assistance in compiling this report: permissible responses to the findings and recom- City of Anaheim – Ellen Lopez, Manager, Office mendations contained in this report. The specific of Disaster Preparedness. sections are quoted below: City of Costa Mesa – Elizabeth Edlemon, Direc- §933.05 tor, Emergency Services. Page  2009-2010 Orange County Grand Jury City of Mission Viejo – Paul Catsimanes, Public those who live or work in Orange County informed Service Administrative Manager. of important information during emergency events and has the capability of quickly sending time-sensi- City of Santa Ana – Captain Steve Snyder, tive emergency voice messages from public safety Emergency Management. officials to your home, cell or business phone. City of San Clemente – Jen Tucker, Emergency WebEOC – A web-based (Extranet) program Planning Officer. being hosted by the Operational Area EOC with City of Westminster – Rebecca Barlow, Emer- redundant systems at Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine gency Preparedness. and Huntington Beach, available to all cities and the Orange County Fire Authority – Battalion Chief State, enables communication between jurisdictions. Mike Fertig, Emergency Planning. Includes displaying of significant events, resource John Wayne Airport – Allen Murphy, Airport tracking, and latest situation status and activity logs. Director; Jim Ellis, Administrative Manager, Provides a list of all employee contacts for the city, Emergency Preparedness CERT volunteers and allows members to monitor from home. Emergency Management Bureau (Loma Ridge) – Donna Boston, Emergency Manager. CERT – Community Emergency Response Team: Program educates people about disaster pre- Orange County Water District – Kelly Hubbard, paredness for hazards that may impact their area and Emergency Response Organization. trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station – Deb- fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, bie Knight, Corporate Communications South- and disaster medical operations. Using the training ern California Edison learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or 9.