Anallim Anaheim Fire & Rescue August 22, 2019 The Honorable Kirk H. Nakamura Presiding Judge, Orange County Superior*

Lack of coordination among the involved agencies caused Emergency Public Information sent out about evacuations during the Canyon 2 fire to be inconsistent, and confused residents. Response: The City of Anaheim partially disagrees with this finding. Given the fact that this was a rapidly evolving and escalating incident involving multiple jurisdictions, coordination and communication is always going to be a challenge. However, the City of Anaheim worked hand in hand with OCFA's PIO. While Anaheim was the main source of information, OCFA maintained communication throughout the incident. A communication plan was established between the Anaheim Fire & Rescue PIO and the OCFA PIO. www.anaheim.net

Some emergency management personnel, tasked with creating and disseminating Emergency Public Information, in a rapidly-evolving, multijurisdictional emergency did not fully understand their roles and responsibilities. Response: The City of Anaheim partially disagrees with this finding. The City of Anaheim recognizes that training and exercise, to understand roles and responsibilities, is a key element to preparedness. AF&R's lead PIO is qualified by FEMA and Cal OES to serve as a Type-3 All-Hazard PIO on large scale incidents nationwide. Since that period, his qualifications have elevated to a Type-1 Trainee assigned to a Federal Type 1 Incident Management Team. Also, personnel assigned to support this function were fully engaged and understood the direction and responsibilities given. However, formal certification and multi- jurisdictional training has been identified for all levels, including support roles.

No training standards for Public Information Officers exist and there are no formal written protocols for issuance of mass notification, including required training on the use of mass notification systems. Response: The City of Anaheim agrees with this finding in that there are no common defined training standards prescribed by CalOES or FEMA for Public Information Officers. Anaheim's lead PIO for this incident will complete the FEMA Master PIO program on 9/20/19 and will be one of four graduates of the program from California who will be the only active public safety PIO in California to complete this program. As part of this course, his final thesis discusses the need for national standards and training requirements for PIOS. Therefore, the City of Anaheim is taking the initiative towards ensuring all City of Anaheim personnel working in the capacity of public information are trained to the same minimum standards established by our agency. Anaheim Police Department does have a formal written document describing the protocol for utilizing the City's mass notification tool Anaheim Alert.

The lack of a standardized written protocol for Alerts and Warnings decreases the ability of the County and its Operational Area jurisdictions to speak with one voice when it comes to alerting the public during emergencies. Response: The City of Anaheim partially disagrees with this statement. Within the Anaheim Emergency Operations Plan, roles, responsibilities, and activation procedures for the Joint Information System are described and outlined for staff working in the capacity of Public Information Officers. However, while every incident is different, the City of Anaheim will work towards developing a standardized written Alert and Warning Annex following the state and federal guidelines. Anaheim recognizes that while speaking in one voice is ideal, it is not always reflective of each jurisdictional voice and therefore encourages each jurisdictional voice be developed and heard during rapidly evolving incidents such as these, with a high level or coordination among different agencies.

The County and interviewed cities do not seek sufficient public feedback of the perceptions of effectiveness of the Emergency Public Information. Response: The City of Anaheim disagrees with this finding. Following the Canyon Fire 2 incident, several community meetings were held in east Anaheim to gather feedback and take in public comment. While more methods of public feedback can be explored, the City of Anaheim feels it did take in significant public feedback to address issues of concern following the fire.

The lack of standardized emergency management terminology among the various jurisdictions within Orange County causes delays and confusion in the dissemination of Emergency Public Information. Response: The City of Anaheim agrees with this finding and will work internally and externally to develop common terminology applicable countywide and consistent with ICS/SEMS.

Orange County jurisdictions and the California Highway Patrol lack a joint plan for evacuation routes, thus evacuations can be chaotic, creating increased potential for danger to residents. Response: The City of Anaheim agrees with this finding. However, since this incident, Anaheim Police Department has coordinated with California Highway Patrol in developing an evacuation plan of east Anaheim. Additionally, this plan was developed in coordination with Anaheim Fire & Rescue, Anaheim Public Works, local school districts, the City of Orange, OCFA, and OCSD.