Kern County Grand Jury • 2025-2026

Kern County Fire Department Office of Emergency Services Disaster Readiness - Preparedness is On You

Published: January 27, 2026 21 pages

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Findings 12 findings

Not all Kern County cities have current disaster plans, leading to an inability to coordinate with the OES.

The County does not have a permanent Manager for the critical Office of Emergency Services. This position relies upon interpersonal communication for the efficient response to emergencies and has been left vacant for months.

The OES has a state-of-the-art facility, and there is no apparent need for further upgrades at this time.

The OES uses tabletop practices for disaster response but does not practice real- time field exercises.

ReadyKern notification and Genasys Protect systems do not have the ability for registrants to note disabilities or the need for special transport when registering. This could lead to delays in evacuation. (Addendums C and D)

There are not sufficient coordinated efforts by the County and cities to inform residents about the need to prepare for a disaster; thus, many residents are unaware of the need to have disaster plans.

The OES has 10 emergency trailers: Three are Americans with Disability Act (ADA) equipped, one is a specialized ADA shower trailer. The remaining six are shelter supply trailers. This appears to be sufficient to meet the current disaster needs of the County. (Addendum E)

The Kern County Sheriff’s Office is implementing a new software program that allows deputies to use drop-down menus on cell phones to geolocate all residences and notify their command centers that contact has or has not been made. This system does not coordinate with Genasys or the OES.

The County Emergency Operations Plan is specific in stating, “All Kern County residents share responsibility for minimizing the impacts of disasters on the community….” Therefore, the expectations are that residents should be responsible for their own welfare.

F10

County residents have been asked to have Go Bags ready should they need to evacuate. Currently, it is estimated that less than 10% of residents have a Go Bag prepared.

F11

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has historically been a major funder and driver of disaster preparedness. It is unknown how federal administration policies will affect FEMA’s programs and their impact on OES.

F12

The County has plans for the notification, transport to, and placement in shelters for the elderly, handicapped, and disabled residents. The County does not have a reliable program for residents to pre-notify the OES of special needs in the event of a disaster.

Recommendations 8

R1

By June 1, 2026, all incorporated cities in the County should have current Emergency Plans in place. The plans must be reviewed every 4 years. The plans should be coordinated with other local and regional authorities. (Finding F1)
R2

A field exercise incorporating the OES, along with local city resources, should be held at a minimum once every four years, allowing bottom-up input from on-the- ground responders. The first such exercise should occur not later than December 1, 2026. (Finding F4)
R3

The OES Manager is a critical position for the safety of residents. This position should never be left vacant and needs priority hiring. The process requires urgent attention and should be fully completed no later than April 1, 2026. (Finding F2)
R4

By June 1, 2026, a resident-friendly registration system should be implemented to prevent confusion and allow consistent, reliable communication of emergency notices to the public. (Findings F5, F6)
R5

By June 1, 2026, the Department of Aging and Adult Services should provide basic disaster response training to all In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) staff. The IHSS should be encouraged to inform their clients about disaster preparation. (Findings F6, F9, F10)
R6

The KCSO’s new geo-location software should be fully implemented and automatically update the OES command in real time. This should be completed by November 1, 2026. (Finding F8).
R7

Elderly and disabled residents should be assisted with preparing Go Bags by County or City volunteers. The Department of Aging and Adult Services should implement this by June 1, 2026. (Finding F6, F10)
R8

The ReadyKern form should include an option for residents to note they need assistance in emergencies. This should be implemented by April 1, 2026. (Finding F5) COMMENTS: The Grand Jury would like to thank the City and County staff who took time to answer many questions. They provided valuable insight into the management of disasters, particularly in responding to the needs of the disabled, non-ambulatory, and elderly. The staff were professional and courteous at all times, and have been directly responsible for protecting and, in some instances, saving residents’ lives in times of emergency. NOTES: • The Kern County Board of Supervisors should post a copy of this report where it will be available for public review. • Persons wishing to receive an email notification of newly released reports may sign up at: https://www.kerncounty.com/grandjury • Present and past Kern County Grand Jury Final Reports and Responses can be accessed on the Kern County Grand Jury website https://www.kerncounty.com/grandjury RESPONSE DEADLINE: • REQUESTED WITHIN 90 DAYS FROM: The Kern County Board of Supervisors. Findings F1 - F12, Recommendations R1 - R8. • REQUESTED WITHIN 90 DAYS FROM: Kern County Fire Department.