Cities and Joint Powers Committee Robert Carlson Brad Aguilu Dwayne Ardis (Chairperson) Mission Statement Pursuant to

Comments 5

• CO1
  The City of California City should post a copy of this report where it will be available for public review
• CO2
  Persons wishing to receive an email notification of newly released reports may sign up at: kerncounty.com/grandjury
• CO3
  Present and past Kern County Grand Jury Final Reports and Responses can be accessed on the Kern County Grand Jury website: kerncounty.com/grandjury 2019-2020 Kern County Grand Jury Report REQUIRED RESPONSES WITHIN 90 DAYS TO: PRESIDING JUDGE KERN COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT 1415 TRUXTUN AVENUE, SUITE 212 BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301 FOREPERSON KERN COUNTY GRAND JURY 1415 TRUXTUN AVENUE, SUITE 600 BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301 Reports issued by the Grand Jury do not identify individuals interviewed. Penal Code section 929 requires that reports of the Grand Jury not contain the name of any person or facts leading to the identity of any person who provides information to the Grand Jury. 2019-2020 Kern County Grand Jury Report APPENDIX A 2019-2020 Kern County Grand Jury Report CITY OF RIDGECREST A Whole Lot of Shaking Going On SUMMARY: On July 4, 2019, the City of Ridgecrest suffered an earthquake foreshock measuring 6.4 on the Richter Scale, followed by a 7.1 earthquake on July 5, 2019. Merchandise fell off shelves, a roof collapsed at a movie theatre, and some mobile homes fell off foundations. Gas lines were reported broken, but fortunately only three caught fire. Power lines were knocked down, while sewer and water line conditions were unknown. The Kern County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) quickly initiated a Level 2 activation, and emergency services throughout Kern County sprang into action to render aid and assistance to the Ridgecrest area. Police Departments from all over Kern County sent Peace Officers to Ridgecrest to assist in maintaining law and order. The Kern County Fire Department and Cal-Fire responded with firetrucks and personnel in case any fires broke out. The Kern County Sheriff Office dispatched a helicopter to assist in locating damage and problem areas. PURPOSE OF INQUIRY: The Cities and Joint Powers Committee (Committee) of the 2019-2020 Kern County Grand Jury (Grand Jury) inquired into the Kern County Emergency Operation Services (EOS) along with the City of Ridgecrest (City) emergency response program, pursuant to California Penal Code section 925a, to determine if the response was sufficient and performed effectively. METHODOLOGY: The Committee researched newspaper, TV news reports, and internet news sources to learn about the damage and recovery efforts made by various agencies and the City. The Committee visited with the City staff and toured the City. The Committee also interviewed personnel at the EOC center located in Bakersfield. DISCUSSION OF FACTS: The City has a prepared Emergency Response Plan in the event of natural disasters, technological incidents, and national security emergencies. This plan is based on the functions and principles of the California Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS), the California Incident Command System (ICS), and the National Incident Management System (NIMS), which identifies how the Ridgecrest emergency operational system fits into the overall SEMS during response and recovery operations. This addresses how the City will respond to extraordinary events or disasters, from preparation through recovery. Special districts and other agencies serving the City are 2019-2020 Kern County Grand Jury 71 responsible for following this plan, and developing procedures to fulfill their own stated responsibilities. The City of Ridgecrest is responsible for emergency response within its geographical boundaries. The California Emergency Services Act requires a “city to manage and coordinate the overall emergency response and recovery activities within its jurisdiction. During disasters, the city is required to coordinate emergency operations with the county Operational Area OES, and through the county, with Cal OES Inland Region and, in some instances, other operational areas and local governments.” (See Appendices A and B) Under SEMS, the City has responsibilities at two levels, Field Response and Local Government levels:  At the Field Response level, all agencies will use the ICS to standardize the emergency response  The City EOC is used as the central location for gathering and disseminating information, coordinating all jurisdictional emergency operations, and coordinating with the Cal OES Inland Region EOC  The County EOC is a centralized location to support multi-agency and/or multi- jurisdiction disaster response coordination and communication. The County EOC serves as the designated point of contact between the jurisdictions within the County, as well as between the State and the Operational Area FINDINGS: F1. The strongest foreshock, 6.4, occurred July 4, 2019, at 10:33 AM PST:  Merchandise fell off shelves  Several mobile homes fell off foundations  Some gas lines broke but only three caught fire  A few power lines fell down  Water and sewer line conditions were unknown F2. The City of Ridgecrest Police Department initiated the Emergency Response System:  Notified the Kern County Emergency Operations Center Kern County Sheriff’s Office dispatched additional deputies and o a helicopter Kern County Fire Department dispatched extra firefighters and o equipment  Bakersfield Police Department and other cities dispatched law enforcement officers to provide extra security  Utility companies were notified Power line and gas crews were dispatched to initiate repairs o Power was restored in about six hours o Gas leaks were repaired as they were located o 2019-2020 Kern County Grand Jury 72  City Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) was temporarily disabled County EOC was notified to redirect local 911 calls to the o County 911 call center  Building Inspectors from the County and other cities were brought in to inspect every building for earthquake damage and habitability  City Public Works Department was notified Water pumps were found to be operating normally and water o leaks were repaired by the Indian Wells Valley Water District Sewage treatment plant at the Naval Air Weapons Station o China Lake was damaged, resulting in no sewer service for two days Roadways were inspected and damages were reported o F3. A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck July 5, 2019, at 8:19 PM PST, followed by more than 3,000 aftershocks:  A roof collapsed at a movie theater  Multiple County Fire Department and Cal-Fire trucks that had been released to return home were called back to continue their fire watch  All other County agencies remained on scene F4. The Kern County Emergency Operations Center was activated by the EOC Director, who by county ordinance is the Kern County Fire Chief & Director of Emergency Services. When the EOC was activated, the EOC Director, Section Chiefs, and Management staff used the conference room to receive regular briefings, establish emergency management priorities, review current objectives, plan future objectives, and formulate the EOC Action Plan. The equipment in the room allowed staff to review information from the field, monitor EOC activities, and teleconference with staff within the Operational Area and at the State level:  Once the earthquake was reported, the EOC immediately went to a Level 2 activation Level 1- A minor to moderate incident where local resources o are adequate and available. A Local Emergency may or may not be proclaimed Level 2- A moderate to severe emergency where local o resources are not adequate and mutual aid may be required on a regional or statewide basis. A Local Emergency will be proclaimed and a State of Emergency may also be proclaimed Level 3- A major disaster where resources in or near the o impacted area are overwhelmed and extensive, State and/or Federal resources are required. A Local Emergency and a State of Emergency will be proclaimed and a Presidential Declaration of Emergency or Major Disaster will be requested 2019-2020 Kern County Grand Jury 73  Various County personnel and civilian volunteers were called in to man the EOC to begin coordinating and relaying information and resources to the Ridgecrest area  Emergency personnel and equipment including city and County building inspectors were dispatched, as well as various utility companies to aid in the recovery  Under mutual aid, building inspectors were sent to assist the City of Ridgecrest from multiple jurisdictions, including: Kern County and Cities of Bakersfield, Shafter, Tehachapi, California City, Lancaster, Palmdale, Paramount, Santa Clarita and Stockton F5. A review of the Ridgecrest Emergency Operations Plan revealed the last revision date was June 2013. COMMENTS: The Committee was impressed and commends the City of Ridgecrest, Kern County EOC, Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Kern County Fire Department, Bakersfield Police Department, other police departments within Kern County, and every citizen who responded to render aid to the City of Ridgecrest.
• CO4
  The City of Ridgecrest, County of Kern, and the City of Bakersfield should post a copy of this report where it will be available for public review
• CO5
  The City of Shafter should post a copy of this report where it will be available for public review

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