Study Session:
Emergency
Management
City Council
April 25, 2023
FIRE
DEPARTMENT
This Study Session will include:
• Major events and laws impacting Emergency
Management
• California’s unique and leading approach to
Emergency Management
• How the City of Burbank fits into the larger
Emergency Management puzzle
• Burbank’s accomplishments in Emergency
Management
Major Events and Laws
Impacting Emergency
Management
California, a pioneer in Emergency Management
concepts:
• California Disaster & Civil Defense Master Mutual
Aid System
• FIRESCOPE
• California Emergency Services Act
• Standardized Emergency Management System
(SEMS)
Major changes to the Emergency Management
landscape:
• Oakland Firestorm of 1991
AKA - East Bay Hills Fire
Officially named the “Tunnel Fire”
• Mismatched equipment from neighboring and
responding agencies
• Inadequate radio capability
• No appropriate interoperable communications
Standardized Emergency
Management System (SEMS)
Senate Bill 1841 (SB1841)
Government Code 8607
Developed to improve:
• Flow of information & resources
• Coordination between responding agencies
• Rapid mobilization, deployment and
resource tracking
The 9/11 event causes sweeping change in California:
• Following the events of September 11, the 9/11
Commission Report finds communications,
interoperability issues and resource challenges
• 2003: Homeland Security Presidential Directive
(HSPD) 5 and HSPD 8 become law
HSPD 8 superseded by Presidential Policy Directive
(PPD) 8 in 2011
• HSPD 5 establishes the National Incident
Management System (NIMS)
California’s Unique and
Leading Approach to
Emergency Management
SEMS is organized into five
organizational levels:
Designed to manage incidents at
the lowest level possible!
All incidents begin and end locally:
• The vast majority of incidents a jurisdiction will
face will be handled at the “Field” and “Local
Government” level of SEMS
• All government employees are Disaster Service
Workers
• All political subdivisions must have an
Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
Operational Area Concept:
• Each of the 58 counties in California are
defined as an Operational Area
Each with a OAEOC
Disaster Management Areas
• Unique to LA County
• 88 Cities broken up into manageable
areas
• Burbank is part of
Cal OES Regional concept:
• State is broken into 3 Administrative Regions
Each with its own REOC
Cal OES State Operations Center:
• Brings State Departments together to support
local governments
How the City of Burbank Fits
Into the Larger Emergency
Management Puzzle
Emergency Management Division:
• Complexities of the City of Burbank
Verdugo Mountains, Hollywood Burbank
Airport, Rail, Studios, Natural Disasters,
Human Caused Incidents
• Dedicated position to focus solely on
the 4 stages
One City – One Mission:
• All incidents begin and end locally
• Every City Department has a role in
Emergency Management
Field and/or EOC
• Department Disaster Liaisons
• City Manager’s vision to become a model city
City Council’s role in an emergency:
• Issue a Local Emergency Proclamation
• Ratify and terminate Local Emergency
Proclamations signed by the City Manager as
the Director of Emergency Services
• Purpose of an Emergency Proclamation
Authorize the undertaking of extraordinary
measures
Authorize the issuing of orders and regulations to
protect life and property
Provide limited immunity for emergency actions
City Council’s role as the face of our City in
time of crisis:
• Primary role of liaison to the public as the
face of the City of Burbank
Understand the needs of your constituents
o Visit shelter sites
o Visit Local Assistance Centers
Demonstrate a capable government to perform
in a crisis by reassuring the public
Reaffirm the City’s public messaging
Neighbor Helping Neighbor and Regional
Collaboration:
• Tri-City
• Area C Joint Powers Authority
• Tri-Area collaboration
Burbank’s Accomplishments
In Emergency Management
Proactive Approach:
• Volunteer program
Recognized by California Emergency Services
Association (CESA)
• Community engagement
Community meetings, PSA’s, community training
Recognized by CESA
• Lean forward approach to response and
recovery efforts
Saved or recovered thousands of dollars
Strategic advantage in response
Early Adoption and Innovation of Emergency
Management Technology:
• Lead development efforts for customized
platform for Area C
• Moving to a Geographic Information System
(GIS) based Situational Awareness & Common
Operating Picture platform developed
specifically for Burbank
Area C partners and several other local
jurisdictions following this development and
implementation process
Emergency Management Training & Vision:
• Conduct in-house training
Curriculum developed for Burbank is now being
used as a “best practice” and the curriculum for
Cal OES’s CSTI EOC training program
• Developed standardized EOC procedures
generally used throughout Area C
• Developing a new modern take on the EOC
“Planning P” and forms being used in the EOC
Area C & D partners, as well as Cal OES CSTI, are
very interested in the results
City of Burbank Emergency Management will
continue to evolve and focus on innovation in
mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery!
ERIC BAUMGARDNER
Emergency Management Administrator
City of Burbank Fire Department
[email protected]
818-238-3350