CITY OF SALINAS
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN
ALL-HAZARDS BASE PLAN AND ANNEXES
Plan owner
Effective date
Operational framework
Salinas Fire Department
September 2026
SEMS • NIMS • ICS
PLAN STATUS Final operational plan. Controlled appendices contain sensitive and frequently updated information and are distributed only to authorized personnel.
PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION VERSION
Promulgation and Approval
Executive adoption of the Citywide emergency management framework This Emergency Operations Plan establishes the system used by the City of Salinas to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of emergencies. It applies to every City department, employee assigned an emergency role, contractor operating under City direction, and participating partner while supporting City operations.
The City uses the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS), the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and the Incident Command System (ICS). Department heads maintain trained personnel, current procedures, and resources necessary to perform the assignments in this plan. The City Manager, acting as Director of Emergency Services, directs Citywide emergency policy and may activate the Emergency Operations Center or delegate activation authority to the Fire Chief/Emergency Services Coordinator or designee.
This plan supersedes prior City emergency operations plans upon approval. Department emergency procedures remain in force when consistent with this plan.
Approval
Name / title
Signature
Date
Executive
City Manager / Director of Emergency Services
Operational
Fire Chief / Emergency Services Coordinator
Legal form
City Attorney
Adoption
Mayor / City Council
Plan control
Item
Requirement
Owner
Salinas Fire Department, Emergency Management function
Comprehensive review
Three years from the date of adoption and every three years thereafter Interim maintenance
Annual review each September and after every EOC activation, exercise, or material legal/organizational change Contact verification
Quarterly for controlled rosters and partner contacts
Distribution
Public base plan; controlled appendices restricted to authorized City and response personnel Change authority
Administrative updates by the Fire Chief/Emergency Services Coordinator; policy changes approved by the City Manager and governing body as required Record of Changes and Distribution
Version
Date
Description
Authority
2026.0
September 2026
Complete all-hazards update; Salinas hazard data, finalized functional and hazard annexes, department assignments, public-warning standard, continuity, recovery, and controlled appendices.
City of Salinas
Distribution
Copy
Recipient
Version
Master
Fire Department emergency management records
Complete controlled plan
Executive
City Manager, City Attorney, department directors
Controlled plan
Operations
EOC section coordinators and alternates
Controlled plan
Partners
Monterey County OES and designated response partners
Relevant operational portions
Public
City website and public records
Base plan and non-sensitive annexes
Table of Contents
Section
Title
Part I
Base Plan
1 Purpose, Scope, Authorities, and Planning Basis
2 Situation and Salinas Hazard Profile
3 Concept of Operations
4 SEMS/NIMS Organization and EOC Operations
5 City Department Responsibilities
6 Information, Communications, and Public Warning
7 Resource Management, Finance, and Mutual Aid
8 Continuity of Government and Essential Services
9 Recovery and Plan Maintenance
Part II
Functional Annexes
A
Direction, Control, and EOC Operations
B
Public Information, Alert and Warning
C
Evacuation, Transportation, and Reentry
D
Mass Care, Shelter, and Human Services
E
Fire, Rescue, Emergency Medical, and Hazardous Materials F
Law Enforcement and Security
G
Public Works and Infrastructure
H
Logistics and Resource Management
I
Finance, Administration, and Cost Recovery
J
Continuity of Government and Operations
K
Damage Assessment and Recovery
L
Access and Functional Needs
Part III
Hazard Annexes
M
Earthquake and Liquefaction
N
Flood, Severe Weather, and El Niño
O
Dam Failure
P
Wildfire, Smoke, Extreme Heat, and Drought
Q
Cyberattack, Utility Interruption, and Communications Failure R
Public Health, Water Contamination, and Agricultural Emergency S
Targeted Violence, Terrorism, and Civil Disturbance
T
Airport Emergency Coordination
Part IV
Checklists and Controlled Appendices
Executive Summary
The City of Salinas manages emergencies through one scalable all-hazards system. Field incidents remain under ICS command. The Emergency Operations Center coordinates policy, information, resources, continuity, and interagency support. The City Manager serves as Director of Emergency Services. The Fire Chief/Emergency Services Coordinator manages preparedness and EOC readiness and serves as EOC Director when designated.
The plan is organized around life safety, incident stabilization, protection of property and the environment, continuity of essential services, and equitable recovery. It incorporates Salinas-specific risks from the Monterey County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan and local community risk assessments. Drought and water shortage, earthquake, and cyberattack are the highest-ranked City hazards. Immediate life-safety planning also addresses flooding and severe winter storms, dam failure, hazardous-materials releases, wildfire and smoke, extreme heat, utility interruption, epidemics, water contamination, targeted violence, and airport emergencies.
OPERATIONAL PRIORITY Protect life first; stabilize the incident; maintain essential City services; communicate verified protective actions in English and Spanish; document decisions, costs, and damage from the start; and begin recovery during response.
1. Purpose, Scope, Authorities, and Planning Basis
1.1 Purpose
This plan directs coordinated City operations for incidents that exceed routine departmental capability, require multi-department coordination, threaten continuity of government, or require significant public protective action. It defines authorities, responsibilities, activation levels, information flow, resource processes, continuity requirements, and recovery functions.
1.2 Scope
All natural, technological, public-health, infrastructure, cyber, and human-caused hazards affecting Salinas.
Preparedness, response, short-term recovery, continuity, and the transition to long-term recovery.
City departments, elected officials, employees, volunteers and contractors assigned to City operations, and partner agencies operating through mutual aid or unified coordination.
Incidents within the City and regional incidents that affect City services, transportation, utilities, supply chains, or mutual-aid capacity.
1.3 Authorities and doctrine
California Emergency Services Act, Government Code section 8550 et seq.
California Disaster Assistance Act and applicable regulations.
California Standardized Emergency Management System regulations, Title 19, California Code of Regulations.
National Incident Management System and Incident Command System.
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.
Americans with Disabilities Act; Rehabilitation Act; applicable civil-rights and language-access requirements.
City of Salinas Municipal Code and resolutions establishing emergency authorities.
California State Emergency Plan and Monterey County emergency plans and mutual-aid systems.
1.4 Planning assumptions
The first operational period may begin with incomplete information, damaged communications, limited staffing, and delayed mutual aid.
Multiple incidents may occur simultaneously, and roads, utilities, hospitals, dispatch support, and City facilities may be degraded.
Residents will require rapid, repeated, accessible information in English and Spanish through primary and backup channels.
Departments retain statutory and routine authorities while coordinating through the EOC.
Private, nonprofit, school, healthcare, utility, agricultural, and community partners are essential to effective operations.
Every department maintains at least two trained EOC representatives and succession for essential functions.
2. Situation and Salinas Hazard Profile
Salinas is the Monterey County seat and a regional center for government, agriculture, transportation, healthcare, education, and commerce. Highway 101, state highways, rail, the Salinas Municipal Airport, agricultural processing, fixed hazardous-materials sites, creeks, drainage systems, the Salinas River, and regional utility networks create both capabilities and dependencies.
2.1 Ranked City hazards
Hazard
Score
Risk
Principal operational consequence
Drought / water shortage
13.6 High
Water supply, public health, agriculture, continuity
Earthquake
13.3 High
Citywide damage, liquefaction, access, utilities
Cyberattack
12.7 High
City systems, dispatch support, records, public information Epidemic / pandemic
11.7 Substantial
Health guidance, workforce continuity, medical surge
Agricultural emergency
11.5 Substantial
Economic disruption; impacts on workers and food systems Water contamination
11.1 Substantial
Warning, alternate water, health protection
Hazardous materials
10.9 Substantial
Fixed sites, Highway 101, rail, protective actions
Utility interruption / PSPS
10.6 Substantial
Power, communications, transportation, critical facilities Targeted violence
10.3 Substantial
Life safety, unified command, family assistance
Localized stormwater flooding
10.1 Substantial
Creeks, drainage, roads, evacuation, shelter
Wildfire
9.8 Moderate
Urban interface, smoke, public health
Severe winter storms
9.7 Moderate
Flood, wind, outages, sustained operations
Additional assessed hazards include windstorm, flash flood, terrorism, dam failure, extreme cold and freeze, extreme heat, riverine flooding, mass migration, invasive species, coastal flooding, sea-level rise, slope failure, levee failure, and coastal erosion. Salinas is not within a mapped tsunami inundation zone; regional tsunami impacts may still affect transportation, mutual aid, shelter demand, and supply chains.
2.2 Key exposure indicators
Exposure
Salinas planning figure
Earthquake
32,057 buildings; approximately $12.42 billion combined value High liquefaction susceptibility
40,954 people; 2 emergency response, 5 medical, 24 government, and 67 communication facilities; approximately 80 road miles Moderate liquefaction susceptibility
24,168 people
1% annual-chance floodplain
15,415 people; 502 residential and 704 nonresidential buildings; approximately $723.1 million combined value; approximately 21 road miles
0.2% annual-chance floodplain
130,440 people
Nacimiento Dam inundation scenario
10,545 people; medical, government, communication facilities and approximately 33 road miles San Antonio Dam inundation scenario
8,825 people; medical, educational, government, communication facilities and approximately 31 road miles Known flood and access concerns include Carr Lake, Cesar Chavez Park, Gabilan Creek, Natividad Creek, Alisal Creek, the Reclamation Ditch, the Salinas River, Sherwood Park Mobile Home Park, Kern Street, Market Street, Merced Street, Williams Road, and the area downstream of Carr Lake.
3. Concept of Operations
3.1 Operating principles
Field command controls tactical operations through ICS.
The EOC supports field command, coordinates departments, develops common operating information, obtains resources, maintains continuity, and connects the City to the Monterey County Operational Area.
The Policy Group establishes emergency policy, priorities, declarations, extraordinary authorities, and public accountability.
The Joint Information System delivers coordinated, verified, accessible public information.
Planning begins for recovery, cost documentation, and continuity during the first operational period.
3.2 Readiness and activation
Condition
City posture
Minimum actions
Routine / Seasonal
Normal operations with heightened seasonal maintenance
Maintain rosters; inspect equipment and facilities; public preparedness; monitor hazards Elevated
Credible threat or 5–7 day severe-weather signal
Daily coordination; verify staffing; stage equipment; initiate public updates; brief executives Level 3 — Monitoring
Limited event requiring enhanced coordination
EOC Manager and selected functions; situation reporting; resource tracking Level 2 — Partial
Multi-department event or likely protective action
Activate needed EOC sections; operational periods; incident action planning; JIS Level 1 — Full
Major or catastrophic event with sustained regional coordination Full SEMS organization; 24-hour staffing; Operational Area resource coordination; recovery organization
3.3 Activation authority
The City Manager, Fire Chief/Emergency Services Coordinator, Police Chief, or their designated successors may activate the EOC when immediate coordination is required. The activating official notifies the City Manager as soon as practicable. Department directors may request activation through Fire Department emergency management or the on-duty Fire Battalion Chief.
3.4 Protective actions
The City uses evacuation, shelter-in-place, road closure, access control, curfew when legally authorized, isolation, boil-water or alternate-water instructions, health guidance, facility closure, and other protective actions appropriate to the hazard. Field command recommends tactical protective actions; the EOC coordinates Citywide consequences, messaging, transportation, shelter, continuity, and regional support.
4. SEMS/NIMS Organization and EOC Operations
Element
Lead
Core responsibility
Policy Group
City Manager / Director of Emergency Services
Policy, declarations, priorities, extraordinary authorities, Council coordination EOC Director
Designated by City Manager; normally Fire Chief/Emergency Services Coordinator Overall EOC direction; objectives; executive coordination Public Information
City PIO
JIS/JIC, alerts, media, rumor control, language access
Liaison
EOC Director designee
Agency representatives, partners, elected-official coordination Legal Officer
City Attorney
Emergency authorities, orders, liability, records, legal review Safety Officer
Qualified designee
EOC safety and risk controls
Operations Section
Department lead selected by incident
Coordinate field-facing missions and department operations Planning/Intelligence
Planning lead / trained designee
Situation status, forecasts, maps, action plans, documentation, demobilization Logistics
Public Works / Administration as assigned
Facilities, communications, supplies, personnel support, transportation Finance/Administration
Finance Director or designee
Time, procurement, contracts, claims, cost recovery, documentation
4.1 Operational cycle
Establish operational period and EOC objectives.
Collect and validate incident, damage, resource, weather, utility, and community-impact information.
Set priorities and assign missions.
Develop and approve the EOC Action Plan.
Brief sections and agency representatives.
Execute, track, and document assignments and resource requests.
Issue scheduled public updates.
Evaluate progress, safety, unmet needs, and next-period requirements.
4.2 Primary and alternate coordination sites
The primary EOC location is maintained in the controlled facilities appendix. When the primary location is unsafe, inaccessible, or without essential communications, the EOC Director activates the designated alternate facility or a distributed/virtual EOC. Fire Station 7, when operational, provides a secondary EOC, temporary shelter/community space, specialized-response support, and redundant public-safety radio capability. Until that facility is operational, the City uses the alternate locations and communications methods identified in the controlled appendix.
5. City Department Responsibilities
Department / office
Final assignment
City Council
Maintain legislative continuity; receive policy briefings; ratify local emergency actions when required; authorize contingency or emergency funding; support public protective actions and recovery priorities.
City Manager / Administration
Direct emergency policy; activate executive succession; approve EOC objectives; coordinate Council and regional executives; authorize emergency procurement, staffing, contracts, and continuity actions within delegated authority.
Fire Department
Lead emergency management and EOC readiness; fire suppression, rescue, EMS coordination, hazardous-materials response, swiftwater rescue, damage intelligence, mutual aid, and incident command; maintain alternate EOC capability.
Police Department
Law enforcement, evacuation support, traffic and perimeter control, security, access control, welfare checks, missing persons, fatality-scene coordination, and public-order missions.
Public Works
Drainage, roads, barricades, debris, utilities under City control, engineering, damage assessment, infrastructure restoration, equipment, fuel, field status reporting, sandbag staging, and contractor coordination.
Finance
Emergency purchasing, contracts, timekeeping, cost coding, claims, insurance, records, reimbursement, audit support, and financial reporting.
Human Resources
Employee alerting/accountability, recall, labor coordination, alternate assignments, payroll continuity, safety guidance, workers’ compensation, succession records, and employee support.
Library and Community Services
Shelter and warming/cooling-center support; facility readiness; community services; accessible resident assistance; public-information distribution; nonprofit and volunteer coordination.
Salinas Municipal Airport
Airfield safety, drainage, debris, lighting and navigation systems, access, tenant/operator coordination, aviation support, damage assessment, and continuity of airport operations.
Public Information Officer
Preparedness campaigns; alert and warning; English/Spanish messaging; accessible formats; media, web, social, partner and field distribution; rumor control; scheduled updates; message archive.
Information Technology
Cybersecurity, network isolation, system restoration, backup communications, data protection, priority applications, alternate processes, and technical support to the EOC.
Community Development
Building safety assessment, land-use and permit records, unsafe-building actions, GIS and property information, debris/reconstruction coordination, and recovery permitting.
City Attorney
Legal review of declarations, orders, contracts, emergency authorities, public records, claims, and continuity of legal services.
City Clerk
Official records, Council continuity and meeting support, emergency resolutions, records preservation, and public records coordination.
6. Information, Communications, and Public Warning
6.1 Common operating picture
The Planning/Intelligence Section maintains the authoritative situation summary, incident map, road and facility status, resource status, weather and river information, damage estimates, shelter status, public-information schedule, and unresolved decision log. Departments submit updates at the interval set by the EOC Action Plan.
6.2 Public message standard
EVERY MESSAGE STATES What happened; who is affected; what action to take; where to obtain verified information or assistance; and when the next update will be issued.
English and Spanish are released together whenever time permits. Immediate life-safety warnings are issued without delay and followed promptly by translated and accessible versions.
Messages use plain language, geographic specificity, timestamps, accessible digital formats, captions/alt text where applicable, and interpretation or relay services when available.
Alert Monterey County, Wireless Emergency Alerts when authorized, City websites, social media, news media, schools, employers, libraries, faith and community organizations, field personnel, and door-to-door methods form a redundant delivery system.
The PIO maintains one approval path, an incident message log, scheduled updates, rumor monitoring, correction procedures, and partner distribution lists.
Power, cellular, or internet failure triggers field distribution, radio, partner networks, mobile public address, printed information, and direct outreach to high-risk locations.
7. Resource Management, Finance, and Mutual Aid
7.1 Resource process
Field command and departments use available resources and existing automatic/mutual-aid channels.
Unmet needs are submitted to EOC Operations or Logistics with mission, quantity, location, required time, duration, and ordering contact.
Logistics searches City inventories, contracts, local partners, and approved vendors.
Requests beyond City capability are submitted through the Monterey County Operational Area in accordance with SEMS.
Finance assigns cost codes, confirms authority, records procurement, tracks time and equipment, and retains supporting documentation.
Receiving units inspect, assign, track, sustain, and demobilize resources.
7.2 Financial controls
Emergency expenditures follow City emergency purchasing authority, state law, grant conditions, and delegated limits. Finance opens incident-specific cost codes at activation, issues documentation instructions, and maintains records for labor, equipment, materials, contracts, mutual aid, donated resources, damage, insurance, and reimbursement. Departments begin documentation with the first preparedness or response cost attributable to the incident.
8. Continuity of Government and Essential Services
Each department maintains a continuity file containing essential functions, orders of succession, delegations of authority, alternate worksites, interoperable communications, vital records, essential vendors, minimum staffing, manual workarounds, restoration priorities, and reconstitution procedures.
Priority
Essential function
Continuity objective
1 911, dispatch support, fire, EMS, law enforcement
Continuous or immediate restoration
1 Emergency executive direction, EOC, public warning
Continuous or immediate restoration
1 Critical water, wastewater, drainage, roads, traffic safety Maintain emergency operations; restore critical service 2 Payroll, purchasing, contracts, IT, records, legal support Sustain within operational period
2 Shelter, community assistance, airport, building safety Activate according to incident need
3 Routine services
Suspend, relocate, or restore by executive priority
8.1 Succession
Department directors maintain at least three-deep succession. Successors exercise the authorities necessary to perform emergency duties within law and City delegation. The City Clerk preserves succession instruments and emergency resolutions. The EOC Planning/Intelligence Section records who is exercising each delegated authority.
9. Recovery and Plan Maintenance
9.1 Recovery organization
The City Manager establishes a Recovery Management Organization when consequences require sustained restoration, housing, infrastructure, economic, health, or community-recovery work. The recovery organization may operate alongside the EOC and continues after response demobilization. Recovery priorities are equitable, risk-informed, fiscally documented, and coordinated with residents, businesses, agricultural employers and workers, schools, healthcare, utilities, nonprofits, and regional agencies.
9.2 Plan maintenance
Frequency
Required action
Quarterly
Verify controlled contact rosters, EOC assignments, alert access, alternates, facility status, and critical vendors.
Annually — September
Review hazards, authorities, organization, annexes, training, supplies, shelter sites, maps, language access, and public preparedness program.
After activation or exercise
Complete after-action review within 60 days; assign corrective actions, owners, and due dates; incorporate approved changes.
Every three years from adoption
Conduct and document a comprehensive EOP review aligned with the hazard mitigation plan, General Plan, organizational changes, community risk assessment, authorities, and current emergency-management doctrine.
9.3 Training and exercises
EOC personnel complete training appropriate to assignment, including ICS-100/200, IS-700/800, SEMS orientation, and position-specific instruction.
Executives and elected officials receive G-402 or equivalent executive emergency-management orientation.
The City conducts an annual EOC exercise alternating between no-notice earthquake and forecast-based flood/severe-weather scenarios.
The City tests English/Spanish alerting, alternate communications, evacuation decision-making, shelter coordination, damage assessment, continuity, and cost documentation.
ANNEX A — Direction, Control, and EOC Operations
PURPOSE Establishes the Citywide command and coordination process for all emergencies.
A.1 Activation criteria
Threat or damage spans multiple departments or operational periods.
A public evacuation, shelter-in-place, shelter opening, significant closure, or sustained warning campaign is underway or likely.
City resources are insufficient or Operational Area coordination is required.
Essential services, City facilities, communications, or leadership continuity are threatened.
A major regional incident requires Salinas support or creates substantial local consequences.
A.2 Initial EOC actions
☐ Confirm activation authority, level, location, operational period, and EOC Director. ☐ Notify department directors, EOC staff, City Manager, Council liaison, and Monterey County Operational Area. ☐ Establish safety, check-in, communications, situation status, incident map, and decision log. ☐ Set initial objectives: life safety, incident stabilization, continuity, public information, and resource priorities. ☐ Open incident cost codes and documentation systems.
☐ Issue initial public holding statement and update schedule. ☐ Prepare the first EOC Action Plan.
A.3 Demobilization
The EOC Director reduces staffing when objectives can be managed through normal departments or the recovery organization. Demobilization includes outstanding mission transfer, resource return, records collection, cost documentation, staff relief, public notice, hotwash, and after-action scheduling.
ANNEX B — Public Information, Alert and Warning
PURPOSE Provides one verified voice across all City channels and partner networks.
Function
Lead action
Approval
PIO verifies facts with EOC Director/Operations; urgent life-safety warnings receive immediate authorization.
Translation
English and Spanish issued together whenever practicable; additional language and accessibility resources are activated according to audience.
Alerting
Use Alert Monterey County and authorized alert systems; define affected area, action, duration, and update path.
Media
Establish briefing schedule and single media contact; preserve recordings and releases.
Rumor control
Monitor public questions and misinformation; publish corrections using the same channels.
Reach
Use schools, employers, agricultural organizations, libraries, faith/community groups, Spanish-language media, and field teams.
B.1 Warning checklist
☐ State the hazard and affected geography.
☐ Use a direct action verb: evacuate, shelter, avoid, boil, conserve, prepare, or remain clear. ☐ Identify routes, closures, shelter or assistance information. ☐ Provide English and Spanish; add accessible formats.
☐ Timestamp the message and state the next update time. ☐ Archive approval, distribution channels, and delivery results.
ANNEX C — Evacuation, Transportation, and Reentry
PURPOSE Coordinates protective movement for flood, dam failure, earthquake, wildfire, hazardous materials, violence, and other threats.
C.1 Decision and execution
Incident Command identifies the threatened area and recommends evacuation or shelter-in-place. The EOC coordinates jurisdiction-wide consequences, transportation, warnings, traffic control, shelter, access and functional needs, animal support, route status, regional coordination, and reentry. The Police Department leads traffic and access control; Public Works supports routes, barricades and debris clearance; Fire supports hazard intelligence and rescue; Library and Community Services coordinates shelter and resident assistance.
Phase
Required actions
Prepare
Define zone; identify routes and alternates; position traffic control; alert facilities and transport providers; prepare message and shelter.
Move
Issue warning; deploy field notification; support transportation-dependent residents; monitor routes; rescue only under approved risk controls.
Sustain
Control access; support medications, animals, reunification, security and information; track displaced populations without creating barriers to service.
Reentry
Confirm hazard stability, route safety, utilities, structural conditions, health guidance, security, and resident information before phased return.
ANNEX D — Mass Care, Shelter, and Human Services
PURPOSE Provides safe, accessible assistance to displaced and affected residents.
Library and Community Services coordinates City shelter support in partnership with the American Red Cross, Monterey County, schools, nonprofits, healthcare providers, animal services, and community organizations. The EOC selects facilities from the controlled inventory based on hazard location, safety, accessibility, capacity, utilities, sanitation, transportation, security, and staffing.
Shelter service is provided without discrimination and without requiring identification as a condition of life-safety assistance.
Functional needs support includes accessible transportation, mobility and communication assistance, refrigeration/electricity for medical needs when available, service animals, and connection to healthcare.
The City coordinates pet sheltering or co-location through designated partners.
Warming/cooling centers and community information sites may open independently of overnight shelter.
All shelter information is coordinated with the PIO and updated on a published schedule.
ANNEX E — Fire, Rescue, Emergency Medical, and Hazardous Materials PURPOSE Coordinates fire suppression, rescue, EMS, swiftwater, hazardous-materials, and related mutual aid.
Establish ICS or Unified Command and conduct risk-based life-safety operations.
Provide rapid damage and access intelligence from stations and field units.
Coordinate EMS system impacts with Monterey County EMS Agency, hospitals, dispatch, and ambulance providers.
Activate swiftwater capability for moving-water incidents and deny entry to unsafe flood zones.
For hazardous materials, establish zones, identify material, conduct monitoring, rescue/decontamination, protective-action recommendations, and environmental/public-health coordination.
Maintain Salinas Type-2 hazardous-materials capability and regional team coordination in accordance with current agreements and state assignments.
Request mutual aid through established fire and rescue channels and inform the EOC of resource status and unmet needs.
ANNEX F — Law Enforcement and Security
PURPOSE Coordinates evacuation support, traffic, access, security, public order, investigations, and welfare missions.
Support warnings, evacuation, traffic-control points, detours, and perimeter security.
Protect evacuated areas, shelters, critical facilities, distribution sites, and the EOC.
Coordinate missing persons, welfare checks, reunification support, and fatality-scene responsibilities with the appropriate authorities.
Use interoperable communications and Unified Command for multiagency incidents.
Preserve evidence and investigative integrity while enabling rescue and recovery.
Apply emergency restrictions and enforcement consistently with legal authority, necessity, and civil rights.
ANNEX G — Public Works and Infrastructure
PURPOSE Maintains routes, drainage, public facilities, engineering support, debris operations, and infrastructure restoration.
Inspect and clear priority storm drains, creeks, ditches and culverts; monitor pumps, channels, low points, and known flooding locations.
Test and deploy pumps, generators, barricades, signs, vehicles, fuel and field communications.
Close unsafe roads, establish detours, support evacuation routes, and report route status to Planning/Intelligence and the PIO.
Stage sandbags and sand at designated public locations; provide current location, hours, limits, and availability to the PIO for publication.
Protect or relocate essential functions when the City yard or other facilities are threatened.
Coordinate contractors, heavy equipment, debris clearance, emergency repairs, building safety support, damage estimates, and restoration priorities.
ANNEX H — Logistics and Resource Management
PURPOSE Obtains, tracks, sustains, and demobilizes personnel, facilities, equipment, services, and supplies.
Maintain resource ordering, receiving, assignment, tracking, maintenance, and return records.
Provide EOC facilities, communications, food, rest, sanitation, supplies, transportation, fuel, generators, and security.
Coordinate staff recall and mutual-aid personnel with Human Resources and department supervisors.
Use pre-event contracts and emergency purchasing authorities; route unmet requests through the Operational Area.
Document donated resources and volunteer services without self-deploying unaffiliated volunteers into hazardous operations.
ANNEX I — Finance, Administration, and Cost Recovery
PURPOSE Preserves fiscal control and eligibility for reimbursement while supporting urgent operations.
Open cost codes and distribute time, equipment, procurement and damage documentation instructions.
Track emergency labor, overtime, equipment, materials, contracts, mutual aid, shelter costs, debris, protective measures, and infrastructure damage.
Review emergency contracts and purchasing for authority, price reasonableness, competition or exigency documentation, scope, and records.
Coordinate insurance, claims, Cal OES/FEMA documentation, audits, and reimbursement.
Maintain records retention and a complete incident financial package.
ANNEX J — Continuity of Government and Operations
PURPOSE Maintains lawful leadership and essential City services through disruption.
J.1 Department continuity actions
☐ Account for employees and activate succession.
☐ Identify essential functions and minimum staffing.
☐ Shift to alternate facilities, remote work, or manual processes. ☐ Protect vital records and priority data.
☐ Confirm communications with executives, employees, partners and the public. ☐ Set service restoration priorities and report status to the EOC. ☐ Reconstitute operations and document unresolved risks.
ANNEX K — Damage Assessment and Recovery
PURPOSE Creates verified damage intelligence and organizes restoration and long-term recovery.
Public Works and Community Development coordinate rapid impact assessment. Finance maintains monetary estimates and supporting records. Field teams prioritize life-safety facilities, fire and police stations, hospitals, bridges and major routes, drainage and utilities, shelters, hazardous-materials sites, government facilities, housing, businesses, and agricultural/food-system impacts.
Timeframe
Product
0–12 hours
Initial impact estimate: casualties, displaced population, essential services, major route/facility status, immediate resource gaps. 12–72 hours
Validated public and private damage, debris, housing, business, infrastructure, environmental and community-service impacts. 3–30 days
State/federal assistance documentation, recovery priorities, temporary housing and infrastructure strategy, public dashboard.
Long term
Recovery plan, funding strategy, reconstruction standards, equity and resilience measures, progress reporting.
ANNEX L — Access and Functional Needs
PURPOSE Integrates disability access, language access, transportation assistance, medical needs, age, economic vulnerability, and other functional needs into every mission.
Include functional-needs expertise in planning, warning, evacuation, shelter, transportation and recovery.
Use accessible transportation and paratransit resources; do not separate people from mobility devices, essential equipment, caregivers, or service animals except when immediate safety requires.
Provide effective communication, accessible digital content, interpreters, translated material, and alternatives to audio-only or text-only warning.
Conduct targeted outreach to older adults, children, residents with limited English proficiency, people experiencing homelessness, medically vulnerable residents, and transportation-dependent households.
Track unmet needs and delivery results by neighborhood without delaying urgent assistance.
ANNEX M — Earthquake and Liquefaction
PURPOSE Directs no-notice operations for shaking, liquefaction, fires, structural damage, access loss, and utility failure.
AUTOMATIC POST-EARTHQUAKE ACTION Following strong local shaking or reports of significant damage, departments conduct personnel accountability and rapid facility/route checks without waiting for EOC activation.
M.1 First operational period
☐ Activate EOC at the level required by damage and communications status. ☐ Check fire/police stations, EOC, hospitals, bridges, Highway 101 and major routes, airport, shelters, utilities and hazardous-materials sites. ☐ Identify liquefaction-related road, pipe, rail and foundation failures. ☐ Prioritize fires, rescue, medical surge, hazardous releases, and trapped or isolated populations. ☐ Establish alternate communications and prepare for delayed mutual aid. ☐ Issue public guidance on aftershocks, damaged buildings, gas/electrical hazards, water, roads and reunification.
ANNEX N — Flood, Severe Weather, and El Niño
PURPOSE Coordinates forecast-based readiness and response to atmospheric rivers, prolonged rain, urban and river flooding, wind, outages, erosion, debris, and seasonal El Niño conditions.
N.1 Readiness triggers
Trigger
Action
Seasonal outlook / rainy season
Drainage maintenance; contracts; roster and shelter verification; resident preparedness; sandbag planning.
Credible 5–7 day heavy-rain signal
Daily interdepartmental coordination; stage equipment; verify staffing, patrols, generators, fuel, routes and public messages.
NWS watch / high confidence local forecast
EOC monitoring or partial activation; pre-position barriers and rescue; publish sandbag and preparedness information; alert facilities.
Warning / observed threshold / route flooding
Appropriate EOC activation; closures; evacuation or shelter support; field warning; sustained public updates.
Hazard stabilization
Damage assessment; debris and drainage restoration; assistance; cost documentation; phased reopening and reentry.
El Niño is a seasonal climate condition that changes probabilities; it does not predict the timing or severity of individual Salinas storms. Operational decisions rely on National Weather Service briefings, observed rainfall, river and creek conditions, drainage performance, route status, utility impacts, and City resource availability.
N.2 Department execution
Fire: EOC coordination, rescue, swiftwater readiness, hazardous materials, medical and mutual aid.
Police: closures, traffic, evacuation, security, welfare checks and extended staffing.
Public Works: drainage, pumps, barricades, routes, debris, sand/sandbags, field reports and restoration.
Administration/Finance/HR: authorities, procurement, staffing, continuity, cost tracking and employee safety.
Library and Community Services: shelter, warming center, assistance sites and community partners.
Airport: drainage, standing water, debris, runway/taxiway systems and aviation continuity.
PIO: months-long preparedness campaign, alerts, English/Spanish messages, closure/shelter/sandbag information, partner distribution and rumor control.
N.3 Resident preparedness messages
Clean gutters and downspouts; repair roof leaks; inspect windows, doors and exterior drainage.
Clear private drains, swales, ditches and culverts; test sump pumps; trim hazardous limbs and secure outdoor items.
Prepare sandbags or temporary barriers where appropriate; photograph property and review insurance.
Prepare go bags, medications, medical equipment, pet supplies, identification, important documents, clothing, cash and chargers.
Store water, shelf-stable food, flashlights, batteries, a radio and power banks; fuel or charge vehicles.
Make a household communication plan, identify two routes and a meeting place, register for alerts, and check on vulnerable neighbors.
Never enter flooded roads or moving water. Operate generators outdoors away from openings; never use outdoor cooking equipment indoors.
ANNEX O — Dam Failure
PURPOSE Coordinates rapid warning, evacuation, route control, shelter and regional information for Nacimiento or San Antonio Dam failure.
Upon receipt of a credible dam emergency notification, the EOC verifies the source, activates at the appropriate level, obtains inundation and timing information, establishes Unified Coordination with Monterey County and dam operators, and initiates evacuation decision-making. Priority route analysis includes Blanco Road, Davis Road, Harkins Road, Highway 68, Highway 183, Abbott Street, and Highway 101.
O.1 Immediate actions
☐ Identify affected inundation area and estimated arrival times. ☐ Issue geographically specific evacuation or shelter instructions. ☐ Deploy traffic control and accessible transportation before route degradation. ☐ Alert medical, educational, government, communication and care facilities in the projected area. ☐ Open safe shelter outside the inundation area.
☐ Maintain field warning and redundant public updates.
☐ Authorize reentry only after dam, water, route, utility and structural hazards are assessed.
ANNEX P — Wildfire, Smoke, Extreme Heat, and Drought
PURPOSE Coordinates protective actions for heat, smoke, vegetation fire, water shortage and compound climate impacts.
Wildfire: Unified Command, evacuation zones, route protection, structure defense, mutual aid, smoke messaging, shelter and animal coordination.
Smoke: air-quality information, clean-air locations, outdoor-work guidance, health messaging and support for medically vulnerable residents.
Extreme heat: cooling centers, hydration, outreach, workforce protections, power-impact monitoring and welfare checks.
Drought/water shortage: coordinate with water providers, public health and agriculture; establish conservation, critical-use priorities, alternate supply and public information.
Compound events: prioritize backup power, medically dependent residents, communications, shelters and essential water service.
ANNEX Q — Cyberattack, Utility Interruption, and Communications Failure PURPOSE Maintains command, public information and essential services when technology or utilities fail.
Immediately report suspected cyber incidents through City IT security procedures; preserve evidence and isolate affected systems as directed.
Shift dispatch support, EOC records, public information, finance and department workflows to approved alternate or manual processes.
Prioritize restoration of 911/dispatch interfaces, public-safety communications, EOC systems, identity/access controls, public warning, finance and essential operational data.
Coordinate with utilities on outage scope, restoration estimates, critical-facility priorities and public safety power shutoff impacts.
Use radio, satellite, runners, field briefings, printed messages and community partner networks when conventional communications fail.
Do not release technical details that create additional security risk; provide timely service and protective-action information.
ANNEX R — Public Health, Water Contamination, and Agricultural Emergency PURPOSE Coordinates City operations with Monterey County Health and regional partners for health threats affecting people, water, food systems, workforce and continuity.
Monterey County Health Department leads public-health authority and health guidance; the City supports warning, facilities, logistics, continuity and enforcement within authority.
Water contamination operations include source verification, do-not-drink/boil-water messaging as directed, alternate water distribution, protection of critical facilities and restoration information.
Pandemic/epidemic operations include workforce continuity, employee protection, facility adjustments, health messaging, mass care and support to medical surge.
Agricultural emergencies include impacts on farmworkers, employers, transportation, food processing, housing, air/water exposure and regional economic continuity.
ANNEX S — Targeted Violence, Terrorism, and Civil Disturbance PURPOSE Coordinates life safety, Unified Command, public information, family assistance, continuity and recovery during intentional incidents.
Law enforcement leads threat neutralization, investigation, evidence and security; Fire/EMS coordinates rescue and casualty care under integrated risk controls.
The EOC supports continuity, regional resources, shelter, transportation, public information, family assistance, victim services and recovery.
PIO releases verified protective information without compromising tactics, victims, evidence or investigative integrity.
The City coordinates behavioral health, reunification, community engagement, memorial considerations and long-term recovery with appropriate partners.
ANNEX T — Airport Emergency Coordination
PURPOSE Integrates Salinas Municipal Airport emergency operations with City command and regional aviation resources.
Airport management maintains airfield emergency procedures and coordinates tenants, operators, FAA functions and responders.
Inspect drainage, low areas, pumps, generators, runway/taxiway surfaces, lighting, navigation support, debris and access.
Report operational status, closures, damage, fuel and aviation-support capability to the EOC.
Coordinate aircraft incident command, perimeter, rescue/firefighting support, hazardous materials, investigation support and public information.
Maintain continuity of airport operations and evaluate emergency aviation support for regional response.
Part IV — Operational Checklists
EOC Director
☐ Receive briefing and confirm authority, activation level, location and operational period. ☐ Establish objectives and approve organization.
☐ Coordinate Policy Group, Operational Area and agency executives. ☐ Approve EOC Action Plan and major public protective actions. ☐ Ensure continuity, finance, safety, equity and recovery are addressed. ☐ Authorize demobilization and transition to recovery.
Operations Section
☐ Establish department/branch coordination and mission priorities. ☐ Track field command structure, protective actions, closures, rescue, shelter and essential-service missions. ☐ Validate resource needs and report constraints.
☐ Coordinate with Planning, Logistics, PIO and mutual-aid systems. ☐ Document assignments, completion and transfer.
Planning/Intelligence Section
☐ Establish check-in, situation reporting and document control. ☐ Maintain maps, forecasts, incident chronology, damage and resource status. ☐ Develop objectives, planning meeting products and EOC Action Plan. ☐ Prepare demobilization and transition plans.
☐ Collect records for after-action and recovery.
Logistics Section
☐ Activate facilities, communications, supplies, food, sanitation and staff support. ☐ Process and track resources and mutual-aid requests.
☐ Coordinate transport, fuel, generators, vendors and receiving. ☐ Maintain accountability and demobilization records.
Finance/Administration Section
☐ Open incident cost codes and issue documentation instructions. ☐ Track time, equipment, procurement, contracts, claims and damage. ☐ Verify emergency authority and retain justification.
☐ Coordinate reimbursement, insurance, audit and record retention.
Public Information Officer
☐ Establish JIS/JIC coordination and message approval.
☐ Issue holding statement and update schedule.
☐ Publish verified English/Spanish protective information in accessible formats. ☐ Coordinate alerts, media, web, social, partners and field distribution. ☐ Monitor questions and misinformation; correct rapidly. ☐ Archive messages, approvals and delivery results.
Controlled Appendix 1 — Emergency Contact and EOC Assignment Roster CONTROLLED • VERIFY QUARTERLY • DO NOT POST PUBLICLY
Department directors maintain the named employee, direct telephone number, alternate telephone number, and email address for every role below in the controlled digital EOC contact directory. The role-based table is the authoritative plan assignment and remains valid through personnel changes. At activation, the Resources Unit prints or distributes the current directory and records the person filling each role.
Department
Primary role
EOC section
EOC position
Core assignment
Policy
City Manager or successor
Policy Group
Director of Emergency Services
Executive policy, declarations, Council coordination
Administration
City Manager designee
Management
EOC Director
Overall EOC direction and objectives
Administration
Community Relations Manager / designee
Management
Public Information Officer
JIS, alerts, media, bilingual public information
City Attorney
City Attorney / designee
Management
Legal Officer
Orders, authorities, contracts and legal review
Fire
Fire Chief / designee
Management
Emergency Services Coordinator
EOC readiness, activation and Operational Area coordination Fire
Assistant or Deputy Fire Chief
Operations
Operations Section Coordinator
Coordinates field-facing missions and branch operations Fire
Battalion Chief / qualified officer
Operations
Fire and Rescue Branch Director
Fire, rescue, EMS, HazMat and swiftwater coordination
Police
Police Chief / designee
Operations
Law Enforcement Branch Director
Evacuation, traffic, security and public order
Public Works
Public Works Director / designee
Operations
Public Works Branch Director
Roads, drainage, utilities, debris and restoration
Community Development
Director / Building Official designee
Operations
Building and Safety Branch Director
Rapid safety assessment and unsafe-building actions
Library and Community Services
Director / designee
Operations
Care and Shelter Branch Director
Shelter, warming/cooling centers and resident assistance Airport
Airport Manager / designee
Operations
Airport Unit Leader
Airfield safety, status and aviation support
Planning
Qualified department representative
Planning / Intelligence
Planning Section Coordinator
EOC Action Plan, situation status and documentation
Community Development
GIS / planning designee
Planning / Intelligence
Situation Status and GIS Unit
Maps, damage intelligence and common operating picture
Human Resources
HR Director / designee
Planning / Intelligence
Personnel and Succession Unit
Employee accountability, recall and continuity staffing Public Works / Administration
Qualified designee
Logistics
Logistics Section Coordinator
Facilities, supplies, communications and resource ordering Information Technology
IT Director / designee
Logistics
Information Systems Branch Director
IT, cybersecurity, backup systems and technical support Finance
Finance Director / designee
Finance / Administration
Finance Section Coordinator
Fiscal control, documentation and cost recovery
Finance
Qualified finance representative
Finance / Administration
Cost and Time Unit Leader
Labor, equipment, procurement and incident cost records Human Resources
HR / Risk designee
Finance / Administration
Compensation and Claims Unit
Workers compensation, claims and employee records
All departments
Department director and alternate
Agency Representation
Department EOC Representative
Department status, missions, resources and continuity
Controlled contact directory fields: department, employee name, title, primary phone, alternate phone, email, EOC section, EOC position, first alternate, second alternate, and last verification date.
Controlled Appendix 2 — Potential Shelter and Community-Support Facilities CONTROLLED OPERATIONAL INVENTORY • VERIFY BEFORE OPENING These facilities are screening candidates. EOC Operations and Library and Community Services verify safety, accessibility, capacity, utilities, staffing, security and transportation before the PIO announces an opening.
Property type
Facility
Address
Source capacity note
Restrooms
Backup power
Recreation Center
Breadbox Recreation Center
745 N. Sanborn Road
Not listed
Yes
No
Library
Cesar Chavez Library
615 Williams Road
204 - meeting rooms
Yes
No
Recreation Center
El Dorado Recreation Center / El Dorado Park
1655 El Dorado Drive
369 listed by door
Yes - indoor and outdoor
No
Library
El Gabilan Library
1400 N. Main Street
Community room
Yes - both floors
No
Recreation Center
Firehouse Recreation Center
1330 E. Alisal Street
106 / 130 - verify
Yes
No
Recreation Center
Hebbron Family Center
683 Fremont Street
127 large area; 32 small area
Yes
No
Library
John Steinbeck Library
350 Lincoln Avenue
472
Yes
No
Recreation Center
Salinas Recreation Center Gym
320 Lincoln Avenue
Not listed
Yes
No
Community Center
Sherwood Hall
940 N. Main Street
Verify with facility manager
Yes
Not confirmed
Facility opening verification
Verification item
Status / notes
Responsible unit
Outside active hazard area
Operations
Building and fire-life-safety condition
Fire / Building and Safety
Accessible entrance, routes and restrooms
Care and Shelter
Electricity, water, sanitation and HVAC
Facility / Public Works
Generator or alternate power requirement
Logistics
Usable occupant capacity and room configuration
Care and Shelter
Staffing, security and communications
Operations / Police / Logistics
Transportation and accessible drop-off
Transportation Unit
Supplies, feeding, medical support and pet coordination Care and Shelter / Logistics
PIO opening message and operating hours
Public Information Officer
Addresses and source capacity notes are transcribed from the September 2026 facility inventory. Facility managers verify current conditions and legal occupancy before activation.
References
California Emergency Services Act, California Government Code section 8550 et seq.
California Standardized Emergency Management System regulations, Title 19, California Code of Regulations.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Incident Management System.
State of California Emergency Plan.
Monterey County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, Volume 1 and Volume 2, Annex J — City of Salinas.
Salinas Fire Department Master Plan / Community Risk Assessment / Standards of Cover Update.
City of Salinas flood-response and El Niño preparedness materials.
National Weather Service and NOAA Climate Prediction Center operational products.
City of Salinas emergency contact roster and potential shelter/community facility inventory, September 2026.
END OF PLAN Controlled rosters, maps, vendor data, credentials, tactical procedures, and department standard operating procedures are maintained with the plan but are distributed according to operational need and information-security requirements.
City of Salinas EOP | 1
CITY OF SALINAS • EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN