California Emergency Management Agency
Encyclopedia
The California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA) is a California
cabinet-level agency responsible for overseeing and coordinating emergency preparedness, response, recovery and homeland security activities within the state. The agency was created by AB 38 (2008), superseding both the Office of Emergency Services (OES) and Office of Homeland Security (OHS).
The Office of Infrastructure Protection coordinates at all government levels to ensure that the critical infrastructure
in the state is adequately secured against attack or disaster.
The Homeland Security Training and Exercise branches develop and distribute training materials and develop exercises to ensure that the first responders of the state are adequately prepared for Weapons of Mass Destruction
or Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, or Explosive emergencies.
The Information Analysis, Watch and Warning Division provides structure, guidance and funding to the California State Terrorism Threat Assessment System, which encompasses the State Terrorism Threat Assessment Center (STTAC) that is designated by Governor Schwarzenegger as the State's Fusion Center. Information Analysis, Watch and Warning collaborates with the California Highway Patrol
, Federal and State public safety agencies and various Homeland Security partners to ensure that the Governor and key senior leadership officials are provided timely situation awareness information that has security implications to California.
The Planning, Research and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) coordinates the State's planning efforts and strategic development to achieve preparedness priorities related to Homeland Security and disasters. The guiding principles of the PREP Division are coordination, collaboration, and communication with our local, State, federal, tribal and private sector partners in support of the goals set forth by the Governor and Homeland Security Presidential Directives.
During disaster response and recovery operations, the office works to ensure personnel staffing needs are met, while working to make sure the logistical needs and facility operations are managed. On a daily basis the office ensures the physical operation of the 118000 square feet (10,962.6 m²) Cal EMA headquarters in Mather, California runs smoothly.
The Office of Administrative Services is responsible for providing administrative, financial, human resources, facility operations management, labor relations, and business services to the agency. The office is divided into three areas:
The Fiscal Services Division has program responsibility over the Accounting Branch, Accounts Receivable and Debt Collection Branch, and Budget and Fiscal Analysis Branch. This division has all fiscal responsibilities within the agency. The division builds the Governor's Budget, processes payments for all local assistance and state operations, builds and manages program budget allotments, directly assists programs with fiscal information related to expenditures and projections.
The Human Resources Branch (HR) is divided into three sections: Personnel Office, Labor Relations Office, and Recruitment and Selection Services (RSS). Responsibilities include labor relations, classification and pay, payroll and benefits, workers' compensation, reasonable accommodations, recruitment, and examinations.
The Grants Monitoring Division (GMD) is divided into two branches which are responsible for monitoring emergency management, homeland security, and law enforcement and victim services grants to ensure grant expenditures fully comply with applicable regulations and requirements.
The Procurement and Logistical Services Branch consists of the Procurement and Property Control Section and the Business Services Section.
The Hazard Mitigation Branch is responsible for reviewing applications for the federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program and local hazard mitigation plans. The Branch is also responsible for the State Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan. On October 8, 2007, FEMA approved the California’s State Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan. This approval continues the State’s eligibility for FEMA disaster recovery and mitigation grant programs that have provided
The California Emergency Management Agency Training Division and the California Specialized Training Institute which is considered one of the nation’s premier educational institutions, provide support to the First Responder community of California by providing training referrals, and the coordinated delivery of training and training materials. This is accomplished by developing partnerships with federal, state and local training providers. The Training Division will ensure the most comprehensive access to training courses which enhance the capability to accomplish the critical mission areas of Prevent, Protect, Respond, Mitigate and Recover in support of the California statewide training strategy.
The Cal EMA Earthquake Program provides specialized earthquake preparedness planning and technical assistance to local governments, business, schools, hospitals, the public and other groups.
Division has provided valuable services to support California’s law enforcement agencies. The Law Enforcement Division works directly with the 58 California Sheriffs along with Police
Departments, University
Police, as well as other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The Law Enforcement Division, with its longstanding leadership role in the coordination of local law enforcement mutual aid requests, deploys law enforcement assets to disaster scenes and provides law enforcement mutual aid guidance. Each year, Search and Rescue
(SAR) assignments consume much of the branch staff’s time and effort. Last year, Cal EMA coordinated resource deployments on nearly 600 SAR missions. From searching for missing hikers or skiers, to mobilizing for a water rescue, division staff coordinates the local SAR resources that are required to complete the mission. Annually, the division sustains the success of the SAR program by hosting quarterly statewide SAR coordinator meetings, numerous technical courses, including the popular “Winter Search Management” course, and hosting numerous search and rescue training conferences.
Branch is made up of four Sections; Client Support, GIS (Geographic Information Systems), Networking and Programming. The IT branch takes care of all of the computer assets for CalEMA, from desktop assets to servers and the network infrastructure at region offices.
and Emergency Telecommunications in the state. To accomplish this task, Cal EMA maintains a Warning Center and a State Operations Communications Center at its Mather Headquarters, and Region Communications Centers at each Administrative Region that provide communication resources at Cal EMA Offices. The Cal EMA Telecommunications Section also coordinates various statewide communications, communications assets and assists local governments in communications planning.
Cal EMA Telecommunications Branch coordinates the following Programs and Functions:
California Interoperability Coordinators Office (CICO)
Statewide Auxiliary Communications Services Program
Operational Area Satellite Information System Program
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
cabinet-level agency responsible for overseeing and coordinating emergency preparedness, response, recovery and homeland security activities within the state. The agency was created by AB 38 (2008), superseding both the Office of Emergency Services (OES) and Office of Homeland Security (OHS).
Executive Division
Mike Dayton is the Acting Secretary of the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) in the Administration of Governor Jerry Brown.Homeland Security Division
This division provides grant management, handling over $1 billion in grants from the US Department of Homeland Security and other Federal Agencies.The Office of Infrastructure Protection coordinates at all government levels to ensure that the critical infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
in the state is adequately secured against attack or disaster.
The Homeland Security Training and Exercise branches develop and distribute training materials and develop exercises to ensure that the first responders of the state are adequately prepared for Weapons of Mass Destruction
Weapons of mass destruction
A weapon of mass destruction is a weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a large number of humans and/or cause great damage to man-made structures , natural structures , or the biosphere in general...
or Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, or Explosive emergencies.
The Information Analysis, Watch and Warning Division provides structure, guidance and funding to the California State Terrorism Threat Assessment System, which encompasses the State Terrorism Threat Assessment Center (STTAC) that is designated by Governor Schwarzenegger as the State's Fusion Center. Information Analysis, Watch and Warning collaborates with the California Highway Patrol
California Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol is a law enforcement agency of the U.S. state of California. The CHP has patrol jurisdiction over all California highways and also acts as the state police....
, Federal and State public safety agencies and various Homeland Security partners to ensure that the Governor and key senior leadership officials are provided timely situation awareness information that has security implications to California.
The Planning, Research and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) coordinates the State's planning efforts and strategic development to achieve preparedness priorities related to Homeland Security and disasters. The guiding principles of the PREP Division are coordination, collaboration, and communication with our local, State, federal, tribal and private sector partners in support of the goals set forth by the Governor and Homeland Security Presidential Directives.
Office of Administrative Services
The Cal EMA Office of Administrative Services provides timely customer service-based administrative policy and procedures as well as the advice, service, and support needed to manage Cal EMA employees and external customers. Supporting Cal EMA, which has approximately 590 employees and an operating budget of more than $80 million, the office administers a wide array of services including Fiscal Management, Human Resources, Labor Relations, and Business Services Programs.During disaster response and recovery operations, the office works to ensure personnel staffing needs are met, while working to make sure the logistical needs and facility operations are managed. On a daily basis the office ensures the physical operation of the 118000 square feet (10,962.6 m²) Cal EMA headquarters in Mather, California runs smoothly.
The Office of Administrative Services is responsible for providing administrative, financial, human resources, facility operations management, labor relations, and business services to the agency. The office is divided into three areas:
The Fiscal Services Division has program responsibility over the Accounting Branch, Accounts Receivable and Debt Collection Branch, and Budget and Fiscal Analysis Branch. This division has all fiscal responsibilities within the agency. The division builds the Governor's Budget, processes payments for all local assistance and state operations, builds and manages program budget allotments, directly assists programs with fiscal information related to expenditures and projections.
The Human Resources Branch (HR) is divided into three sections: Personnel Office, Labor Relations Office, and Recruitment and Selection Services (RSS). Responsibilities include labor relations, classification and pay, payroll and benefits, workers' compensation, reasonable accommodations, recruitment, and examinations.
The Grants Monitoring Division (GMD) is divided into two branches which are responsible for monitoring emergency management, homeland security, and law enforcement and victim services grants to ensure grant expenditures fully comply with applicable regulations and requirements.
The Procurement and Logistical Services Branch consists of the Procurement and Property Control Section and the Business Services Section.
Preparedness and Training
The division’s Preparedness Branch is responsible for working with state agencies and local governments on emergency planning efforts. The division is leading a new administration effort to reinvigorate the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) and its Maintenance System. The Maintenance System consists of an advisory board (state and local officials representing the policy and executive levels of government), a technical group (from federal, state, and local agencies, tribal governments, private sector, and volunteer and non-governmental organizations), specialist committees (Technical Group members), and the Mutual Aid Regional Advisory Committees (MARACs) (six committees consisting of primarily local government and regional state agencies).The Hazard Mitigation Branch is responsible for reviewing applications for the federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program and local hazard mitigation plans. The Branch is also responsible for the State Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan. On October 8, 2007, FEMA approved the California’s State Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan. This approval continues the State’s eligibility for FEMA disaster recovery and mitigation grant programs that have provided
The California Emergency Management Agency Training Division and the California Specialized Training Institute which is considered one of the nation’s premier educational institutions, provide support to the First Responder community of California by providing training referrals, and the coordinated delivery of training and training materials. This is accomplished by developing partnerships with federal, state and local training providers. The Training Division will ensure the most comprehensive access to training courses which enhance the capability to accomplish the critical mission areas of Prevent, Protect, Respond, Mitigate and Recover in support of the California statewide training strategy.
The Cal EMA Earthquake Program provides specialized earthquake preparedness planning and technical assistance to local governments, business, schools, hospitals, the public and other groups.
Statewide Operations Division
From the on-set of a disaster to the removal of debris, the firefighters and emergency managers of the Statewide Operations Division are working to meet the needs of California’s 58 county operational areas. In 2009, this team of professionals managed the response to and recovery from major disasters while also addressing the tsunami risk in California.Fire & Rescue Division
The Cal EMA Fire and Rescue Division, which coordinates the statewide response of fire mutual aid resources to all types of emergencies throughout the state, responded to more than 115 mutual aid incidents in 2004/05. The Fire & Rescue Division also houses the Hazardous Materials Section (Haz Mat). Haz Mat is responsible for the statewide implementation and local government oversight of hazardous material emergency management programs.Recovery Division
The Recovery Division is responsible for managing disaster recovery and providing assistance to local governments and individuals impacted by disasters. The Division is proactive in promoting recovery preparedness and planning and actively seeks input from all stakeholders, including private non-profit organizations, private sector businesses, and the public.Law Enforcement Division
Since 1960, the Cal EMA Law EnforcementLaw enforcement agency
In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
Division has provided valuable services to support California’s law enforcement agencies. The Law Enforcement Division works directly with the 58 California Sheriffs along with Police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
Departments, University
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
Police, as well as other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The Law Enforcement Division, with its longstanding leadership role in the coordination of local law enforcement mutual aid requests, deploys law enforcement assets to disaster scenes and provides law enforcement mutual aid guidance. Each year, Search and Rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
(SAR) assignments consume much of the branch staff’s time and effort. Last year, Cal EMA coordinated resource deployments on nearly 600 SAR missions. From searching for missing hikers or skiers, to mobilizing for a water rescue, division staff coordinates the local SAR resources that are required to complete the mission. Annually, the division sustains the success of the SAR program by hosting quarterly statewide SAR coordinator meetings, numerous technical courses, including the popular “Winter Search Management” course, and hosting numerous search and rescue training conferences.
Information Technology Branch
The Information TechnologyInformation technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
Branch is made up of four Sections; Client Support, GIS (Geographic Information Systems), Networking and Programming. The IT branch takes care of all of the computer assets for CalEMA, from desktop assets to servers and the network infrastructure at region offices.
Telecommunications and Interoperability Branch
The ability to communicate is a key factor in managing the response effort. Good reliable communications is essential. The California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) Telecommunications Section is responsible for InteroperableInteroperability
Interoperability is a property referring to the ability of diverse systems and organizations to work together . The term is often used in a technical systems engineering sense, or alternatively in a broad sense, taking into account social, political, and organizational factors that impact system to...
and Emergency Telecommunications in the state. To accomplish this task, Cal EMA maintains a Warning Center and a State Operations Communications Center at its Mather Headquarters, and Region Communications Centers at each Administrative Region that provide communication resources at Cal EMA Offices. The Cal EMA Telecommunications Section also coordinates various statewide communications, communications assets and assists local governments in communications planning.
Cal EMA Telecommunications Branch coordinates the following Programs and Functions:
California Interoperability Coordinators Office (CICO)
Statewide Auxiliary Communications Services Program
Operational Area Satellite Information System Program