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Adopt and present a resolution recognizing September 2018 as National Preparedness Month (Supervisor Spering)
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Sheriff recommends that the Board of Supervisors adopt and present a resolution recognizing September 2018 as National Preparedness Month.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
National Preparedness Month is a nationwide effort held each September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools. The goal of National Preparedness Month is to increase public awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies and to encourage individuals to take action. Recognizing September as National Preparedness Month also complements the Board’s priority of addressing emergency preparedness.
This year, the Solano County Office of Emergency Services (OES), a unit within the Sheriff’s Office, will continue some of the successful activities conducted in past years. The County’s partnership with KUIC FM 95.3, a local radio station, supports year-round public service announcements to promote preparedness, informs the public on ways to prepare for emergencies, and provides up-to-date announcements in an emergency situation.
National Preparedness Month is recognized by all cities in Solano County. These cities, working along with OES, disseminate emergency preparedness information. Through the use of grant funding, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) in Benicia, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun, Vacaville, and Vallejo are also an important link for OES and local cities to support emergency preparedness efforts.
In the past year, OES has:
• Purchased and implemented a new public warning and emergency notification system called Everbridge. The system allows all dispatch centers in the county to use the latest cellular, internet, and social media technologies to disseminate critical information in an emergency;
• Established AlertSolano.com to allow citizens to opt-in to emergency notifications specific to their residences, place of work, or schools;
• Completed a Communication Center upgrade that doubled the size of the Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center and will be compatible with all other dispatch centers in the county once the cities complete their scheduled equipment upgrades;
• Initiated a monthly communications meeting in the Office of Emergency Services to foster radio interoperability and coordinate the integration of new technologies available to dispatch centers and communicators; and
• Managed the deployment of fire and law mutual aid to surrounding counties and cities in response to calls for assistance and statewide requirements for fire equipment and personnel.
Additional information on preparedness can be obtained online at www.solanocounty.com/oes <http://www.solanocounty.com/oes> or www.ready.gov <http://www.ready.gov>.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs associated with preparing this agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the department’s FY2018/19 Adopted Budget. The costs associated with preparation and purchase of the resolution materials are included in the Board’s FY2018/19 Adopted Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board of Supervisors could choose not to adopt the attached resolution; however, this alternative is not recommended since non-adoption by the Board will not increase awareness about the importance of preparing for, nor encourage individuals to take action in, emergencies.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Agencies and cities throughout the County will continue to work collaboratively to disseminate emergency preparedness information to the public.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION