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Adopt and present a resolution recognizing September 2019 as National Preparedness Month (Supervisor Brown)
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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 2019 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:
• Deployed over 40 employees and volunteers to the Butte County Fire to direct the search for victims and clearing the missing persons list from thousands to less than 200 in three days;
• Promoted Alert Solano which allows citizens to opt-in to emergency notifications specific to their residences, places of work, and schools. Subscribers have tripled to more than 18,600 people countywide;
• Expanded the radio core used in the County’s Communications Center to allow all local agency communications centers to connect, improving interoperability in the region;
• Replaced the Computer Aided Dispatch software in the County’s Communications Center with a system that allows for improved data sharing between the County and cities during emergencies;
• Worked closely with the County Public Information Officer to provide short Public Safety Power Shutoff preparedness videos and live social media content to explain the program while mitigating the effects of extended power outages;
• Participated in, and hosted, trainings and exercises for County and city staff to improve readiness for disaster response;
• Continued to host 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, law, and emergency management mutual aid to surrounding counties and cities in response to calls for assistance and statewide requirements for equipment and personnel.
Additional information on preparedness can be obtained online at:
• www.solanocounty.com/oes <http://www.solanocounty.com/oes>
• 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 FY2019/20 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