Item 26 - Adoption of the City of Santa Ana Emergency Operations Plan

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City of Santa Ana Emergency Operations Plan Part I Basic Plan Success in saving lives and property is dependent on timely dissemination of warning and emergency information to the population(s) threatened. The City of Santa Ana is responsible for alerting and warning the residents and businesses in the City. The Santa Ana Police Department Communications Division and Watch Commander serve as the City's primary, 24-hour warning and notification points to receive information and notify or activate the appropriate City departments and staff. The Emergency Management/Homeland Security Division and Emergency Operations Coordinator act as additional warning points. Notification refers to the processes by which the City will distribute warnings or emergency information to City staff and agencies and to the public. Notification also includes the processes of activating City staff into a response role and directing the public to take protective actions. 3.6.1 Alerts and Warnings Received by the City of Santa Ana National Warning System - NAWAS NAWAS is a 24-hour continuous private line telephone system used to convey warnings to federal agencies and state and local governments. Originally, the primary mission of NAWAS was to warn of an imminent enemy attack or missile launch upon the United States. NAWAS still supports this mission but now also includes warning of terrorist actions, natural (including weather related) and technological disasters. NAWAS allows issuance of warning to all stations nationwide or to selected stations as dictated by the situation. The system may be activated from two federal facilities that are staffed 24 hours daily: the FEMA Warning Center and the FEMA Alternate Warning Center. Each state has a designated warning point to receive messages and further distribute them within the state. The California State Warning Center and CALWAS (see below) serve as the NAWAS warning point for California and will distribute any NAWAS warnings to each County. California State Warning Center (CSWC) The California State Warning Center is the official state level point of contact for emergency notifications. The CSWC maintains contact with the NAWAS National Warning Center, state and federal agencies and Operational Area Warning Points. The CSWC may be operated from two state facilities operated 24 hours daily: the primary CSWC at California OES State Headquarters, backed up by the California Highway Patrol Headquarters, both in Sacramento. Notifications received by CSWC: • Local governments and Operational Areas notify CSWC of emergencies affecting their community in accordance with existing laws or when state assistance may be requested. • Earthquake Notifications: CSWC receives notifications of earthquakes from the California Integrated Seismic Network (CISN), National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS). • Tsunami Notifications: CSWC receives tsunami notifications from the National Tsunami Warning Center via the National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Warning Center. • Weather Notifications: CSWC receives notification of forecast or existing severe weather conditions from the NWS Forecast Offices. • Energy Notifications: The California Independent Systems Operator (California ISO) monitors the state's power grids. When the grid is unable to meet electrical demands, the California ISO will direct utilities to reduce their load and issue emergency notices of energy interruptions. CSWC will be notified when the operating reserves reach these critical levels. • Hazardous Materials/Oil Spill Release Notifications: In accordance with state law, CSWC will be notified of any release or threatened release of hazardous materials. CSWC Dissemination of Alert and Warnings: CSWC is responsible for informing, alerting and notifying local governments, Operational Areas, state officials and the federal government of emergencies occurring in the state. CSWC is equipped with a number of telephone, data and radio systems to distribute information, primarily including CALWAS and CLETS: 126