Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan - County of Santa Clara

• Providing emergency information and instructions to the public, making official
releases to the news media and the scheduling of press conferences as necessary, and
• Developing emergency policies and procedures.
EOC Location and Description
The EOC is located within the Office of the Sheriff’s building, which was constructed in the
late 1950s. The building has been renovated on several occasions to improve functionality and
enhance capability. In the 1990s the building underwent seismic retrofitting. The building has
designated secured parking, facility access points, and restrooms. Work areas for EOC
functions are wheel chair accessible.
The EOC is supplied with a computer network, telephones, dedicated fax lines, televisions, and
County communication systems. ARES/RACES operators are located in the Auxiliary
Communications Center adjacent to the PIO room. Staffing pattern is ICS-based. The County
Executive (or other designated staff) serves as the Director of Emergency Services with
additional staffing provided by County Department heads (or other designated personnel) and
other supporting agencies including CALFIRE, California Highway Patrol (CHP), California
National Guard (CNG), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Coastal Region OES, PG&E,
American Red Cross, and other agencies as needed.
Alternate EOC Location and Description
The alternate EOC is located within the County Communications facility. Pre-positioned
stocks of equipment and supplies are currently stored at County Communications. Direction
and control authority will be transferred from the primary EOC to an alternate EOC when
deemed necessary by the Director of Emergency Services. The Logistics Section will arrange
for relocation of EOC staff members to the alternate EOC. All Section Coordinators will
advise their emergency response field forces of the transition to the alternate EOC.
There are designated disabled parking spaces, facility access points, and restrooms. Work areas
used for alternate EOC functions are wheel chair accessible.
Emergency response coordination may be conducted from the EOC or from other locations
depending on the situation. The EOC may be partially or fully staffed to meet the demands of
the situation.
Pursuant to The California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 2, Office of Emergency
Services, the Operational Area EOC shall be activated when any of the following conditions
exists:
• A local government within the operational area has activated its EOC and requested
activation of the operational area EOC to support their emergency operations
• Two or more cities within the operational area have declared or proclaimed a local
emergency
• The county and one or more cities have declared or proclaimed a local emergency
• A city, city and county, or county has requested a governor’s proclamation of a state of
emergency, as defined in Government Code §8558(b)
• A state of emergency is proclaimed by the governor for the county or two or more cities
within the operational area
• The operational area is requesting resources from outside its boundaries, except those
resources used in normal day-to-day operations which are obtained through existing
agreements providing for the exchange or furnishing of certain types of facilities and
services on a reimbursable, exchange, or other basis as provided for under the Master
Mutual Aid Agreement.
In all other cases activation will be at the discretion of the Director of Emergency Services.
Page 35 of 57