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San Mateo County's emergency preparedness efforts are leveling up, according to a county press release,
Officials reported that the now 1,762-page 2021 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan revision is longer than Tolstoy's "War and Peace" and Márquez's "100 Years of Solitude" combined. This change reflects a more extensive upgrade: the County's Office of Emergency Services is now the Department of Emergency Management.
Elevating what was once a branch of the Sheriff's Office to a whole County department "is an opportunity to better illustrate to the public, our partners and County employees its role in managing emergency preparation and response," according to County Manager Mike Callagy.
"What we are seeing is an increase in the frequency and complexity of emergencies," he added. "The COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 wildfires are the most visible emergencies, but we also face ongoing risks and threats from sea level rise, wildfires, tsunamis, earthquakes and severe weather. The Department of Emergency Management will work with both the public and private sectors to help raise our level of preparedness across the board."
The Department of Emergency Management, or DEM, will oversee notifying agencies and coordinating regional responses in an emergency, distributing resources and developing disaster preparedness and recovery materials within the County's 20 cities.
"While managing emergencies is always foremost on our minds, it's the planning and preparedness where we really focus much of our time and energy," said Director Dan Belville.
"For instance, the Hazard Mitigation Plan is our county's blueprint for reducing the risk from natural and man-made disasters," he said. "It's a lengthy document but a necessary document that we can use to secure funding from a variety of sources to reduce those risks."
An authorized staff of 10 full-time employees will plan for emergencies and support first responders. Staff also advises the Board of Supervisors, County Manager and Emergency Services Council, including representatives from local governments, nonprofit organizations and other partners. DEM also maintains the County's Regional Operations Center and provides a duty officer on a 24-hour basis to address County, local, and state officials on matters of potential or escalating emergency conditions.
Typically, an emergency response is initiated by an individual 9-1-1 call and local police and fire departments' dispatching. Those first-responders will contact DEM in the event of an escalating emergency. If necessary, specialists coordinate a more significant response by connecting with local, regional, state, and federal agencies.
The County's Emergency Operations Center has been activated continuously for more than 640 days to help coordinate COVID-19 pandemic efforts.
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