Introduction to the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS)

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Introduction to the Standardized Emergency
Management System (SEMS)
2
The Standardized Emergency Management System
(SEMS)

• Course Objectives
• Define 4 Components
• Explain how 5 Levels of Government interact
• Describe the 5 Functions

3
Acronyms

• SEMS Standardized Emergency Management System
• NIMS National Incident Management System
• ICS Incident Command System
• EOC Emergency Operations Center
• REOC Region Emergency Operations Center
• DOC Department Operations Center

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SEMS, In the Beginning

• After the 1991 East Bay Hills fire, Senator
  Petris introduced SB 1841
• When chaptered, it directed Cal EMA (then OES),
  to develop maintain SEMS with the support of
  other state/local agencies

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Legal Basis

• SEMS - Government Code 8607 California
  Emergency Services Act

INTENT To Improve Coordination of Federal,
State and Local Emergency Management Response.
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CA STATE LAW SAYS

• ALL State Agencies are required to use SEMS !

Plus...
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California State Law States.

• Local governments must use SEMS to be eligible
  for state funding of
• Response-related personnel costs !
• (Includes Special Districts)

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The Standardized Emergency Management System is
based on

• Proven best practices, all-hazard, emergency
  management and response concept
• Organizationally flexible, ICS works well for
  both small and large situations
• Multi-Agency, multi-jurisdictional
  Interdisciplinary
• These concepts are also part of the National
  Incident Management System

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SEMS - What are the Four Components?

1. Incident Command System
2. Multi/Inter-Agency Coordination
3. Mutual Aid (6 Regions)
4. Operational Area Concept

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Incident Command System (ICS)

• Standardized, on-scene, all-hazard incident
  management structure
• Efficiently integrates responders from a variety
  of agencies
• ICS is also part of the NIMS

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Basic ICS Features

• Common terminology
• Modular organization
• Management by objectives
• Reliance on an Incident Action Plan

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ICS Benefits

• The safety of responders, workers and others
• Standardized approach, applicable for all
  hazards, by all levels of government
• Used to manage emergency and non emergency
  incidents

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Multi/Inter-Agency Coordination

• Coordination between Agencies and/or
  Jurisdictions
• Facilitates the Management Tracking of
  Resources and Response Information
• Cooperative Decisions made on Policies,
  Priorities Allocation of Resources

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Master Mutual Aid Agreement

• Original agreement 1950 and includes all CA
  political subdivisions
• Voluntary and reciprocal agreements which provide
  services, resources, and facilities

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Mutual Aid Regions
To facilitate Mutual Aid, the state is
geographically divided into six (6) mutual aid
regions
Each Mutual Aid Region has a Regional Coordinator
and a State (Cal EMA) Coordinator
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Mutual Aid/Assistance Systems

• Established Mutual Aid/Assistance agreements form
  essential links
• Emergency Management Mutual Aid (EMMA)
• Fire Rescue Mutual Aid
• Law Enforcement Mutual Aid
• Emergency Medical Mutual Aid

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Operational Area Concept

• County and All Political Subdivisions
• Op Area coordinates Mutual Aid within the County
  Boundaries
• Op Area may broker resources between its
  Subdivisions

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The Five SEMS Functions (Command/Management
General Staff)
Command or Management
PLANNING/ INTELLIGENCE
FINANCE/ ADMINISTRATION
LOGISTICS
OPERATIONS
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Incident Command Post (ICP) vs. Emergency
Operations Center (EOC)
Incident Command Post
Emergency Operations Center

• ICP commands tactical response to incidents from
  simple to complex (car accident to wildland fire)
• Incidents use ICS forms, structure and
  terminology
• Close to an incident

• Supports ICP with resources beyond capabilities
  of discipline specific mutual aid
• Manages information
• Coordinates resources

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Tactical vs. Strategic

• Websters defines Tactical as
• of or relating to combat tactics of or occurring
  at the battlefront of or relating to small-scale
  actions serving a larger purpose made or carried
  out with only a limited or immediate end in view.
• And Strategic as
• of, relating to, or marked by strategy of great
  importance within an integrated whole or to a
  planned effect.

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Incident Command Post vs. Emergency Operations
Center

• ICP commands tactical response to incidents
  from the simplest (single auto wreck) to more
  complex (wildfire) relies on discipline-specific
  expertise)
• EOCs are activated to manage information and
  support incidents, with resources beyond their
  discipline-specific capabilities.

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Command

• To direct with authority give orders to
• To have control or authority over rule a
  general who commands an army.
• To have at one's disposal a person who commands
  
• To deserve and receive as due exact The troops'
  bravery commanded respect.
• (American Heritage Dictionary)

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Manage

• 1.To handle or direct with a degree of skill as
• a to make and keep compliant
• b to treat with care
• c to exercise executive, administrative, and
  supervisory direction of
• 2.To work upon or try to alter for a purpose
• 3.To succeed in accomplishing
• Merriam Webster Dictionary

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SEMS 5 ORGANIZATIONAL LEVELS
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EOC Organization
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Comparing Action PlansField vs. EOC

• EOC Action Plan
• Establish a mobilization center for incoming
  personnel.
• Find medical personnel outside of impacted
  county.
• Call for Caltrans SMEs to work with Public works.

• Field Action Plan
• Set-up scene perimeter
• Bulldoze debris away from structures
• Triage of injured at scene
• Hazmat team working on identifying spill.

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Action Planning Focus by EOC Section
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Tactical Objectives vs. Strategic Objectives

• Rescue trapped persons
• Put out fire
• Clear debris
• Set up evacuation routes
• Fill sand bags
• Identify hazardous material

• Establish PIO briefing schedule
• Set up cost accounting procedures
• Brief elected officials
• Locate scarce resources based on needs of Field
  activity

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Five Levels of ResponseLevel 1

• Tactical on-scene response
• The use of Incident Command Posts as required
• Provides for Unified Command
• Requests support from the Local Government EOC or
  DOC

Field
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Level 2

• City, County, Special District
• Emergency Management
• Establish and maintain EOCs and DOCs
• Implement Local Emergency Plans
• Requests Support from Operational Area
• Supports Field Level activity

Local Government
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Level 3

• County and all Political Subdivisions
• Establish and maintain Op. Area EOCS
• Coordinates with Cities and Special Districts to
  Broker Resources
• Make requests to the REOCS

Operational Area
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Level 4
Region

• State Level
• Located in Mather, Oakland and Los Alamitos
• Regional Emergency Operations Centers (REOCs)
• Implement State Emergency Plan
• Brokers Resources between Operational Areas
• Mission Tasks State Agencies
• Coordinates Assigned Federal Resources

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Level 5

• Cal EMA State Agency Executives - Headquarters
• Located at Mather
• State Operations Center (SOC)
• Brokers Resources between Regions
• Interface with the National Response Framework
• Informs Governor and Legislature
• Implements State Level Media Policy

State
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Summary

• SEMS is part of the Emergency Services Act, CA
  Government Code
• Four Components
• ICS, Mutual Aid, Interagency Coordination,
  Operational Area
• Five levels of Government
• Field, Local Government, Op Area, Region, State
• Five Organizational Functions Field EOC
• Command/Management, Operations, Planning
  Intelligence, Logistics, Finance/Administration
• More Training Available Cal EMA website