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Date: |
September 15, 2026 |
03 |
Title
Adoption of the Updated County of San Diego Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan (Districts: All)
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Overview
California’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) organizes its emergency response into operational areas and regions to ensure coordinated disaster management across the State. The County of San Diego’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) supports local emergency management functions throughout the San Diego region, including the 18 incorporated cities, as the “Operational Area”, across all four phases of emergency management, including preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. The County of San Diego Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan (Plan) is a comprehensive guide focusing on the response phase of emergency management, detailing how the region will respond to both natural and human-caused disasters. Both the County of San Diego’s (County) Code of Regulatory Ordinances and the State of California’s Emergency Services Act require that the County establish and maintain this Plan. The Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the current version of the Plan on August 30, 2022 (15).
This is a request for the Board to adopt the updated version of the Plan. This action will ensure that County emergency operations are consistent throughout the region and that the County remains eligible for future State and federal funding related to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
Body
Recommendation by Chief Administrative Officer:
Adopt the updated County of San Diego Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan, as approved by the Unified San Diego County Emergency Services Organization.
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Equity Impact Statement
The Office of Emergency Services (OES) is committed to achieving and fostering a Whole Community emergency management system within the San Diego Operational Area that is fully inclusive of all individuals. Individual differences include, but are not limited to, ability, access, and functional needs, age, life experience, military/veteran status, race, ethnicity, socio-economic class, marital status, parental status, gender/gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, and religion. By integrating community-based organizations, food system stakeholders, government programs, tribal governments or organizations, and access and functional advocacy organizations into the planning process, meaningful partnerships were developed and leveraged to update the County of San Diego Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan (Plan). These partnerships help enable the region to create, support, and sustain an inclusive and equitable emergency management system.
The Plan describes the San Diego County Operational Area’s partnership with “Partner Relay,” a network of trusted community organizations and agencies (e.g., religious organizations, non-profit organizations, refugee resettlement organizations, etc.) that support inclusive emergency management practices by sharing emergency information with communities that may have limited English proficiency.
Sustainability Impact Statement
Adoption of the updated County of San Diego Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan (Plan) strengthens resiliency by establishing a common framework that may support local jurisdictions and partner agencies during incidents requiring County coordination and assistance. It also contributes to sustainability by fostering collaboration among government agencies, tribal governments or organizations, food system stakeholders, community-based organizations, access and functional needs advocacy organizations, and private-sector partners to ensure an effective, coordinated response.
The Plan promotes economic and operational stability by establishing clear roles, authorities, and responsibilities that support the continuity of government and the delivery of essential services during major emergencies and disasters. Together, these efforts support a sustainable and resilient emergency management system that benefits the Whole Community.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with this request. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
Business Impact Statement
N/A
Advisory Board Statement
The Unified Disaster Council (UDC), a joint powers agreement between the 18 incorporated cities and County of San Diego and staffed by County Office of Emergency Services is the governing body of the Unified San Diego County Emergency Services Organization. The UDC approved the County San Diego Emergency Services Organization Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan (Plan) on June 18, 2026. Member jurisdictions may adopt the Plan as their emergency plan, with minor changes to reflect any specific requirements or needs of the individual jurisdiction.
Background
The County of San Diego Office of Emergency Services (OES) supports the San Diego region across all four phases of emergency management, including preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. The County of San Diego Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan (Plan) describes a comprehensive emergency management system that responds to disaster situations associated with natural disasters and human-caused incidents. The Plan, which includes a basic plan and 16 functional annexes, details operational concepts relating to various emergency situations. The Plan also identifies components of the Emergency Services Organization and describes the overall responsibilities for protecting life and property and assuring the well-being of the population. Included within the Plan are sources of outside support that might be provided through mutual aid and specific statutory authorities of other jurisdictions, State and Federal agencies, and the private sector. The Plan does not supersede the day-to-day procedures and specific emergency responses of the County departments/agencies and Operational Area partners. It is intended as a supplement and complement to such procedures. This updated Plan was developed in concert with and in support of local jurisdictions’ emergency plans.
OES has updated the Plan previously approved by the Board of Supervisors on August 30, 2022 (15). This updated version has been revised to reflect current policies, community needs, and changes in operations, including responsibilities, advancements in capabilities, and resources. The planning process took a Whole Community Approach, described by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a means by which residents, emergency management practitioners, organizational and community leaders, and government officials can collectively understand and assess the needs of their respective communities and determine the best ways to organize and strengthen their assets, capacities, and interests. The Plan was developed through collaboration with and guidance from representatives of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), Cal OES’ Office of Access and Functional Needs, County departments and agencies, staff from the 18 cities, special districts, law enforcement, fire service personnel, emergency managers, community-based organizations, access and functional needs advocacy organizations, tribal governments or organizations, business and food system partners, and various other public and private stakeholders.
In collaboration with the County Communications Office (CCO) and the Office of Sustainability and Environmental Justice (OSEJ), OES engaged partner organizations and the public to ensure the Plan reflects the needs, values, and priorities of San Diego County’s diverse communities. Presentations at stakeholder and community partner meetings were provided by OES, in collaboration with OSEJ, to introduce the update process and gather feedback on the Plan. The Engage San Diego project website, the County’s digital engagement platform, additionally offered an opportunity for participants to provide direct feedback on the Plan. A community engagement survey was conducted by OES to collect perspectives related to emergency preparedness and response. The survey was advertised on the Engage San Diego project website, social media accounts, and email outreach to planning participants. A public meeting was held on January 29, 2026 to highlight community feedback and how input will be used to inform updates to the Plan.
OES and County departments updated several annexes to the Plan based on lessons learned from the January 2024 floods to improve the County’s ability to prepare for, mitigate, respond to, and recover from disasters. These updates clarify the County services that will be provided at shelters, temporary lodging sites, and Local Assistance Centers. Annex L - Emergency Public Information Annex was also updated to incorporate best practices, new communication tools, and guidance on diversity, accessibility, and public messaging. Annex G - Mass Care and Shelter Operations Annex was revised to include additional information regarding transportation options for access and functional needs populations, alternative shelter options, shelter management responsibilities, shelter accommodations for people with pets, and mass feeding operations activities. Following the release of the County's Severe Storm and Flooding After Action Report and Improvement Plan in November 2024, Annex A - Emergency Management Annex was updated to establish new roles, such as the Action Plan Unit Leader and Community Liaison positions within the County's Emergency Operations Center. Additionally, Annex Q - Evacuation and Repopulation has been revised to include additional information regarding evacuation and repopulation processes, transportation options for access and functional needs populations, tribal government coordination, pet rescue procedures, communication tools used to notify the public to shelter in place or evacuate, and steps for the public to find their evacuation zone.
On June 18, 2026, the Unified Disaster Council approved the revised Plan, which can be adopted
as the jurisdictional Emergency Plan for cities, with modifications as appropriate. The Plan is required by both the County and the State. Title 3, Division 1, Chapter 1 of the San
Diego County Code of Regulatory Ordinances (Ordinance #9970) sets forth the requirement for
an emergency response plan. The State of California Emergency Services Act (Chapter 7, Division1, Title 2 of the Government Code) also requires emergency plans.
This is a request to adopt the updated version of the Plan. This action will ensure that County emergency operations are consistent with those of other jurisdictions in the region and that the County remains eligible for future State and Federal funding related to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
Linkage To The County Of San Diego Strategic Plan
Today’s proposed action supports the Sustainability, Equity, and Community Initiatives of the County of San Diego’s 2026-2031 Strategic Plan by ensuring the County’s emergency response agencies are ready to help individuals, families, and the region respond to and recover from natural and human-caused disasters.
Respectfully submitted,
Ebony N. Shelton
Chief Administrative Officer
Attachment(s)
Note: Due to the size of the attachment, the document is available online through the Clerk of the Board’s website at www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/cob/bosa.html <https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/cob/bosa.html>.
Attachment A - County of San Diego Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan 2026