Ventura County is vulnerable to a wide range of disasters including earthquakes, floods, fires, hazardous material incidents, dam failures, civil unrest, transportation accidents, tsunamis and terrorism. There is also a potential for a public health and agricultural emergencies to occur within the County.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the County’s disaster preparedness and response program, as well as development of the Ventura County Multi Hazard Functional Plan, which serves as the County’s Emergency Response Plan. In addition, OES is responsible for maintaining the County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), as well as coordinating EOC activities during a disaster. OES staff also oversees the County’s disaster volunteer programs, including the Auxiliary Communications Services (ACS) and the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART).
Within California’s emergency management organizational structure, each county serves as an Operational Area. In this role, Ventura County Sheriff’s OES acts as an agent between State OES and the cities, special districts and unincorporated areas of Ventura County. During a disaster, this includes gathering information on the County’s emergency response needs, assessing county and state resources, and facilitating the acquisition, use and coordination of those resources.
Role of the Ventura County Sheriff
The Sheriff is the Director of Disaster Services for the county as well as the Operational Area Coordinator. The County’s disaster ordinance has granted the Sheriff with a number of powers and duties including the following:
- To request that the Board of Supervisors proclaim a “local emergency” if the Board is in session, or to issue such proclamation if the Board is not in session, subject to ratification by the Board within seven days.
- To recommend that the Chair of the Board or the County Executive Officer request the Governor to proclaim a “State of Emergency” when, in the opinion of the Director, the locally available resources are inadequate to cope with the emergency.
- To control and direct the effort of the County’s emergency organization and ensure that the County fulfills its duties as an Operational Area.
- Obtain vital supplies and equipment and, if required, immediately commandeer the same for public use.
- Impose penalties for violation of lawful orders.
- Conduct emergency operations with incurring legal liability for, or failure of performance.
Role of the Ventura County Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
An Emergency Operations Center is a pre-designated facility established by an agency or jurisdiction to coordinate the overall agency or jurisdictional response and support to an emergency. The County’s EOC is activated when the field level responders need additional support. Emergencies requiring EOC activation include the following:
- A significant earthquake causing damage in the county or neighboring jurisdictions.
- An uncontrolled release or failure of a dam.
- An impending or declared “State of War Emergency”.
- An emergency situation that has occurred or might occur that will require a large commitment of resources from two or more county departments over an extended period of time, such as a civil disturbance or aircraft disaster.
In addition, as the Operational Area Coordinator, the Sheriff may be required to activate the EOC under the following conditions:
- A local government has activated its EOC and requests activation of the operational area EOC to support their emergency operations.
- Two or more cities within the operational area have proclaimed a local emergency.
- The County and/or city (ies) within the county have requested a governor’s proclamation of a State of Emergency.
- The operational area is requesting, or has received, resources from outside its boundaries. This does not include resources used in day-to-day operations, which are obtained through existing mutual aid agreements.
For planning purposes, the Ventura County Multi Hazard Functional Plan recognizes three levels of response to peacetime emergencies, which are based on the severity of the situation and the availability of resources.
LEVEL ONE – Decentralized Coordination and Direction
A minor to moderate incident where local resources are adequate and available. A Local Emergency may or may not be proclaimed. The County EOC may or may not be activated. Off-duty personnel may be recalled.
LEVEL TWO – Centralized Coordination and Decentralized Direction
A moderate to severe emergency where local resources are not adequate and mutual aid may be required on a regional or even statewide basis. Key management level personnel from the principal involved agencies will co-locate in a central location to provide jurisdictional or multi-jurisdictional coordination. The EOC should be activated. Off-duty personnel may be recalled. A Local Emergency will be proclaimed and a State of Emergency may be proclaimed.
LEVEL THREE – Centralized Coordination and Direction
A major local or regional disaster where resources in or near the impacted area are overwhelmed and extensive state and/or federal resources are required. A Local Emergency and a State of Emergency will be proclaimed and a Presidential Declaration of an Emergency or Disaster will be requested. All response and early recovery activities will be directed from the EOC. Off-duty personnel will be recalled.
Role of the Ventura County Employees
All Ventura County employees are Disaster Service Workers. As a disaster service worker, the role of County employees includes the following:
- Report to work and be prepared to assist in the emergency response as assigned by their supervisor, including activities that are outside their normal scope of work.
- Employees who cannot get to work after a disaster, due to road closures or similar complication, may report to the closest government office to volunteer their assistance.
The County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) serves as one of the central points for activating the Emergency Alert System (EAS) for broadcasting emergency information to residents.
To Obtain Emergency Information Tune To One of the Radio Stations |
KVEN 1450 AM |
| KHAY 100.7 FM |
| KMLA 103.7 FM (SPANISH) |
Other County Departments & Cooperating Agencies |
|
(805) 389-9710 |
Naval Base |
(805) 947-8370 |
|
(805) 654-2001 |
|
(805) 339-2234 Ext . 229 |
|
(805) 981-5331 |
Public Health Department Emergency Medical Services |
(805) 981-5301 |
