Concept of Emergency Operations

All jurisdictions within the State of California use the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) to manage multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional emergencies. With SEMS, agencies can transition smoothly from day-to-day activities to emergency operations.
Standardizing the emergency management system facilitates:

A. The flow of information during a post-disaster response

and

B. Coordination among all responding agencies

The basic SEMS model is a five-level Incident Command System-based emergency response structure, and each level is activated as needed:

1. Field response Responders carry out activities in direct response to the emergency.

2. Local government Local jurisdictions manage the overall response activities.

3. Operational area County and all cities and special districts within the county.

4. Regional Geographical regions manage information and resources among operational areas within their boundaries.

5. State The state agency is responsible for coordinating state resources, mutual aid, and federal agency assistance.

Emergency Control Structure

Mutual Aid & Administrative Regions