To: Board of Supervisors, County of Sonoma
Department or Agency Name(s): Emergency Management
Staff Name and Phone Number: Jeffrey DuVall / (707) 565-1152
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Sonoma County Terrorism / Active Shooter Annex
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Receive and approve a new Terrorism / Active Shooter Annex to the County’s Emergency Operations Plan.
end
Executive Summary:
In March 2022, the Board of Supervisors adopted the County’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). The EOP facilitates coordination between County departments and Operational Area partners, including cities, special districts, community-based organizations, and the private sector in the event of a major emergency incident or disaster. The EOP outlines the specific actions that the County and the Operational Area will carry out when an emergency exceeds or has the potential to exceed the capacity of a single agency or jurisdiction to respond, as well as outlining an organizational framework and addressing steps needed to safeguard the whole community.
The proposed Terrorism and Active Shooter Annex to the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) outlines the policies, procedures, and staff roles in response to an active shooter (ASI) or terrorism incident. While the annex acknowledges the federal government and local first responders as the lead in active shooter and terrorism incidents, this annex positions the County as the Operational Area coordination lead to support these entities and provide services to survivors of any incident.
Response to an active shooter/terrorism incident is primarily the role of law enforcement, fire, and other first-response organizations. It will likely be coordinated at the state or federal level. The County as the Operational Area lead will support first responders with logistics and communication and to provide services through Family Assistance Centers, Reunification Centers, Mass Care Services, and debris removal as needed.
All relevant County department, agencies, cities and special districts have reviewed the Annex and concur with its content.
By approving this Annex, the Board establishes clear and consistent policies and provides County staff with direction on how support and services should be provided to community members in an Active Shooter/ Terrorism incident.
Discussion:
Background
Sonoma County has been fortunate. The County has not experienced the sort of mass shooting events that have become tragically commonplace. Those incidents, along with the false alarms and close calls experienced by local Sonoma County schools, do however serve as a reminder, that the threat of an active shooter incident or act of terrorism remain present.
Terrorism and active shooting incidents, by their very nature, target a community’s blind spots and vulnerabilities. “Soft” targets such as schools, transportation hubs such as the Sonoma County airport and SMART train, major transportation arteries such as highway 101 and highway 12, critical infrastructure such as our County’s many dams, and even natural vulnerabilities like Sonoma’s susceptibility to wildfires could all be targets of a terrorist incident.
Unlike natural disasters, an active shooter or terrorist incident will occur with little to no warning, beginning suddenly and end relatively quickly. That is why the annex assumes the response will be primarily organized by first responders, especially law enforcement, fire, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS), with the County supporting response efforts and assisting survivors in their recovery. Details on the County’s role in a response are articulated in the Annex, which incorporates both best practices as well as lessons learned from recent disasters and exercises.
The immediate response to an active shooter/terrorist incident is primarily the role of law enforcement, fire, EMS, Public Health, and other first responder organizations. An incident that occurs with no notice will trigger a significant response - the response may be challenged by overlapping jurisdictions and over-subscribed communications systems. Depending on the nature of the incident, specialized law enforcement or fire/EMS resources may be required for support.
One of the first roles of The County in an active shooter or terrorist event is to provide immediate support to first responders with logistics, communication, and the activation of a Joint Information Center (JIC). This includes providing basic logistical support such as moving resources required by first responders: feeding, transportation, and other operational support. In addition, the County will coordinate with law enforcement to amplify their messaging through SoCoAlert, socoemergency.org, and other outreach channels. Additionally, the County will collaborate with first responders and County communications staff to help address potential misinformation. If a JIC is established, the County will support its operations.
In addition to immediate response support, the County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will lead the establishment of auxiliary services to victims and survivors. This includes creating a Family Assistance Center (FAC). An FAC is a safe, secure, and supportive environment serving as a centralized location to provide survivors and their families with assistance, information about missing or unaccounted persons and the deceased, and access to services in the immediate aftermath of an emergency.
In addition, the County would oversee the establishment of a Reunification Center. A Reunification Center is a safe place for victims, their families, and other community members impacted by a terrorist incident to obtain information, reconnect with loved ones, and receive basic services. The Reunification Center will be a temporary operation, lasting hours or days at most. A Reunification Center should be established separately from, but near to a FAC to maximize the privacy of victims and their families.
The EOC will also organize Mass Care services, if needed, including sheltering feeding, and distributing of emergency supplies. In most cases, terrorist incidents will be over before most Mass Care services are required.
Shelter may be required for victims who are from out of county and are separated from their belongings, or if the incident is anticipated to keep people from returning to their homes for more than 24 hours. During the 2019 shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in Gilroy, California, a shelter was opened for survivors of the shooting visiting from out of area. These survivors were waiting to access their personal belongings, which were being held as part of an ongoing federal investigation. These needs would be identified and met through EOC operations.
A final example of a role of the County is waste management and debris removal. Depending on the nature and scope of the incident, the County, with guidance from the Department of Health Services, may support efforts of debris removal and waste management in coordination with state and federal authorities. Handling of hazardous materials will require specialized training and protective equipment which may exceed County capabilities.
A high-level summary of roles and responsibilities for various County Departments is attached to help illustrate the different roles departments may play in response to an active shooter or terrorism event and is outlined below.
High-Level Roles and Responsibilities
The Terrorism / Active Shooter Annex expands on existing emergency roles for each department within the context of a Terrorism/Active Shooter incident.
Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office
1. Coordinate Operational Area and state/federal law enforcement efforts and resources
2. Establish field Unified Command in coordination with the fire department
3. Coordinate victim rescue with the fire department as needed
4. Conduct crisis management, which may include investigation, tracking, and maintaining scene integrity
5. Conduct hostage negotiations
6. Mitigate explosive hazardous devices (detonation, rendering safe, isolating/identification of secondary)
7. Perimeter security
8. Manage site access control and law enforcement staging
9. Conduct traffic/crowd control
10. Direct evacuations
11. Safeguard evidence
12. Coordinate the Joint Hazardous Assessment Team (JHAT)
13. Coordinate fatality management
Department of Emergency Management (DEM)
1. Activate the EOC as needed
2. Staff the EOC Director Position
3. Support Alert and Warning efforts
4. Implement the Continuity of Operations Program (COOP) as needed
5. Establish and communicate policy regarding County staff reporting for assignments
6. Lead and manage proclamations of local emergency
7. Develop and maintain communication with the CAO and Board of Supervisors
8. Liaise with Unified Incident Command and/or City EOC (if needed)
County Administrator’s Office - Office of Communications
1. Assist in warning and providing information to the public
2. Provide continual incident updates to the media
3. Monitor rumors and provide information to correct misinformation
4. Assist law enforcement in establishing a JIC, if warranted
5. Disseminate specific guidance in coordination with public health in response to use of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).
Department of Health Services (DHS)
1. Coordinate with the Medical/Health OA Coordinator (MHOAC) and EMS to manage a potentially large influx of patients requiring specialized care and quarantine operations as needed
2. Coordinate procedures with EMS and the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) to obtain and integrate supplementary medical professionals
3. Coordinate with cities for mass prophylaxis operations through Points of Dispensing as needed
4. Direct behavioral health to coordinate with non-profit partners to provide immediate, sustained mental, spiritual, and behavioral health support.
5. During a WMD / Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and high yield Explosives (CBRNE) incident, the County Operational Area EOC Public Health Group will be responsible for advising the Public Health Officer and Management Section on health issues.
Human Services Department (HSD)
The Human Services Department will be responsible for opening and running reunification centers and providing Mass Care services as required during an emergency. Human Services may also provide casework support to the Family Assistance Center.
By approving this Annex, the Board will establish clear protocols for Active Shooter/ Terrorism event. This annex provides direction and guidance to County Departments and partner agencies, including cities, special districts, and community-based organizations which is clear and flexible, and ensures emergency response efforts focus on the basic needs of the community in a timely and prioritized manner.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Prior Board Actions:
December 13, 2022: Adoption of the Sonoma County Earthquake Annex to the Sonoma County Area Emergency Operations Plan.
May 10, 2022: Adoption of the Care & Shelter Annex to the Sonoma County Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan.
March 22, 2022: Adoption of the 2022 Sonoma County Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan.
August 17, 2021: Adoption of the Evacuation Annex to the Sonoma County Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan.
July 20, 2021: Adoption of the Public Safety Power Shutoff Annex to the Sonoma County Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan.
April 13, 2021: Adoption of the Alert & Warning Annex to the Sonoma County Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan.
March 10, 2020: Adoption of the Pandemic Annex to the Sonoma County Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 22-23 Adopted |
FY23-24 Projected |
FY 24-25 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
|
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
|
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
None.
|
Staffing Impacts: |
|
|
|
|
Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
|
|
|
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None.
Attachments:
1. Sonoma County Operational Area Terrorism / Active Shooter Annex
2. Anexo del Plan de Operaciones de Emergencia del Área Operativa del Condado de Sonoma: Terrorismo / Tirador activo
3. High Level Summary of Roles & Responsibilities for Various County Departments
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.