PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE
Meeting Date: June 15, 2026
Subject: Emergency Operations Plan Update
Submitted For: David O. Livingston, Sheriff-Coroner
Department: Office of the Sheriff-Coroner
Referral Name: Opportunities to Improve Coordination of Response to Disasters and Other Public Emergencies
Presenter: Rick Kovar, Emergency Services Manager
Contact: rkova@so.cccounty.us
Referral History:
The Board of Supervisors authorized the creation of the Emergency Services Policy Board (ESPB) to serve in an advisory capacity on emergency preparedness efforts and the coordination of planning efforts throughout the County, including the County Emergency Operations Plan (EOP).
The Public Protection Committee (PPC) has on referral the matter of Opportunity to Improve Coordination of Response to Disasters and Other Public Emergencies, with reporting done on an as-needed basis. The Emergency Operations Plan being a 5-year plan that sets the foundation for emergency management operations for the County, is presented to this Committee as a topic under the larger referral. California Government (Government Code § 8550-8669.7) and Security Management System (SeMS) compliance dictate counties maintain a County Emergency Operations Plan. The current EOP was adopted by the Board of Supervisors in November 2022.
The EOP establishes processes for the county to prepare for, respond to, and recover from the effects of large-scale emergencies regardless of cause, location, or complexity. The plan describes operating concepts, partner agencies, responsibilities, and Emergency Operation Center functions that will occur during an emergency. The EOP is written in alignment with industry best practice, the State Emergency Operations Plan, and FEMA planning guidance.
The EOP and the supporting annexes also describe the all-hazards emergency management system within Contra Costa County. As this plan addresses County functions, it does not serve as a public preparedness document. While the County EOP describes how local jurisdiction and special districts will work together in a disaster, each individual agency is responsible for developing their own emergency management frameworks in their community.
Referral Update:
Recent legislation requires that Cal OES review 10 County EOPs every year, and Contra Costa County was selected in 2025 for a review. Through this process, Cal OES reviewed the current County emergency plans and supporting annexes:
- 2022 Emergency Operations Plan
- Supporting Annexes to the EOP
o 2024 Air Quality Response Plan
o 2025 Alert and Warning Annex (Working Draft)
o 2025 Care and Shelter Annex (Draft)
o 2024 Extreme Heat Annex
o 2024 Extreme Winter Weather Annex (Working Draft)
o 2025 Public Information/Joint Information Center Annex
o 2025 Transportation Plan (Working Draft)
- Other Emergency Management Related Plans
o 2024 Integrated Preparedness Plan
o 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan - Volume 1
The review compared all of Contra Costa County plans with federal guidance, state legislation, and industry best practices. The review found that while Contra Costa County made great strides in developing processes for emergency translation, emergency transportation planning, and Care and Shelter planning, there are notable areas for improvement.
Areas for improvement identified include the level of outreach and partner involvement in the Emergency Planning process. In response, the County Office of Emergency Services (OES) has updated the process through which the EOP is updated to include multiple opportunities for both public and partner feedback. Additionally, County departments with roles in the Emergency Operations Center will be involved throughout the planning process through regular meetings as part of the steering committee. This will allow departments to provide timely feedback that shapes overall development of the plan.
Another identified area for improvement includes the lack of current evacuation planning. Recent legislation, such as SB99 and AB747, requires that all local governments have an evacuation plan developed. County OES is working in support of Contra Costa County Transportation Agency’s evacuation study which will set the foundation for future evacuation planning countywide. Given the interconnected nature of Contra Costa County, evacuation planning is a comprehensive effort and requires representatives from special districts, local jurisdictions and partner agencies. Current staff capacity does not allow for the development of a well-developed evacuation plan, therefore, there is currently no established county evacuation guidance.
As with the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, the updated recommendations and feedback have created more intensive requirements for the development of the Emergency Operations Plan. This has increased the staff and partner time needed for the completion of this plan and created a more robust requirement for public outreach.
EOP Update Planning Process
New Cal OES guidance has increased the time commitment and coordination needed to complete the plan to current emergency management standards. The plan is currently in the initial stages of development and public comment. The estimated timeline for completion for the EOP is Fall 2027.
The County Office of Emergency Services will work with County departments to update the Emergency Operations Plan. The steering committee, which consists of representatives from each department with positions in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will meet on a regular basis to ensure relevant updates, provide subject matter expertise, and to help familiarize other EOC personnel and partners with the process described in the plan.
Throughout the planning process, there will be multiple opportunities for the public, partner agencies, and County departments to provide feedback into the development of the plan. This feedback will be collected through a combination of public meetings, presentations, and a survey. Feeback received will be reviewed and potentially incorporated into the update process. Initial feedback will be collected June - August 2026 and a second round of public feedback will be collected after the draft is complete, scheduled for the summer of 2027.
Please see attached report for additional information.
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
ACCEPT the report from the Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services for an update on the Emergency Operation Plan.
Fiscal Impact (if any):
No fiscal impact.