Detail of Issue Area

Consistency with the National Preparedness Priorities allows the OHS to focus on the overarching and capability specific priorities that consist of

1. Implementing the National Incident Management System and National Response Plan,
2. Expanding Regional Collaboration,
3. Implementing the National Infrastructure Protection Plan,
4. Strengthening Information Sharing and Collaboration Capabilities,
5. Strengthening Interoperable Communication Capabilities,
6. Strengthen Chemical-Biological-Radiological-Nuclear-Explosive (CBRNE) Detection, Response, and Decontamination Capabilities,
7. Strengthen Medical Surge and Mass Prophylaxis Capabilities, and
8. Strengthen Emergency Operations Planning and Citizen Protection.

OHS uses these primary initiatives to aid in the compilation of the OHS State Homeland Security Strategy as a guiding document for funding allocation which is incorporated into the OHS State Grant Funding Strategy, internal project development, and performance measures. The results are folded into the OHS Annual Report to the Legislature. The capabilities-based approach in planning provides a means to achieve measurable outcomes through the performance of critical tasks, under specific conditions, to target levels of performance. The capability planning process involves threat analysis, mission area analysis, task analysis, capabilities development, identification of needs, strategy development, readiness assessment, which is then tested through exercises and other assessments. The tools that are used include the National Planning Scenarios, Task Taxonomy, the Universal Task List, the Target Capabilities List, and Information Systems. Prior to January 2006, the PREP Unit within OHS did not exist. During 2006, PREP dedicated resources to identifying the various federal, State, local, tribal, and non-governmental committees and initiatives that were not a primary responsibility of another directorate within OHS. PREP then assumed the responsibility for ensuring the collaboration and synchronization of these efforts internally and externally. This included outreach to ensure OHS was cognizant of external planning projects and that our external partners were aware of the resources and capabilities that exist within OHS.

California OHS coordinates and collaborates with many agencies to look at an all-hazards approach involving the mission specific areas of prevention, protection, response and recovery. PREP primary partnerships include:

• Federal Agencies
• Department of Homeland Security
• FEMA Region IX
• United States Coast Guard
• United States Navy
• Sandia National Laboratory
• Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory State Agencies
• California Office of Emergency Services
• California Department of Health Services
• California Volunteers
• California Environmental Protection Agency
• California Department of Food and Agriculture
• California Tribal Nations Council
• California National Guard
• California Emergency Medical Services Authority
• California Department of Fish and Game
• California State Lands Commission
• State University and Academic Institutions Non-governmental Organizations
• Business Executives for National Security
• California Hospital Association
• The Security Network
• California Council on Science and Technology
• Public Policy Institute for California

The four homeland security mission areas provide planners the ability to develop risk management methodology in order to prioritize initiatives based on natural or intentional disasters by looking at the threats, vulnerabilities, and consequences associated with a disaster. The OHS directorates and our primary partners approach planning activities based primarily on terrorism. These include:

Prevention: the ability, capacity, competency, and capability to

• Detect terrorist threats through

1. the identification and tracking of suspected terrorists,
2. identifying suspected terrorist intentions,
3. identify and track extreme and terrorist sources of support, and
4. identify terrorist capabilities

• Control access to critical infrastructure locations by

1. pre-screening people and materials
2. screen, inspect, and restrict people and materials, and
3. monitor areas

• Eliminate threats through

1. investigation and apprehension of terrorist suspects,
2. seizure of materials,
3. defeat weapons and capabilities,
4. disruption of sources of support, and
5. prosecution of suspected terrorists

Protection: the ability, capacity, competency, and capability to

• Protect physical/cyber assets and systems by

1. managing risk to physical/cyber assets and systems,
2. defend and devalue physical assets and systems, and
3. defend and devalue cyber assets and systems

• Mitigate risks to human and animal health by

1. managing risk to human and animal health,
2. protect human and animal health, and
3. mitigation and protection of life safety systems

Response: the ability, capacity, competency, and capability to

• Evaluate the incident by

1. assessing the incident and needed resources, and
2. determining the cause and origin of the incident

• Minimize the impact by

1. effective management of the incident,
2. appropriate response to the particular hazard,
3. implementing protective measures and actions for responders and the public at large, and
4. conduct search and rescue operations

• Care for the public by

1. providing medical care,
2. distribute prophylaxis,
3. provide mass care, and
4. manage mass fatalities

Recovery: the ability, capacity, competency, and capability to

• Assist the public in order to

1. provide long term health care, and
2. sustain assistance to the public

• Restore the environment by

1. disposing of hazardous materials,
2. conducting site remediation, and
3. restoring natural resources

• Restore the infrastructure by

1. restoring necessary life sustaining systems,
2. reconstitution of governmental services,
3. rebuilding property, and
4. restoring the economy and institutions

To date, PREP has participated in the review and provided recommendations for the California Pandemic Influenza Plan, the California Hazard Mitigation Plan, the California SEMS/NIMS Implementation Plan, the Department of Homeland Security Bio-watch Actionable Result protocols, California General Plan Guidelines, the United States Coast Guard Sectors San Francisco, Los Angeles/Long Beach, and San Diego Area Maritime Security Plans, the National Maritime Operations Recovery Plan, the California Mass Fatality Plan, the California Mass Sheltering Plan and the California and National Vulnerable Populations Plan and the National Comprehensive Reviews of both Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant and San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station.

Internal and External Outreach Activities

Agency outreach to our stakeholders and partnerships is imperative in order to provide the opportunities to share critical information, new initiatives, best practices and lessons learned. PREP on behalf of OHS has facilitated several workshops and conferences. OHS has hosted or sponsored the Annual OHS Regional State Conferences at locations in Northern and Southern California, the California Transportation Sector’s Port/Maritime and Surface Transportation Security Workshop, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Domestic Nuclear Detection Office’s Stakeholder Workgroup meeting in Southern California. Staff personnel have provided presentations and participated on national and local panels within and outside the State giving insight into the activities associated with homeland security occurring in California. The outreach opportunities are imperative in order to continue the Office of Homeland Security’s mission to be a national leader in emergency preparedness and homeland security.