Overview

The Planning, Research and Emergency Preparedness Division (PREP) is charged with a myriad of tasks to ensure a holistic approach to the prevention, protection, response and recovery from a terrorist attack or natural disaster in the State of California. The guiding principles of PREP are coordination, collaboration, and communication with both internal and external partners.

PREP participates with planning efforts and strategy development internally and externally with our federal, State, local, and tribal partners. PREP actively participates on planning and advisory committees for development of methods to implement California’s strategic vision in an environment of uncertainty and risk. Key priorities include identifying near-term preparedness planning using the capabilities-based approach to guide planning, assessment, training, exercises, evaluation, and resource allocation activities to include Continuity of Operations/Continuity of Government planning.

PREP works seamlessly with the five other OHS divisions to achieve a unified approach for the mission and goals set forth by Directives from Governor Schwarzenegger and Homeland Security Presidential Directives. PREP also monitors new federal and State mandates, programs, and initiatives to ensure California’s compliance with a nationwide approach to the preparedness for terrorist attacks and other hazards. PREP actively works with the federal government to ensure that the nationwide approach takes into account the needs of the State of California.

Continued outreach to our partners is imperative in order to provide the opportunities to share critical information, new initiatives, best practices, and lessons learned. PREP, on behalf of OHS will continue to facilitate workshops, focus groups and conferences. These outreach opportunities are imperative in order to continue the OHS security mission and to remain a national leader in emergency preparedness and homeland security.

PREP will continue with enhanced vendor coordination and collaboration with both public and private partnerships on new products and services as they are developed through ongoing research and development. The information will be shared with federal, State, local, tribal, and private sector partners.

OHS will continue to work with existing and new partners, both public and private, for the enhancement of the State's catastrophic incident planning, response, and recovery operations. These planning efforts mirror federal guidance outlined in the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and National Response Framework. Planning efforts incorporate incident management best practices designed for consistency and alignment with national standardization efforts.

OHS works closely with OES’s Office for Access and Functional Needs and locals should visit their site for useful information on planning for planning and responding to the needs of people with disabilities and older adults

Planning activities include participation in the following areas:

• Incident management processes
• Qualifications and certification
• Communications interoperability
• Training, exercises and equipping
• Evacuations and sheltering
• Work with the special needs populations (Disabled and the Elderly)