Cal. Government Code - GOV § 8605. Section 8605.
Each county is designated as an operational area. In a state of war emergency each operational area shall serve as a link in the system of communications and coordination between the state’s emergency operating centers and the operating centers of the political subdivisions comprising the operational area.
The governing bodies of each county and of the political subdivisions in the county may organize and structure their operational area.
An operational area may be used by the county and the political subdivisions comprising the operational area for the coordination of emergency activities and to serve as a link in the communications system during a state of emergency or a local emergency.