ARTICLE 9.5. Disaster Preparedness [8607. - 8608.1.]

Cal. Government Code - GOV 9.5.

in effect

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 8607. Section 8607.

(a) The Office of Emergency Services, in coordination with all interested state agencies with designated response roles in the state emergency plan and interested local emergency management agencies, shall jointly establish by regulation a standardized emergency management system for use by all emergency response agencies. The public water systems identified in Section 8607.2 may review and comment on these regulations before adoption. This system shall be applicable, but not limited to, those emergencies or disasters referenced in the state emergency plan. The standardized emergency management system shall include all of the following systems as a framework for responding to and managing emergencies and disasters involving multiple jurisdictions or multiple agency responses: (1) The Incident Command Systems adapted from the systems originally developed by the FIRESCOPE Program, including those currently in use by state agencies. (2) The multiagency coordination system as developed by the FIRESCOPE Program. (3) The mutual aid agreement, as defined in Section 8561, and related mutual aid systems such as those used in law enforcement, fire service, and coroners operations. (4) The operational area concept, as defined in Section 8559. (b) Individual agencies’ roles and responsibilities agreed upon and contained in existing laws or the state emergency plan are not superseded by this article. (c) The Office of Emergency Services, in coordination with the State Fire Marshal’s office, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, the Emergency Medical Services Authority, and all other interested state agencies with designated response roles in the state emergency plan, shall jointly develop an approved course of instruction for use in training all emergency response personnel, consisting of the concepts and procedures associated with the standardized emergency management system described in subdivision (a). (d) All state agencies shall use the standardized emergency management system as adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) to coordinate multiple jurisdiction or multiple agency emergency and disaster operations. (e) (1) Each local agency, in order to be eligible for any funding of response-related costs under disaster assistance programs, shall use the standardized emergency management system as adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) to coordinate multiple jurisdiction or multiple agency operations. (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), local agencies shall be eligible for repair, renovation, or any other nonpersonnel costs resulting from an emergency. (f) Within 180 days after each declared disaster, the Office of Emergency Services shall, in cooperation with involved state and local agencies, complete an after-action report that includes a review of the public safety response and disaster recovery activities and conclusions and recommendations based on findings. The office shall make the report available to all interested public safety and emergency management organizations.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 8607.1. Section 8607.1.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that a statewide system for fire hydrants be adopted so that all firefighters can respond to emergencies calling for the use of water at any location in the state. Without this statewide standardized system, the lives of firefighters and those they serve would be put in serious jeopardy in a mutual aid fire response effort stretching across city and county boundaries. (b) By January 1, 1994, the State Fire Marshal shall establish a statewide uniform color coding of fire hydrants. In determining the color coding of fire hydrants, the State Fire Marshal shall consider the national system of coding developed by the National Fire Protection Association as Standard 291 in Chapter 2 on Fire Flow Testing and Marking of Hydrants. The uniform color coding shall not preempt local agencies from adding additional markings. (c) Compliance with the uniform color coding requirements of subdivision (b) shall be undertaken by each agency that currently maintains fire hydrants throughout the state as part of its ongoing maintenance program for its fire hydrants. Alternatively, an agency may comply with the uniform color coding requirements by installing one or more reflector buttons in a mid-street location directly adjacent to the fire hydrant in the appropriate color that would otherwise be required for the hydrant and a curb marking as near to the hydrant as practicable in that same color. (d) By July 1, 1994, the State Fire Marshal shall develop and adopt regulations establishing statewide uniform fire hydrant coupling sizes. The regulations adopted pursuant to this section shall include provisions that permit the use of an adapter mounted on the hydrant as a means of achieving uniformity. In determining uniform fire hydrant coupling sizes, the State Fire Marshal shall consider any system developed by the National Fire Protection Association, the National Fire Academy, or the Federal Emergency Management Agency. (e) By December 1, 1996, each local agency, city, county, city and county, or special district in order to be eligible for any funding of mutual aid fire response related costs under disaster assistance programs, shall comply with regulations adopted pursuant to this section. Compliance may be met if at least one coupling on the hydrant is of the uniform size. (f) Subdivision (d) shall not be applicable to the City and County of San Francisco due to the existing water system.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 8607.2. Section 8607.2.

(a) All public water systems, as defined in subdivision (f) of Section 116275 of the Health and Safety Code, with 10,000 or more service connections shall review and revise their disaster preparedness plans in conjunction with related agencies, including, but not limited to, local fire departments and the Office of Emergency Services to ensure that the plans are sufficient to address possible disaster scenarios. These plans should examine and review pumping station and distribution facility operations during an emergency, water pressure at both pumping stations and hydrants, and whether there is sufficient water reserve levels and alternative emergency power, including, but not limited to, onsite backup generators and portable generators. (b) All public water systems, as defined in subdivision (f) of Section 116275 of the Health and Safety Code, with 10,000 or more service connections following a declared state of emergency shall furnish an assessment of their emergency response and recommendations to the Legislature within six months after each disaster, as well as implementing the recommendations in a timely manner. (c) The Office of Emergency Services shall establish appropriate and insofar as practical, emergency response and recovery plans, including mutual aid plans, in coordination with public water systems, as defined in subdivision (f) of Section 116275 of the Health and Safety Code, with 10,000 or more service connections.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 8608. Section 8608.

The Office of Emergency Services shall approve and adopt, and incorporate the California Animal Response Emergency System (CARES) program developed under the oversight of the Department of Food and Agriculture into the standardized emergency management system established pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 8607.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 8608.1. Section 8608.1.

A city or county that requires a kennel license or permit to operate a kennel within its jurisdiction shall require, as a condition for obtaining the license or permit, that the kennel owner create and submit to the city or county an animal natural disaster evacuation plan for any kennel covered by the license or permit.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026