Body of News Release
San Rafael, CA — The recent tsunami response along the California coast served as a timely test for Marin County's upgraded Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in San Rafael, highlighting the critical value of its enhanced emergency resources. Boosted by new grants and partnerships, the center’s improvements and innovative policies highlighted a new era of robust emergency management for the community.
Marin County’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM), a division of the Marin County Fire Department, has been working to strengthen disaster response and community safety with support of local partnerships and federal funding.
Marin OEM recently launched a 24/7 Duty Officer program, ensuring around-the-clock incident monitoring and the rapid dissemination of emergency alerts. The value of that program was demonstrated last week after the earthquake off the Humboldt County coast and subsequent tsunami warning. The upgraded EOC served as a centralized hub, facilitating communication and decision-making across jurisdictions, ensuring a swift and coordinated response.
Complementing the new 24/7 Duty Officer program are new technological upgrades, including advanced monitoring tools for real-time dashboards, wildfire cameras, and situational awareness for emergencies like tsunamis, wildfires, and power outages. The EOC now also features a dedicated space for press conferences to enhance public communication during crises.
Field deployment capability has been expanded with the acquisition of two SUVs for deployable staff and three Starlink systems to ensure redundant internet connectivity, even in remote or impacted areas. Additionally, upgraded workstations promote staff wellness, supporting the physical and mental health of personnel during extended emergency responses.
The expanded EOC features 85 fixed workstations with the capacity to accommodate up to 115 personnel, ensuring ample space for County of Marin staff and personnel from local cities, towns, special districts, and key partners. These include representatives from CalOES, PG&E, the National Weather Service, all of which play critical roles in regional emergency response efforts.
Overall, the improvements reflect Marin County’s commitment to unified response and preparedness. The EOC’s increased capacity and technological advancements allow for faster information sharing, coordinated responses, and enhanced communication with the public through channels like AlertMarin notifications.
“We’ve worked hard to create a space that meets the evolving needs of our community,” said Marin OEM Director Steven Torrence. “These upgrades include standardizing all emergency alerts in English and Spanish and finalizing a framework to alert the public in their preferred language. This allows us to provide a robust and equitable response during disasters and ensure the safety of Marin residents, workers, and visitors.”
Collaboration among jurisdictions has been significantly strengthened through an agreement adopted November 19, between the County and all of Marin’s cities and towns. This partnership enables the EOC to act as a shared resource, providing essential operational support for jurisdictions needing either primary or secondary emergency operations capabilities.
To further enhance operational depth, the Board of Supervisors recently accepted $300,000 in funding from the Bay Area Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI). These funds will bolster field disaster response capabilities by supporting the acquisition of the first of two heavy-duty disaster logistics trucks and field equipment such as lights, generators, and heavy equipment resources which aid in the transportation and set-up of mass care and shelter supplies. These resources will be deployed from the County’s new disaster warehouse to jurisdictions within Marin County and other counties.
These advancements in the programs significantly enhance Marin’s ability to respond effectively to emergencies, prioritizing the safety and preparedness of the community. The Marin County Emergency Portal is your trusted source for updates during emergencies—bookmark it and register for alerts at AlertMarin.org.
While the County strengthens its emergency response capabilities, preparedness is a shared responsibility and is essential. Signing up for alerts at AlertMarin ensures you receive real-time updates during critical incidents. For additional resources and tips, including creating a family emergency plan and building a go-bag, visit ReadyMarin.org. Preparedness is a shared effort—start today.