Upcoming Meetings:
SEMS Advisory Board Meeting -
TBD
SEMS Tech Group Meeting -
TBD
Overview of SEMS
Why the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS)?
In order to respond to frequent and multiple disasters occurring anytime and anywhere in the state, it is important that emergency response agencies operate within a clear and consistent organizational structure. Public agencies are increasingly required to manage the costs of emergencies more effectively with fewer resources. Many different agencies must work together effectively to protect lives, property, and the environment during disasters. SEMS facilitates priority setting, interagency cooperation, and the efficient flow of resources and information.
What is SEMS?
SEMS is the cornerstone of California’s emergency response system and the fundamental structure for the response phase of emergency management. The system unifies all elements of California’s emergency management community into a single integrated system and standardizes key elements.
SEMS incorporates:
Incident Command System (ICS) - A field-level emergency response system based on management by objectives
Multi/ Inter-agency coordination - Affected agencies working together to coordinate allocations of resources and emergency response activities.
Mutual Aid - A system for obtaining additional emergency resources from non-affected jurisdictions.
Operational Area Concept - County and its sub-divisions to coordinate damage information, resource requests and emergency response.
System Maintenance
Cal OES has developed a SEMS Maintenance System to address the need for changes. The three-tiered system encompasses an Advisory Board, Technical Group, and Mutual Aid Regional Advisory Committees (MARACs). Collectively, these multi-agency groups make changes to the system when necessary. They include representatives from all disciplines involved in emergency response. The Cal OES Emergency Management Systems Unit (EMSU) supports these multi-agency groups to ensure methodical review, evaluation, and approval to any improvements.
Compliance
The California Emergency Services Act 2015 Edition (ESA) requires SEMS for managing multiagency and multijurisdictional responses to emergencies in California. State agencies are required to use SEMS and local government entities must use SEMS in order to be eligible for any reimbursement of response-related costs under the state’s disaster assistance programs.
Training
An Approved Course of Instruction (ACI) is available, consisting of four courses:
Introduction to SEMS (G606) (In-person or Online)
ICS/EOC Interface (G191)
EOC Management and Operations (G775)
SEMS Executive Management Course (SEMSX)
Each course contains modules that can be used either as a series or separately, depending on the training needs of the organization. For additional training information, email Justin Freiler at justin.freiler@caloes.ca.gov.
New Online Course at CSTI.org
SEMS Introduction (SEMS G606) Online Course – 1 hour
This course provides a comprehensive discussion of the components of SEMS and how SEMS is used in California. Content includes mutual aid, multiagency coordination, the operational area concept, and how the five levels of government communicate, interact and share resources.
This course meets the requirements of CCR Title 19 §2446 (Training) and §2428 (Minimum Performance Objectives).
CCR Title 19 §2446 (Training)
Local governments, operational areas, and state agencies shall document SEMS training provided to its emergency response personnel pursuant to §2428.
CCR Title 19 §2428 (Minimum Performance Objectives)
A. Emergency response agencies shall determine the appropriate level(s) of SEMS instruction for each member of their staff, based upon the staff member's potential assignment during an emergency response.
B. Emergency response agencies shall ensure that their emergency response personnel can demonstrate and maintain, to the level deemed appropriate, the minimum SEMS performance objectives required by their agencies' training programs. Agencies shall use the Minimum Performance Objectives contained in the Approved Course of Instruction (ACI) Syllabus dated March 1, 1995, which are hereby incorporated by reference, as the basis for their training programs. Minimum Performance Objectives are contained in Paragraph D of each Course Module description.
C. SEMS minimum performance objectives shall be met through completion of materials from the ACI, completion of equivalent courses of instruction, or through incorporation of the objectives into exercises.
Note: Authority cited: Section 8607(a), Government Code. Reference: Sections 8607(a) and (e), Government Code.
EOC Credentialing Guidelines
The SEMS related documents below includes EOC credentialing Guidelines. For more information, please contact Justin Freiler at justin.freiler@caloes.ca.gov. The Cal OES NIMS web page provides information on the Federal NIMS update.
