The Sacramento County Office of Emergency Services (OES) plays a vital role in keeping our community safe when unexpected events threaten lives or property. Whether it’s a natural disaster or another large-scale emergency, the County must be ready to respond quickly and effectively.
When a crisis occurs, the County activates its Emergency Operations Center (EOC), a central hub where experts from various fields come together to coordinate the response. These teams include professionals in logistics, operations, planning, finance, administration, medical services and engineering. Volunteer organizations are also called upon to join in this effort. Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) bring together resources and people (like the Red Cross, Salvation Army and Sacramento Medical Reserve Corps) who are looking to help their community when emergencies occur.
Together County staff and VOAD members work as a cohesive unit to ensure the public’s well-being is met during a disaster. Every emergency operation is performed under established national and state guidelines, including the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
While other regions face seasonal threats like hurricanes or blizzards, Sacramento County doesn’t experience these on a regular basis, but we do experience intermittent severe storms, flooding and high winds. That’s why it’s even more important for us to stay prepared, because the absence of frequent disasters can lead to a false sense of security.
The last full activation of the EOC occurred during the 2023 floods. Even though such events are rare, the County remains committed to readiness. Ongoing training ensures that when the next emergency strikes, our teams are confident and capable. The trainings offer vital opportunities for VOAD members to sharpen their skills and gain better insight into how to work with the County during a crisis.
To maintain this readiness, OES offers quarterly training sessions tailored to each section’s responsibilities. These exercises help staff stay sharp, practice emergency protocols and build relationships with colleagues they may not work with day-to-day. Recently, OES held a full-scale training for mass care and shelter staff. Participants focused on preparing temporary sheltering of individuals, families and pets impacted by disasters that could affect thousands of residents.
In addition, OES hosts three annual meetings with section leaders to share insights, best practices and lessons learned. This collaborative approach strengthens our emergency response and continues to be a cornerstone in our team preparation.
If you belong to an organization that may be of service to OES in an emergency, you and your organization are encouraged to participate in these training opportunities
For more information or to get involved in future training, please contact:
John Shalowitz
Emergency Operations Coordinator for Training and Recovery