Operational Area Advisory Board

The LA County Operational Area includes county government, all cities, and other local governments within county borders. This includes special districts like public school districts, sanitation districts, water districts, etc. The Operational Area is part of the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS).

Advisory Board meetings are held quarterly. In 2008 meetings will be held on Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m. on January 8th, April 8th, July 8th and October 14th.  All meetings are held at the County Emergency Operations Center.

Mission

The mission of the Los Angeles County OAAB (Operational Area Advisory Board) is to provide a forum for the county, cities, special districts, and other key agencies to work together cooperatively to help ensure the successful functioning of the operational area.

Objectives

1. Provide a forum for pre-disaster planning and problem resolution between local jurisdictions, the operational area, and the state.
2. Establish multi-year goals and objectives, which address issues of mutual benefit to the county, cities, special districts, and other key agencies comprising the operational area.
3. Support SEMS (Standardized Emergency Management System) implementation at all levels.
4. Participate in SEMS-related planning and advise on development of operational area plans, standard operating procedures, and linkages between jurisdictions.
5. Identify cooperative training and exercising opportunities.
6. Work to integrate all appropriate agencies, disciplines, and jurisdictions into operational area plans.
7. Make recommendations as needed to the Operational Area Chair, Los Angeles County Emergency Management Council, and the California Office of Emergency Services (OES).

Membership

The OAAB consists of representatives from a broad array of operational area organizations, including:

1. The Disaster Management Area Coordinators;
2. Greater Los Angeles Chapter American Red Cross;
3. City of Los Angeles;
4. Another city within the county;
5. OES Southern Region;
6. Los Angeles County Office of Education;
7. Los Angeles Unified School District;
8. Another school district within the county;
9. Emergency Network Los Angeles;
10. County lead departments (Sheriff, Fire, OEM, Public Works, Health Services, DPSS, Internal Services, Coroner, and Mental Health);
11. Additional members may be added, as needed.

Meetings

1. Meetings are informal.
2. Discussions will be recorded and minutes widely disseminated.
3. Linkages will be established with the County Emergency Management Council, the Emergency Preparedness Commission, and the OES Southern Region Mutual Aid Regional Advisory Council.
4. Meetings are open to the public, but guests do not have voting rights.
5. Meetings are held quarterly, unless additional meetings are required.