14 December 2010

FEMA, Cal EMA SignSouthern California Catastrophic Earthquake Plan

CUEA’s Executive Director Don Boland joins Cal EMA Secretary Matt Bettenhausen in a news briefing announcing the signing of the Southern California Catastrophic Earthquake Plan in Pasadena, CA.

California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) and the U.S.Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today signed into operation a plan designed for responding to and recovering from a catastrophic earthquake in Southern California.

FEMA Region IX Director, Justin Dombrowski and Cal EMA Secretary, Matthew Bettenhausen officially launched the Southern California Catastrophic Earthquake Plan (CATPLAN) in a signing ceremony at the Pasadena Convention Center. First responders, emergency managers, private sector (including CUEA), non-governmental and faith-based organizations, and catastrophic planners at the local, state and federal level attended the event.

When participants began the planning almost two years ago, rather than planning for a manageable event, the focus instead was on addressing the highest, most critical and widespread consequences of mass casualties, tremendous shelter and housing needs, infrastructure calamity and enormous economic disruption. By facing the “unthinkable,” what has been developed is a realistic, flexible and scalable CATPLAN.

“We know that it’s not a matter of if, but when the next big earthquake is going to shake California to its core,” said Bettenhausen. “Our number one priority is to ensure we’re doing everything we can to be ready for it, and have a carefully-crafted,comprehensive plan in place to enable maximum coordination between federal, state and local agencies. This plan is not the end, but another critical stepin our on-going process of planning.” Dombrowski said, “Substantial time, effort and resources have been dedicated by everyone involved in this plan and very confident in our ability to execute them.” And, “The completion was possible only through the leadership and presence these organizations provided.”

CUEA’s member utilities played a significant role in the development of this plan and were able to bring to the light the intricacies ofthe interdependencies between utilities. A great many of our members representing Telecommunications, Power, Gas,Water, and Wastewater put in many hours as subject matter experts in their respective fields for this final product.

CUEA also has been incorporated into the Joint State andFederal Operations Section, leading Task Forces for Cajon Pass and Water Conveyance

This is a historic moment for FEMA, Cal EMA, and CUEA. CUEA would like to extend thanks to all those who supported the creation of thisplan.