SF Department of Emergency Management & Fleet Week Communications Drill Oct. 2nd
CITY TO CONDUCT EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DRILL AT PIERS 30-32 WITH
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OCTOBER 2ND
The Defense Support of Civil Authorities Exercise will help test and evaluate the locally developed Incident Communications Plan (ICS 205) and Emergency Support Function (ESF) 2 Communications Annex.
What: City and County of San Francisco public safety agencies in collaboration with State, Federal, and U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) partners will conduct a disaster response drill to test interoperable communications in the field. This exercise will kick off the annual San Francisco Fleet Week during which the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management (DEM) customarily conducts a disaster preparedness exercise with the U.S. Department of Defense to practice how the military may provide humanitarian assistance following a catastrophic earthquake.
Who: The San Francisco Departments of Emergency Management, CA Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), CA Military Department (CMD), Port of San Francisco (PORT), SF Department of Building Inspection (DBI), SF Department of Public Health (DPH), SF Department of Public Works (DPW), SF Department of Technology (DT), SF Fire Department (SFFD), SF International Airport (SFO), SF Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), SF Police Department (SFPD), SF Public Utilities Commission (PUC), SF Sheriff’s Office (SFSO), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), U.S. Navy (USN), Water Emergency Transport Authority (WETA)
When: Monday, October 2, 2023, 8:00am – 2:00 p.m.
Where: Piers 30-32, 599 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94107
Visuals: Participating City, State, and Federal organizations will stage equipment at Piers 30-32 and other locations to test interoperable communications in the field.
Please Note:
Exercise plans are subject to change should the Federal government shut down. Should this occur, DEM will conduct an altered exercise, the details of which will be announced if necessary.
Background:
The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management and Department of Defense have conducted many exercises as part of the annual San Francisco Fleet Week. In previous years, the exercises have highlighted the DoD capability to deliver resources via the San Francisco shoreline and waterfront. This year’s exercise will help test and evaluate the locally developed Incident Communications Plan (ICS 205) and Emergency Support Function (ESF) 2 Communications Annex.
A catastrophic earthquake in the San Francisco Bay Area will result in significant disruption and possibly the destruction of communications infrastructure, including systems integral to emergency response. Sixty-seven percent of the data centers in the Bay Area are exposed to multiple hazards, including ground shaking, liquefaction, and fire hazards. Critical fiber optic lines are expected to be damaged by fault ruptures, liquefaction, fire, and landslides. Power outages are expected to cause telecommunications disruptions, and even backup power equipment is subject to failure or damage.
As a result of initial and cascading communication systems impacts of a major earthquake or other large-scale disaster, City agencies will need external support from private sector and non-governmental partners, the State of California, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and other Federal agencies. If City and State resources are exhausted, the State will request Federal support, and in response to a Federal disaster declaration, FEMA can request Department of Defense (DoD) assistance with the submission of a Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) mission assignment (MA).
This drill will familiarize participants with Emergency Support Function (ESF) 2 Communications plans and capabilities and provide an opportunity to test communications equipment across all levels of government for interoperability. Testing this equipment provides an opportunity for key staff to familiarize themselves with critical processes, and troubleshoot issues before a major disaster.