Inventory of the Records of the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, 1964-2006

Summary

Creators:

Governor's Office of Emergency Services

Abstract:

The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES) is a state agency charged with protecting lives and property by effectively preparing for, preventing, responding to, and recovering from all threats, crimes, hazards, and emergencies. Six cubic feet of textual records cover the years 1964-2006 and are organized into three series: After Action Reports, Disaster Files, and Division Correspondence. Some recurring topics in the collection include: hazardous material spills, wildfires, earthquakes, and flooding.

Extent:

6 cubic feet

Language:

Languages represented in the collection: English

Background

Scope and content:

The records of the Governor's Office of Emergency Services consist of 6 cubic feet of textual records covering the years 1964-2006 and are organized into three series: After Action Reports, Disaster Files, and Division Correspondence. Some recurring topics in the collection include: hazardous material spills, wildfires, earthquakes, and flooding.

The After Action Reports series provides the bulk of the record group. The After Action reports yield information on how the agency handled disasters and how to better prepare for a similar disaster or emergency. The records generated in the After Action Report series span the years 1964-1992. Notable After Action Reports include Los Angeles Civil Unrest (1992), the Whittier Earthquake (1987), and various other earthquakes, hazardous material spills and wildfires.

The Disaster Files series contains information regarding various disasters and their immediate aftermath. Types of documents found in the Disaster Files include weather reports, water reports, local disaster proclamations, gubernatorial disaster proclamations, presidential disaster proclamations, news releases, resolutions, and newspaper articles.

The Division Correspondence is the final series of the collection. The series contains correspondence within the division and with other state and federal agencies spanning the years 1990-2006. Many subjects and topics are found within the division correspondence including fiscal operations for various years, project and planning summaries and outlines notably the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS).

Biographical / historical:

The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES) is a state agency charged with protecting lives and property by effectively preparing for, preventing, responding to, and recovering from all threats, crimes, hazards, and emergencies.

Office of Civil Defense, 1950-1955

Created in 1950 by the California State Legislature and referred to as the "Civil Defense Act of 1950," the California Office of Civil Defense functioned as part of the Governor's Office. Formulated at the time because of the existing and increasing possibility of the occurrence of disasters or emergencies of unprecedented size and destructiveness resulting from enemy attack, sabotage or other hostile action, and in order to insure that preparations of the State would be able to adequately deal with such disasters or emergencies, and provide for common defense and to protect the public peace, health, and safety and to preserve the lives and property of the people of the State. The Office of Civil Defense conducted the necessary planning, coordination, and other measures required to provide maximum protection for California's people from the elements of both natural and war-caused disasters.

In 1956 the "Civil Defense Act of 1950" was amended by the 1956 1st extra session Chapter 56 making a name change for the agency to the California Disaster Office. The new amendment made provisions for the governor to create advisory committees in order to assist in specific fields of civilian protection, war services and disaster mitigation.

California Disaster Office, 1956-1970

The California Disaster Office continued to carry the same mission as its predecessor by assisting the Governor of California in the development of a disaster plan and program. A level of coordination with Federal agencies and adjoining states also proved a crucial task for the California Disaster Office in order for the state to be properly prepared for natural or manmade disaster. The agency's main objectives included maintaining an operationally ready statewide organization and a mutual aid framework whereby local jurisdictions and the state can render all possible assistance to disaster areas when control is beyond the capability of the jurisdiction involved. Divisions that the agency contained during this time included Administrative Division, Communications and Warning Division, Emergency Operations and Programming Division, Equipment and Federal Assistance Division, Public Safety Division, Radiological Safety Division, and Utilities Division.

California Governor's Office of Emergency Services 1970-2008

In 1970, the California Disaster Office underwent a name change to the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES). Authority for OES and its activities is contained in the Government Code as established by Chapter 1454, Statutes of 1970. The agency continued to operate as part of the Governor's Office retaining the mission of the California Disaster Office by dealing with problems arising from natural or manmade disasters anywhere in the state.

California Emergency Management Agency 2008-2012

In 2008 Assembly Bill 38 (Chapter 372, Statutes of 2008) created the cabinet level office of California Emergency Management Agency or CalEMA. The newly created agency superseded the California Office of Emergency Services and the California Office of Homeland Security. The bill provided for the merged agency to preside over the preparedness of disasters in California.

Office of Emergency Services 2012-Present

A fourth and final name change occurred for the agency with the passage of Governor Brown's Reorganization Plan No. 2 (2012) effective July 3, 2012. The Governor's Reorganization Plan No. 2 established that unless the context clearly requires otherwise, whenever the term "California Emergency Managements Agency" appears in any statute, regulation, or contract, or in any other code it shall be construed to refer to the Office of Emergency Services. The vision of today's Office of Emergency Services is to be, "the leader in emergency management and homeland security through dedicated service to all." The organization's mission is to "... protect lives and property, build capabilities, and support our communities for a resilient California."

Accruals:

Further accruals are expected.

Physical location:

California State Archives

Rules or conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Natural disasters
Earthquakes

Location of this collection:

California State Archives

1020 "O" Street

Sacramento, CA 95814, US

Contact:

(916) 653-2246

reference@sos.ca.gov

Website