GOOD. MORNING, EVERYONE WELCOME
TO THE FIRST HEARING. FOR THE
SELECT COMMITTEE ON
TRANSPORTATION AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS. WE ARE GOING TO
TAKE PUBLIC TESTIMONY AT THE END
OF THE HEARING FOR PEOPLE WHO
ARE HERE IN ATTENDANCE.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS IS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE RIGHT
EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN CAN
PREVENT OR MITIGATE CASUALTIES.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO ENSURE
COORDINATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT
AGENCIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENT
GOVERNMENT AND OUR FEDERAL
PARTNERS TO DEVELOP A RESPONSE
PLAN BECAUSE AN EMERGENCY CONCUR
AT ANY TIME AND WE SHOULD ALWAYS
BE PREPARED WHETHER THERE IS MAN
MADE OR A NATIONAL DISASTER.
PART OF THIS PREPARATION EXTENDS
BEYOND COORDINATION AND
COLLABORATION, BUT TO OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE DO WE HAVE THE
RIGHT INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE TO
ENSURE THE CONTINUED MOVEMENT OF
PEOPLE AND GOODS AND TIMES OF AN
EMERGENCY. THIS TOPIC IS
IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE OF THE
ISSUES I DEALT WITH AS A FORMER
MAYOR. MY FOCUS HAS ALWAYS BEEN
ON INCREASING THE QUALITY OF
LIFE OF THE PEOPLE. I HAVE THE
HONOR OF REPRESENTING ONE ASPECT
OF THAT WAS IMPROVING OUR
TRANSPORTATION. I UNDERSTAND HOW
PEOPLE MOVE IN AND AROUND THE
COMMUNITY ACCESS ECONOMIC
CENTERS, GOODS AND SERVICES.
HEALTHCARE JOBS, ETCETERA HAS A
HUGE IMPACT ON QUALITY OF LIFE.
AT THE SAME TIME, MY CITY WAS
IMPACTED BY SEVERAL EMERGENCY
SITUATIONS. WE LOST 11 HOMES ON
A BLOCK BECAUSE OF AN OUT OF
CONTROL FIRE CAUSED BY SOMEONE
COOKING METH IN A NEARBY
WILDLIFE AREA. WE HAD DIFFICULTY
RESPONDING, GETTING PEOPLE TO
BACK TO EVACUATION CENTER AND
SETTING UP A RESPONSE CENTER,
BUT WE WERE ABLE TO DO IT. IT
ALSO SET THE STAGE FOR WHEN WE
HAD THOSE FLEEING THE ALLEN, YOU
LIGHTNING COMPLEX FIRE. OUR CITY
WAS A HOST TO THE EVACUEES. WE
HOSTED A COMMUNITY CENTER FOR
PEOPLE AND A SPORTS COMPLEX FOR
ANIMALS FROM NEARBY RANCHES AND
FARMS. WE HAD OVER 160 AT RISK.
SENIORS COME AND STAY THE NIGHT
IN OUR FACILITY. WE WERE
PREPARED ONLY BECAUSE WE HAD HAD
A TRAGEDY OF FIRE JUST RECENTLY.
IN ADDITION TO PREPARING OUR
STATE TO HANDLE CRISIS FACING
PEOPLE IN THEIR NEEDS FOR FOOD,
WATER SHELTER ANOTHER NEEDS. WE
ALSO NEED TO PLAN FOR THE
MOVEMENT OF GOODS. IT IS
CRITICAL THAT WE ARE ABLE TO
PROPERLY PREPARE FOR THE
CONTINUITIES AND MOVING GOODS,
ESPECIALLY TO ADDRESS AN
IMMEDIATE CRISIS. BECAUSE WE SAW
IT WITH THE PANDEMIC. WE SAW THE
PANDEMIC IMPACT OUR SUPPLY CHAIN
AND THE MOVEMENT OF CRITICAL
PROJECTS PRODUCTS. AND WE HAVE
TO ENSURE THAT THAT DOESN'T
HAPPEN AGAIN THAT THEY ARE NOT
DISRUPTIONS OR SEVERE
LIMITATIONS DUE TO A LONG TERM
EMERGENCY LIKE THE PANDEMIC. SO
WITH THAT OUR REVIEW TODAY WILL
BE ON WATER, LAND AND AIR MOVING
PEOPLE OR GOODS DURING AN
EMERGENCY, ENSURING PROPER
COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION
WITH DEPARTMENT STATES AND
AGENCIES AND OUR LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS AS WELL AS OUR
FEDERAL PARTNERS AND ENSURING WE
PROPERLY PRIORITIZE
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. ACROSS
OUR STATE. SO WITH THAT, I WOULD
LIKE TO THANK OUR PRESENTERS FOR
BEING HERE. PRESENTING AND FOR
ANSWERING QUESTIONS THAT ANY MAY
HAVE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO
INTRODUCE ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S MIA
BONTA, WHO IS HERE TODAY TO JOIN
IN OUR DISCUSSION ON HOW WE CAN
PREPARE FOR EMERGENCY. I LIKE TO
ALLOW HER TO MAKE SOME OPENING
REMARKS. WELL, I WANT TO THANK
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WILSON FOR
PULLING TOGETHER THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, SO I AM
THE ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S THAT GETS
TO REPRESENT 80 18, WHICH
INCLUDES THE CITIES OF OAKLAND,
ALAMEDA AND SAN LEANDRO,
CURRENTLY, UH AND THERE'S NO
MORE ISSUE OF GREATER CONCERN TO
US THAN REALLY THINKING THROUGH
WHAT THE IMPACTS AND
IMPLICATIONS OF OUR ABILITY TO
RESPOND TO AN EMERGENCY. SHOULD
WE NEED TO, UH, I HAVE IN MY
DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF OAKLAND,
THE COURT OF OAKLAND, WHERE
GOODS MOVEMENT IS A CRITICAL
ISSUE AND IS ONE OF THE
EPICENTERS FOR OUR ABILITY IN
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND,
QUITE FRANKLY, UM, THROUGHOUT
THE COUNTRY TO BE ABLE TO
ACTUALLY MOVE IMPORT GOODS AND
MOVE OUT GOOD, SO UM, WHAT WE'RE
ADDRESSING HERE. NOT ONLY HAS
IMPLICATIONS FOR THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA CERTAINLY FROM MY
DISTRICT, AND I WOULD ARGUE FOR
THE COUNTRY MORE GENERALLY, AND
I ALSO LIVE AND REPRESENT THE
CITY OF ALAMEDA, ALAMEDA, WHICH
IS AN ISLAND. WE ARE CONNECTED
BY BRIDGES AND TUNNELS. AND UH
AND WE HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS ABOUT
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN THE EVENT
OF AN EMERGENCY, WHERE THOSE
BRIDGES AND TUNNELS MIGHT NOT BE
AVAILABLE TO US. SO UH, WITH THE
MARINA IN THERE WEARING THIS IN
SAN LEANDRO ALSO, UH, CRITICALLY
CONCERNED FOR THAT, SO I'M HAPPY
TO BE ABLE TO SERVE ON THE
SELECT COMMITTEE AND LOOK
FORWARD TO HOW WE ARE GOING TO
BE ABLE TO MORE FULLY ADDRESS
THIS AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING
THE FORESIGHT TO BRING THIS
GROUP TOGETHER. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. ALL RIGHT WITH THAT. I'D
LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR FIRST
PANEL. UM FOR CALTRANS. WE HAVE
SERGIO RIVAS. THE CALTRANS
MAINTENANCE DIVISION CHIEF. FROM
CHP. WE HAVE MIKE ALVAREZ,
SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE
REPRESENTATIVE TO THE
LEGISLATURE. CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY
PATROL. AND LASTLY, FROM COW.
OH, YES, WE HAVE LORI, MISSOURI.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR PLANNING
PREPAREDNESS AND PREVENTION
DIRECTORATE. OH, YES, EXCITED TO
HAVE YOU ALL HERE TODAY. I'LL
TURN IT OVER. SERGIO. I SEE IF
HIS FIRST. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
. AND GOOD MORNING ASSEMBLY
MEMBER WILSON ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
BONTA. MY NAME IS SERGIO SAVES
MAINTENANCE DIVISION CHIEF FOR
CALTRANS. I AM PLEASED TO BE
HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS HOW
CALTRANS PREPARES FOR AND
RESPONDS TO EMERGENCIES.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS BEGINS
WITH POLICY. WHICH IS LED BY THE
CALIFORNIA STATE TRANSPORTATION
AGENCY, OR CALISTO. THEY WORK
WITH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL
TRANSPORTATION PARTNERS TO
CONSIDER ISSUES THAT MAY BEST BE
SERVED WITH A POLICY OR
PROGRAMMATIC SOLUTIONS. THE
OPERATIONAL SIDE OF EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS FOR THE STATE
HIGHWAY SYSTEM IS HANDLED BY
CALTRANS. WE HAVE THE FIELD
MAINTENANCE CREWS WHO RESPONDED
IMMEDIATELY AND OTHER STAFF. WHO
SUPPORTS ALL MODES, MODES OF
TRANSPORTATION. EMERGENCY
RESPONSES, IF A FUNCTION THAT
CALTRANS HAS MANAGED FOR
DECADES. AND AS PART OF OUR CORE
DUTIES AND WITHIN OUR
ESTABLISHED AUTHORITIES. WE TAKE
THE LEAD ON HIGHWAY REPAIRS AND
STATE AND LOCAL BRIDGE
INSPECTIONS FOLLOWING
EARTHQUAKES. MOST RECENTLY THE
SOUTH NAPA AND RICH CREST
EARTHQUAKES AS EXAMPLES. IN
FACT, WE DEVELOPED SHAKE CAST IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE U. S
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. TO PRIORITIZE
OUR MOST IMMEDIATE BRIDGE
INSPECTION NEEDS. WE QUICKLY
RESPOND TO LANDSLIDES LIKE IN
BIG SUR. WE WORKED WITH OUR
PARTNERS TO EXPEDITE EMERGENCY
WORK TO REPLACE A DAMAGED
BRIDGE. REPAIRING DRAINAGE
SYSTEMS FOLLOWING MAJOR RAIN
EVENTS AND MUDFLOWS. THIS PART
OF OUR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
OPERATIONS THAT LIKEWISE BENEFIT
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. BRIDGE
AND DRAINAGE WASH OUT LIKE THAT
ALONG RED CREEK AND VARIOUS
LOCATIONS ALONG I 15 ARE QUICKLY
RESTORED BY APPLYING RESILIENCY
MEASURES TO REESTABLISH
TRANSPORTATION CONNECTIVITY. WE
ALSO PERFORM ROUTINE WINTER
OPERATIONS IN PARTNERSHIPS WITH
LAW ENFORCEMENT. TRUCKING
INDUSTRY TRANSIT AUTHORITY, THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND
LOCAL PARTNERS TO PROVIDE SNOW
REMOVAL, AVALANCHE CONTROL AND
CHAIN CONTROL WITH A PRE
POSITIONING OF STAFF AND
EQUIPMENT. THESE ACTIVITIES HELP
TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND RELIABLE
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM DURING
WINTER STORM EVENTS. TO MEET
THESE CHALLENGES. CALTRANS HAS
ENGINEERS THAT INSPECT STATE
HIGHWAYS AND LOCAL AND STATE
BRIDGES FOLLOWING AN INCIDENT
AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL LEAD IN
REPAIR STRATEGIES. LASTLY WE
COORDINATE WITH OTHER AGENCIES
LIKE THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY
PATROL TO HELP THEM INTEGRATE
OUR CAPABILITIES INTO THEIR
RESPONSE AND RECOVERY PLANNING
PROCESS IN SHORT, WE HAVE THE
ABILITY TO MOBILIZE MAINTENANCE
AND CONSTRUCTION CREWS ON SHORT
NOTICE TO RESPOND TO CRISIS
SITUATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
CALTRANS PREPARES FOR ALL TYPES
OF EMERGENCIES, HAVING ADOPTED
AN ALL HAZARDS APPROACH, WHETHER
THE INCIDENT BE A FIRE, FLOOD OR
EARTHQUAKE. WE PREPARED TO BRING
THE BREATH OF OUR CAPABILITIES
TO SUPPORT THE STATE AND OUR
LEAD ROLE. WE WORK DILIGENTLY TO
RESTORE THE STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM
TO OPERATIONAL STATUS AS QUICKLY
AS POSSIBLE. CALTRANS INSPECTS
STATE BRIDGES AS WELL AS STATE
AND LOCAL BRIDGES. WE ALSO
MAINTAIN AN EXCELLENT
RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR
CONTRACTING PARTNERS SO WE CAN
QUICKLY RESPOND IN FORCE TO
INCIDENTS LIKE LANDSLIDES AND
DEBRIS FLOWS TO REOPEN ROADWAYS.
AN EXAMPLE OF OUR RECOVERY
OPERATIONS. THE 2018 MONTECITO
MUDFLOWS. MOVED UP TO 15 FT OF
DEBRIS ONTO HIGHWAY ONE. OH,
ONE. CALTRANS AND OUR
CONTRACTORS CLEARED THE DEBRIS
AND REOPENED THE HIGHWAY TO
FREIGHT AND PASSENGER MOVEMENTS
, ELICITING THE GRATITUDE OF A
VERY FAMOUS RESIDENT FOR THIS
WORK. TO HELP SUPPORT THE
MOVEMENT OF SUPPLIES AND GOODS
DURING AN EMERGENCY. CALTRANS
TEMPORARILY PERMITS OVERWEIGHT
AND OVERSIZED LOADS ON CRITICAL
ROUTES AS APPROPRIATE. TO
PREPARE FOR THESE EVENTS. WE
CONDUCT TRAINING EXERCISES BASED
AROUND SCENARIOS SUCH AS THE
NORTH QUAKE OR A LANDSLIDE. IN
OUR SUPPORT CAPACITY. WE
COORDINATE WITH LOCAL AGENCIES
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO HELP THEM
DEVELOP THEIR EVACUATION PLANS
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ALL AWARE OF
EVERYONE'S ROLE. DURING
WILDFIRES. WE WORK WITH LOCAL,
STATE AND FEDERAL FIRE SERVICE
IS TO PROVIDE TRAFFIC UNTIL
CONTROL AND PUBLIC TRAFFIC
MESSAGING WHEN THEY NEED TO
CLOSE ROADS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
PURPOSES. CALTRANS ALSO SUPPORTS
THE RECOVERY OF LOCAL
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE,
BE IT A LOCAL ROAD. PUBLIC USE
AIRPORT SEAPORT. PUBLIC TRANSIT
SYSTEM OR RAILROAD. FROM A
PREPAREDNESS STANDPOINT, WHERE
WE WORK WITH THESE
TRANSPORTATION SECTORS TO BETTER
IDENTIFY HOW CALTRANS CAN
PARTNER WITH THEM DURING AN
INCIDENT WE ALSO PARTICIPATE IN
TRAINING EXERCISES WITH THEM.
WHILE DOING ALL THIS. CALTRANS
WORKS WITH CAL O ES AND OTHER
PARTNERS TO PROVIDE REAL TIME
UPDATES THROUGH OUR QUICK MAPS,
APP. TO PUBLIC TO THE PUBLIC AND
LEGISLATIVE OFFICES REGARDING
HIGHWAY CLOSURES AND EVACUATION
PLANS. AFTER AN INCIDENT
CALTRANS SUPPORT THE REBUILDING
OF THE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK,
INTEGRATING CLIMATE CHANGE AND
RESILIENCY INTO OUR REBUILDING
EFFORTS. HEALTH TRANSFER ALSO
INCORPORATES RESILIENCY INTO
EMERGENCY PLANNING. BY ENHANCING
DRAINAGE CALLED COVERT AND BURN
SCAR AREAS AFTER A WILDFIRE TO
PREPARE FOR EXPECTED TO BRIEF
FLOWS, FOR EXAMPLE. IN 2021
AFTER A FIRE ON THE CENTRAL
COAST NEAR HIGHWAY ONE. CALTRANS
INSTALLED ADDITIONAL DRAINAGE,
WHERE POSSIBLE ON A QUICK
TIMELINE TO ALLOW FOR DEBRIS
FLOWS IN THE BRONZE CAR AREAS,
PREVENTING MANY WASHOUTS.
CALTRANS PREEMPTIVELY CLOSED A
PORTION OF HIGHWAY ONE NEARER
NEARER RED CREEK DUE TO A
PREDICTED LARGE RAINFALL EVENT
AFTER A RECENT WILDFIRE IN
TANDEM, THE COUNTY EVACUATED
SEVERAL COMMUNITIES IN THE AREA.
THESE PREEMPTIVE CLOSURES AND
EVACUATIONS SAVED LIVES DURING
THE RESULTING DEBRIS FLOWS WHERE
THE HIGHWAY WAS DAMAGED.
CALTRANS DIVERTED TRAFFIC WHILE
THE HIGHWAY WAS QUICKLY REPAIRED
. CALTRANS ALSO COORDINATES WITH
LOCAL AGENCIES AND THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT ON EMERGENCY RELIEF.
EFFORTS TO RESTORE LOCAL
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THROUGH
THESE EFFORTS. CALTRANS IS
COMMITTED TO WORKING TOGETHER
WITH OUR FEDERAL, STATE AND
LOCAL PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE
PEOPLE ARE SAFE IN EMERGENCY
SITUATIONS AND REGAIN ACCESS TO
THEIR COMMUNITIES AND
DESTINATIONS AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE. WE'RE ESPECIALLY PROUD
OF THE RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH
THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL TO
JOINTLY PROVIDE EMERGENCY
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND TRAFFIC
CONTROLS WHILE PERFORMING OUR
DAILY DUTIES WITH THEM. C C. HP
EXECUTIVE CHIEF MIKE ALVAREZ
WILL NOW PROVIDE YOU MORON.
CHP'S ROLE IN EMERGENCIES.
WILSON THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR
TIME. GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR
, ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BONTA, UM, ON
BEHALF OF THE COMMISSIONER,
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE
HERE WITH YOU TODAY. MY NAME IS
MIKE ALVAREZ AND THE
COMMISSIONER'S SPECIAL
REPRESENTATIVE TO THE
LEGISLATURE. THROUGHOUT THE
CHP'S HISTORY. THE DEPARTMENT
HAS HISTORICALLY RESPONDED TO
AND PROVIDED LAW ENFORCEMENT
SERVICES. AT A WIDE RANGE OF
EMERGENCY EVENTS SUCH AS FIRES,
FLOODS, EARTHQUAKES, ANOTHER
EMERGENCIES THAT NECESSITATE THE
SAFE AND EFFICIENT MOVEMENT OF
OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS GOODS AS
WELL AS EMERGENCY SUPPLIES. FOR
THE CHP FOR THE CHP TWO MAJOR
EVENTS REALLY SERVED AS A
CATALYST TO REALLY CAUSES TO
EVALUATE HOW HOW WE OPERATE, UM,
PREPARE FOR AND RESPOND TO
DISASTERS, BOTH NATURAL AND
HUMAN MADE AND THOSE WERE THE
ATTACKS OF 9 11 AND HURRICANE
KATRINA SINCE THEN, THE CHP'S
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND
HOMELAND SECURITY ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES. HAVE GREATLY
EXPANDED AS WELL AS OUR
PARTNERSHIPS WITH CALA ES
CALTRANS, OUR LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT COUNTERPARTS, WHICH
IS HIGHLY IMPORTANT AS WELL AS
OUR OTHER EMERGENCY SERVICES
COUNTERPARTS AS THE LARGEST
STATE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE
NATION. THE CHP IS POISONING
EQUIPPED TO PROVIDE LAW
ENFORCEMENT SERVICES AND
COLLABORATION. BETWEEN CITY
COUNTY AND STATE EMERGENCY
RESPONSE AGENCIES DURING
DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES. THIS.
HP HAS A CLEARLY DEFINED
EMERGENCY OPERATION PLAN THAT
DESCRIBES THE CHP'S ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES AS A STATE LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN PREPARING
FOR RESPONDING TO AND RECOVERING
FROM MAJOR DISASTERS AND
EMERGENCIES. AS MENTIONED BY
CALTRANS BUILT INHERENTLY BUILT
INTO THIS PLAN. IS A PRE
INCIDENT TRAINING FRAMEWORK FOR
THE CHP CALLAWAY CALLAWAY ESQUE
CALTRANS. AND OUR LOCAL
COUNTERPARTS ON FOR PRE PLANNING
AWARENESS TO ENSURE
EFFECTIVENESS AND READINESS AT
ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT TAKING
A HOLISTIC APPROACH PRIOR TO ANY
ACTUAL EMERGENCY, UM MORE
SPECIFICALLY DURING THE
STATEWIDE EMERGENCY. THE CHP HAS
A CLEARLY DEFINED ROLE AS
CALIFORNIA STATE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. IN MOST CASES OF
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND MUTUAL
AID. THE CHP PROVIDES TWO MAIN
EMERGENCY LAW ENFORCEMENT
FUNCTIONS. FIRST THE CH PEOPLE
PROVIDES EMERGENCY TRAFFIC
CONTROL IN AND AROUND THAT
EMERGENCY AND SECOND, THE CHP
ASSISTS ON IN COMMUNITY
EVACUATION AND REPOPULATION
EFFORTS, AND I'LL DIVE INTO BOTH
OF THOSE TWO MAJOR. UM UM
POINTS. OR EMERGENCY TRAFFIC
CONTROL. THE VEHICLE CODE
AUTHORIZES THE CHP TO DIRECT
TRAFFIC IN THE EVENT OF ANY
EMERGENCY TO ENSURE THE SAFE
MOVEMENT OF THE PUBLIC. UNDER
THIS AUTHORITY, THE CHP
COORDINATES WITH CALA ES
CALTRANS AND OUR LOCAL
COUNTERPARTS, UM TO ONE,
IDENTIFY AND DESIGNATE SAFE
ROUTES FOR THE MOVEMENT OF
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND GOODS. AND
TWO MORE IMPORTANTLY TO ENSURE
THAT INGRESS AND EGRESS OF
NECESSARY EMERGENCY PERSONNEL
AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT TO THE
ACTUAL EVENT. UM THE PRIMARY ON
THE EVACUATION SIDE, THE PRIMARY
MISSION OF THE CHP DURING
EVACUATION EFFORTS IS TO SAFELY
EVACUATE MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITY FROM THE EVACUATION
ZONE WHILE AGAIN SIMULTANEOUSLY
SIMULTANEOUSLY PRIORITIZING THE
INGRESS AND EGRESS OF THAT
NEEDED EMERGENCY PERSONALITY
EQUIPMENT. AND THEN, OF COURSE,
ONCE THE EMERGENCY HAS BEEN OR
DISASTER HAS BEEN MITIGATED THE
CHP ASSIST DISPLACED COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WITH REPOPULATION AND
INTO THE EVACUATED AREAS. WHEN
IT COMES TO, UH, PRIMARY
INCIDENT COMMAND OF AN EMERGENCY
WHO ACTUALLY HAS CONTROL OVER
THAT SPECIFIC INCIDENT. UM THE
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE DELEGATES
THAT AUTHORITY TO ANY EMERGENCY
SCENE MANAGEMENT THAT IT'S
INVESTED WITH THE APPROPRIATE
PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY THAT HAS
PRIMARY INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITY
. SO IF IT'S HAZARDOUS MATERIAL
SPILL ON A FREEWAY. UM OR A
STATE BUILDING LIKE THE CAPITAL
. THE CH PEOPLE HAVE PRIMARY
INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITY IF IT'S
IN LOCAL JURISDICTION OR LOCAL
BUILDING, IT'S GOING TO BE THE
LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS
PRIMARY INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITY.
IF IT'S A FIRE FIRE, WHETHER IT
BECOME FIRE OR THE LOCAL FIRE
DEPARTMENT, THEY'LL HAVE PRIMARY
INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITY.
HOWEVER, THAT BEING SAID THE CHP
COORDINATES OUR STATEWIDE
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS THROUGH
CALLOWAY. YES AND REMAINS READY
TO ASSIST OUR LOCAL COUNTERPARTS
DURING MUTUAL AID REQUESTS, AS
WELL AS EXTRAORDINARY DISASTERS
AND EMERGENCIES. THE SIEGE
PEOPLE PERFORM, UH, THOSE
SPECIFIC EMERGENCY RESPONSE
FUNCTIONS BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY,
WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE PRE
INCIDENT DISCUSSIONS SUCH AS
THIS AND TRAININGS, NOT JUST
WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS UP HERE,
BUT THOSE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO
ENHANCE SAFETY TO CALIFORNIA'S
COMMUNITIES. AT THIS POINT, I'LL
TURN IT OVER TO CALI WOULD S. I
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME? GOOD
MORNING CHAIR. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
BONTA. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE INSIGHT
ON EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION
PLANNING, PARTICULARLY REGARDING
THE EVACUATIONS AND COMMODITY
MOVEMENT EFFORTS, AS WELL AS
CALAVIUS COORDINATION ROLE IN
TRANSPORTATION AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS. SO YOU KIND OF
HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT
FROM MY COUNTERPARTS HERE AND SO
I HOPE WITH MY TESTIMONY TO KIND
OF CONNECT A FEW OF THOSE DOTS
FOR YOU I'M LORENA AGUIRRE,
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PLANNING,
PREPAREDNESS AND PREVENTION
HALLELUJAHS, AND I WOULD BE
REMISS IF I DIDN'T START WITH A
VERY BRIEF EXPLANATION ABOUT HOW
WE MANAGE EMERGENCIES IN
CALIFORNIA. IN OUR STATE
EMERGENCY PLANNING RESPONSE AND
RECOVERY IS CONDUCTED, ACCORDING
TO THE STANDARDIZED EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, OR SIMS FOR
SHORT THIS MEANS THAT WHETHER
IT'S LOCAL, STATE, TRIBAL OR
FEDERAL RESPONSE ENTITIES
INVOLVED WE ARE ALL TRAINED TO
USE THE SAME STRUCTURE AS MIKE
MENTIONED THE INCIDENT COMMAND
STRUCTURE. AND THE SAME LANGUAGE
TO ENSURE PLUG AND PLAY
READINESS. WE SAY DISASTER START
AND END LOCALLY AND WINK. LOCAL
CAPABILITIES ARE EXCEEDED, THEN
THE REGION STEPS IN TO HELP WHEN
THE REGION CAPABILITIES ARE
EXCEEDED THE STATE STEPS IN TO
HELP AND SO FORTH UNTIL THE UP
TO THE FEDERAL LEVEL. THAT IS
SAM'S IN A NUTSHELL. CALAVIUS WE
MAINTAIN THIS SYSTEM AND THE
STATE EMERGENCY PLAN. ALONG WITH
THE PLANS, MANY DISASTER
SPECIFIC AND EMERGENCY SUPPORT
FUNCTION. ANNEXES UH THERE'S A
PLETHORA. I WON'T GO INTO THEM
NOW VISIT OUR WEBSITE. UM THERE
ARE 18 CALIFORNIA EMERGENCY
SUPPORT FUNCTIONS, OR ES FS, LED
BY A VARIETY OF STATE AGENCIES
AND HANDFUL ARE ALSO SUPPORTED
BY PRIVATE NONPROFIT ENTITIES.
TODAY'S HEARING FOCUSES ON
TRANSPORTATION OR WHAT WE CALL E
S F ONE. HOWEVER WHEN DISCUSSING
IMPORTANT RESPONSE ACTIVITIES
SUCH AS EVACUATIONS AND
COMMODITY MOVEMENT, THERE'S A
CROSS SECTOR INVOLVEMENT WITH E
S F SEVEN, WHICH IS RESOURCES
AND E S F 13 LAW ENFORCEMENT.
YOU'VE JUST HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO HEAR FROM THE PRIMARY
COORDINATING LEAD AGENCIES FOR
CALLAWAY, CALIFORNIA ES F ONE
AND 13. THIS CROSS SECTOR
INVOLVEMENT IS WHERE CALAVIUS
TAKES A LEADING ROLE, BOTH AS
THE STATE ENTITY TASKED WITH
ORGANISMS ORGANIZING OVERALL
STATEWIDE RESPONSE TO
EMERGENCIES AND AS THE LEAD
STATE AGENCY FOR SF FIVE
MANAGEMENT. A GREAT EXAMPLE OF
COORDINATION EFFORTS BETWEEN OUR
THREE ENTITIES CAN BE SEEN
DURING THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE
EFFORTS TO THE 2019 RIDGE QUEST
EARTHQUAKE INCIDENT AND SERGIO
ALREADY BROUGHT THAT ABOUT AFTER
A SERIES OF EARTHQUAKES THAT
STRUCK THE RIDGECREST AREA ON
THE BORDER BETWEEN KERN AND SAN
BERNARDINO COUNTIES. HEAVY
DAMAGE OCCURRED TO HIGHWAY 1 78
BETWEEN THE CITY OF RIDGECREST
AND THE TOWN OF TRONA. RENDERING
THE ROADS UNUSABLE BY GROUND
TRANSPORTATION. THIS HIGHWAY IS
THE ONLY ROUTE IN THE SEARLES
VALLEY AND THE TOWN OF TRONA WAS
CUT OFF FROM THE SUPPLY CHAIN.
NOW TO ADD TO THAT THE
EARTHQUAKE HAD ALSO DAMAGED
TRONA AS WATER SYSTEMS, LEAVING
MOST OF THE TOWN WITHOUT RUNNING
WATER. CALTRANS IMMEDIATELY
BEGAN REPAIRING HIGHWAY 1 78
WELL, CALABRIA STAGED
COMMODITIES IMMEDIATELY OUTSIDE. INCLUDING BOTTLED WATER IN
RIDGECREST AS WE AWAITED THE
ROAD REPAIRS. CALA ES
COORDINATED WITH CALTRANS AND
WITH, UM CHP FOR ASK, UM ACCESS
AND ESCORT SERVICES, WHICH WE
WERE PROVIDED WHEN THE GREEN
LIGHT WAS GIVEN TO MOVE IN. IT
TOOK 12 HOURS COUNT FOR CALTRANS
TO SUFFICIENTLY REPAIR THE ROADS
, UM FOR CALAVIUS TRUCKS TO
BEGIN DELIVERING EMERGENCY
SUPPLIES TO TRONA. COMMODITY
MOVEMENT. ISN'T ESSENTIAL PIECE
OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND
RESPONSE. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE
TODAY. COMMODITY DISTRIBUTION
SUPPLY CHAINS DELIVER LIFE
SUSTAINING RESOURCES TO SUPPORT
DISASTER SURVIVORS IN SHELTERS
IN FEEDING KITCHENS AND THOSE
THAT SHELTER IN PLACE. IN THE
PAST, MOST OF THE FOCUS FOR
DISASTER COMMODITY MOVEMENT HAS
BEEN ON GROUND TRANSPORTATION.
WHEN ROADS AND BRIDGES ARE
INTACT. TRUCKS WORK GREAT TO
DELIVER RESOURCES EXACTLY WHERE
YOU NEED THEM. BUT WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN THE ROADS AND THE BRIDGES
ARE INACCESSIBLE HIGH PROFILE
DISASTERS LIKE HURRICANE KATRINA
AND SUPERSTORM? SANDY
DEMONSTRATED EXACTLY WHAT CAN
HAPPEN. NOW CAL. OH, YES, IS
PLANNING AND MOVEMENT
COORDINATION USES A MULTI MODAL
ACCESS STRATEGY DESIGNED FOR
SIMULTANEOUS ACTION OF GROUND
AIR, MARITIME AND RAIL
TRANSPORTATION. MODES TO DELIVER
ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES EQUIPMENT
, PERSONNEL AND SERVICES AND
SUPPORTIVE IMPACTED COMMUNITIES
AND SURVIVORS, INCLUDING
EMERGENCY POWER AND FUEL
SUPPORT. A RECENT EXAMPLE IN
WHICH THE STATE UTILIZE THIS
STRATEGY CAN BE SEEN DURING THE
COVID 19 PANDEMIC RESPONSE. THE
LOGISTICS TASK FORCE, LED BY
CALAVIUS IN COORDINATION WITH
STATE AGENCIES, SUCH AS
DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES.
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH, THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL
SERVICES AUTHORITY AND FEMA. WAS
RESPONSIBLE FOR PROCURING
RECEIVING, TRANSPORTING AND
DISTRIBUTING PPE E AND OTHER KEY
MEDICAL COMMODITIES, INCLUDING
THE BUILD OUT AND OPERATION OF
ALTERNATE CARE FACILITIES AND
MASS VACCINATION CENTERS. SINCE
THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC,
THIS TASK FORCE HAS MOVED AND
DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 2.3
BILLION PIECES OF PPE. COMMODITY
MOVEMENT THROUGH A MULTI MODAL
SYSTEM WAS CRUCIAL AS IT
PROVIDED CRITICAL AND LIFE
SUSTAINING RESOURCES, ESPECIALLY
TO CALIFORNIA'S MOST VULNERABLE
POPULATION. FINALLY I'D LIKE TO
DESCRIBE TO THE COMMITTEE
CALAVIUS EFFORTS TO INTEGRATE
MULTI MODAL TRANSPORTATION
STRATEGIES, COMMODITY MOVEMENT
AND EVACUATION SUPPORT WITHIN
OUR PLANNING PROCESSES, AND MIKE
BROUGHT THIS UP A BIT. IN 2017.
WE BEGAN THE UPDATE OF OUR
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CATASTROPHIC
EARTHQUAKE PLAN. ONE OF THOSE
HAZARDS SPECIFIC PLANS ANNEXES
THAT I MENTIONED AT THE
BEGINNING OF MY TESTIMONY
FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF OUR MOST
RECENT BAY AREA EARTHQUAKE PLAN
. WE BUILT THE SO CAL PLAN ON A
MULTIMODAL STRATEGY. IN APRIL OF
2021. WE HELD A THREE DAY ONLINE
WORKSHOP BUILT UPON THAT
CATASTROPHIC EARTHQUAKE SCENARIO
TO EXPLORE ASPECTS OF AVIATION,
GROUND RAIL AND MARITIME
TRANSPORTATION DAMAGE ASSESSMENT
, DEBRIS CLEARANCE AND REMOVAL.
OVER 323 REPRESENTATIVES FROM
ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT,
INCLUDING CITY COUNTY, STATE,
FEDERAL AND MILITARY AND PRIVATE
SECTOR BUSINESSES, NON PROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS AND ACADEMIA
PARTICIPATING. BECAUSE OF THAT,
A TRANSPORTATION ACCESS CORRIDOR
MOVEMENT GROUP WILL BE STOOD UP
DURING CATASTROPHIC EVENTS IN
THE FUTURE. IT WILL BE COMPRISED
OF AN AIR COORDINATION GROUP.
THE SURFACE ROADS GROUP. THE
TRANSIT RAIL GROUP LOGISTICS
SUPPORT GROUP, THE MARITIME
GROUP AND THE HAZARDOUS
MATERIALS IN DEBRIS GROUP. SO
WHEN THEY SAY IT TAKES A VILLAGE
IT DOES HERE IN CALIFORNIA IN
ORDER TO FURTHER TEST OUR
COMMODITY MOVEMENT PLANS.
CALLOWAY S'S CALIFORNIA
SPECIALIZED TRAINING INSTITUTE
AND LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT UNIT
ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE
DESIGNING CONDUCT OF A SERIES OF
EXERCISES OVER THE NEXT FEW
YEARS, FOCUSING ON MOVEMENT
MOVING RESOURCES VIA MARITIME
AND RAIL. AND YOU'LL HEAR A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT FROM
OUR NEXT SPEAKER. CALAVIUS WE
UNDERSTAND THAT IN ORDER TO MEET
THE MOMENT OF RESPONDING TO
DISASTERS THAT ARE HAPPENING
MORE FREQUENTLY AND ARE GREATER
IN SCALE AND SCOPE. WE HAVE TO
EXPAND OUR FOCUS BEYOND WHAT WE
HAVE SEEN AND DONE IN THE PAST.
BY INCREASING OUR CAPABILITIES
AND CAPACITY BY UTILIZING
MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION
STRATEGIES. WE CAN BRING MORE
RESOURCES INTO IMPACTED AREAS
FASTER. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU
TODAY, AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK
YOU TO YOU ALL FOR SETTING THE
STAGE, GIVING US AN OVERVIEW OF
OUR EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION
OPTIONS. I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS,
BUT I WANT TO GIVE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR MY FELLOW
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S TO SEE IF THEY
DID YOU WANT TO SAY OKAY? UM MR
CVS. HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY
DEFICIENCIES IN THE
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE
NETWORK? YOU WERE TALKING
THROUGH THAT DURING YOUR
COMMENTS, AND I JUST WONDERED
HOW WHAT'S THE STEPS TO
IDENTIFYING WELL, WE HAVE A
ROBUST ON A REGULAR BASIS, A
ROBUST ASSET MANAGEMENT
FRAMEWORK WHERE MAINTENANCE UM
GOES OUT THERE DETERMINES THE
CONDITION OF OUR SYSTEM, WHETHER
IT BE PAVEMENT COLBERT AND
BRIDGES. AND THAT TRIGGERS THE
INITIATION OF WHETHER IT BE A
MAINTENANCE REPAIR STRATEGY OR A
LONG TERM PROJECT THAT CAN THAT
CAN ADDRESS WHATEVER
DEFICIENCIES ARE ENCOUNTERED IN
OUR INSPECTION PROCESS. AND IS
THERE ANY PRIORITIZATION OF
WHETHER THAT'S A KEY ACCESS
POINT FOR EMERGENCY USE OR HIGH
COMMUTE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?
IS THERE ANY WEIGHT GIVEN TO
THAT. UH, NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.
WE FOCUS ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND REALLY ALL ROUTES ARE
IMPORTANT BECAUSE IN ESSENCE, IT
MIGHT BE A HIGH COMMUTE ACCESS
POINT OR MORE RURAL ROUTE MAY BE
THE ONLY ROUTE IN AND OUT OF
THAT COMMUNITY. SO WE REALLY
LOOK ACROSS THE BOARD AND
WHEREVER WE NEED TO PUT
RESOURCES TO FIX THAT BRIDGE
FIXED THAT COLD WAR THAT
PAVEMENT, WE INITIATE THE
PROCESS, WHETHER IT BE A PROJECT
OR MAINTENANCE WORK. TO ADDRESS
THAT NEED AND HAVE YOU SEEN
SUFFICIENT FUNDING? UM FROM YOU
KNOW, WHEN WE DO THE BUDGET,
HAVE YOU SEEN SUFFICIENT FUNDING
TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THE
ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN IN A
TIMELY MANNER? OVERALL WE HAVE
RECEIVED ADDITIONAL FUNDING,
THANKS TO SB ONE ALSO, THANKS TO
THE FEDERAL LEGISLATION, THE I J
A COMING IN. UH AND IT HAS
TREMENDOUSLY HELPED US ADDRESS
THE NEEDS. AND SO I WOULD SAY
THAT IS A MUCH IN DEPTH QUESTION
THAT I CAN I CAN LOOK AT MORE,
BUT IN GENERALLY SPEAKING, WE
ARE ABLE TO USE THOSE RESOURCES
AND ABLE TO PRIORITIZE THE
GREATEST NEEDS AND WERE ABLE TO
PUT THOSE FUNDS TO WORK. THANK
YOU. UM. BUSINESS. SURA UH, IN
YOUR OPINION, IS THERE ANYTHING
WE CAN DO LEGISLATIVELY TO HELP
MAKE YOUR JOB EASIER IN TERMS OF
EMERGENCY RESPONSE. WELL THANK
YOU FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION.
THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN VERY
GENEROUS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL
YEARS TO ALL THINGS. EMERGENCY
RESPONSE. NOT JUST CALLOWAY. YES
BUT OTHER RESPONDING AGENCIES
LIKE THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH AND CALTRANS. SO I WOULD
LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT,
AND JUST TO CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR
THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT
THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE EFFORTS.
UM NOT ONLY HERE AT WITH YOUR
STATE AGENCIES THAT YOU HAVE
PURVIEW OVER BUT ALSO IN YOUR
LOCAL JURISDICTIONS. UM I WOULD
SAY WOULD BE THE GREATEST
BENEFIT THAT YOU COULD PROVIDE
TO US. UM AS FAR AS ANY SPECIFIC
PIECES OF LEGISLATION WILL HAVE
TO GO BACK AND ASK MY OUR STAFF
IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT THEY'RE
WORKING ON, LET YOU KNOW. THANK
YOU. MR ALVAREZ. YOU TALKED
ABOUT CHP LOCAL COORDINATION,
INCLUDING THE PRE INCIDENT
TRAINING AND I WONDER. IS IT
MANDATORY OR OPTIONAL FOR YOUR
LOCAL PARTNERS TO ATTEND? AND I
ASKED THAT ONLY BECAUSE I HEAR
REGULARLY FROM POLICE
DEPARTMENTS WITHIN MY DISTRICT
OF BEING UNDERSTAFFED AND NOT
BEING ABLE TO TAKE A ADVANTAGE
OF TRAININGS? JUST BECAUSE OF UM
, BEING, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAFFED
. AND SO I WONDERED, HOW DOES
THAT WORK? IS IT MANDATORY OR
OPTIONAL? OR ARE YOU SEEING THAT
AS WELL? ACROSS THE STATE? YES,
MA'AM. THANK YOU. IT IS NOT A
MANDATORY TRAINING FOR THE LOCAL
AGENCIES. IT IS A MANDATORY
TRAINING FOR THE CALIFORNIA
HIGHWAY PATROL. UM WE DO STRESS
THE BOTH THE NEED AND THE
BENEFIT TO ENGAGE WITH OUR LOCAL
COUNTERPARTS. FULLY APPRECIATING
THAT, UM, RESOURCES. ALL AROUND
ARE LIMITED. UH, I THINK OUR
PERSPECTIVE IS ALL THE MORE
REASON TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT
TRAINING HAPPENS AT THE LOCAL
AREAS AT THE LOCAL COMMAND LEVEL
, THEY ENGAGE THEIR COUNTERPARTS
AT THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UM GET CREATIVE ON ON STAFFING
AND PERSONNEL AND SEE HOW WE CAN
STILL ACCOMPLISH THAT. THAT
TRAINING UM EVEN THOUGH THAT THE
RESOURCES ARE SCARCE. THANK YOU
. REMEMBER BONTA JUST STARTED A
QUESTION ABOUT THE COMPONENTS OF
THE ASPECTS OF EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS THAT REALLY, REALLY
TO ELECTRICAL OR COMMUNICATIONS
INFRASTRUCTURE. UM I DIDN'T
EXPLICITLY HERE, YOU KNOW, THE
TRIBE THAT'S GOING TO COME
TOGETHER TO ADDRESS KIND OF OUR
COMMUNICATIONS OR ELECTRICAL
ISSUES. WHEN THAT WHEN WE IN THE
EVENT OF. A CRITICAL EMERGENCY,
BUT I WOULD LOVE SOME
ELABORATION ON THAT ASPECT AS
WELL. SO I CAN TAKE THE FIRST
STEP AT THAT I MENTIONED TO YOU
THE EMERGENCY SUPPORT FUNCTIONS
, OR SFS AND NUMBER TWO IS
COMMUNICATIONS, AND THAT WOULD
BE OUR TELECOMMUNICATIONS
INFRASTRUCTURE. HELLO? YES WE
HAVE A CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
PROTECTION UNIT. WE ALSO HAVE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS
DIVISION, WHICH IS, UM. HUNDREDS
OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA THAT MAKES SURE THAT
WE HAVE COMMUNICATIONS UP FOR
EMERGENCY. THAT WOULD BE
EVERYTHING FROM OUR STATE
MICROWAVE SYSTEM TO WORKING WITH
THE PRIVATE ENTITIES ON CELL
TOWERS. UM AND, UH. THERE'S
OTHER THINGS THAT I SHOULD
PROBABLY BE SAYING REGARDING
INTEROPERABLE RADIOS BETWEEN OUR
PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES, ALL THAT
IS MANAGED THROUGH THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION
AT CALA ES AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE
YOU. UM WE CAN DO A TOUR FOR
YOU. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME
AND VISIT OUR FACILITIES AND
SHOW YOU WE OUTFIT ALL OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY VEHICLES. UM IN
CALIFORNIA. SO UM, THAT WOULD
INCLUDE CALTRANS AND CHP, UM
FISH AND WILDLIFE AND ALL THE
OTHER RESPONSE ENTITIES THAT
HAVE EMERGENCY RADIOS. UM AND IT
EVEN GOES DOWN TO AN LAYERS.
WE'VE GOT CONTINGENCY UPON
CONTINGENCY FOR KEEPING
COMMUNICATIONS UP IN AN
EMERGENCY. DOWN TO WE'VE GOT HAM
RADIO OPERATORS READY IN THE
EVENT OF YOU KNOW, VERY
CATASTROPHIC EARTHQUAKE OR ACT?
UM. EVENTS SO, UH, IT'S KIND OF
A LONG WAY AROUND IT. BUT THAT
IS HANDLED THROUGH VARIOUS OTHER
ENTITIES THAT CALAVIUS AND OTHER
AGENCIES. WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH
, AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING
AVAILABLE IF THERE'S ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE
NOT ONLY THE COMMITTEE, BUT
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THANK YOU.
ALRIGHT WITH THAT WE'RE GOING TO
MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT PANEL, WHICH
IS TRANSPORTATION VIA LAND. UM
AND I'M HAPPY TO INVITE UP OUR
SECOND PRESENTER THERESE
MCMILLAN. SHE'S THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR FROM THE METROPOLITAN
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS. CAN YOU HEAR
ME? YES WONDERFUL. GOOD MORNING,
ALL THE WAY DOWN. PARTICULARLY
FOR THOSE OF US THAT ARE QUITE
SHORT. I'M GOOD MORNING COMMUTER
WILSON ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BONTA. I
AM VERY PLEASED. 2% OF FOLK.
FOCUS ON LANDSIDE EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE AND
RECOVERY. IN ANY DISASTER
SCENARIO THE YOU HEARD FROM THE
PRIOR PANEL. HOW CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT CONSISTENCY IS IN
PROCEDURES AND APPROACH.
HOWEVER, I THINK IT'S ALSO TRUE
THAT UNIQUE LOCAL
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LAND
ITSELF. UM IT'S COMMUNITIES AND
THE TYPES OF DISASTERS THAT
EXPERIENCES WILL ALSO INFLUENCE
APPROACHES TO THESE THREE
CRITICAL STEPS. SO THAT SAID MY
SUMMARY OF WHAT THE SAN
FRANCISCO BAY AREA HAS DONE IN
THIS SPACE, HOPEFULLY PRESENTS
LESSONS LEARNED FOR THE REST OF
THE STATE. MTC FIRST BECAME
INVOLVED IN REGIONAL
TRANSPORTATION DISASTER RECOVERY
FOLLOWING THE 1989 LOMA PRIETA
EARTHQUAKE. AS MANY OF YOU
REMEMBER A 6.9 EARTHQUAKE ALONG
THE SAN ANDREAS FAULT. MTC
ASSISTED WITH DIRECTING FEDERAL
FUNDING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND
TRANSPORTATION PARTNERS. IN THE
FOLLOWING YEARS, MTC BEGAN TO
SERVE THE NEED FOR A REGIONAL
LEADER TO COORDINATE
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING. AFTER A
MAJOR INCIDENT. MTC ALSO HEAVILY
FOCUSES ON DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
AND RESILIENCE TO THE
TRANSPORTATION NETWORK. IN 1996
, AS YOU HEARD IN THE FIRST
PANEL, THE CALIFORNIA
STANDARDIZED EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OR SUMS WAS
ESTABLISHED UNDER ARTICLE 9.5 OF
THE CALIFORNIA EMERGENCY
SERVICES ACT. GIVEN THE
COMPLEXITY OF THE BAY AREA'S
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND AGENCY
WAS NEEDED TO MEET THE GOALS OF
SUMS ACROSS MULTIPLE COUNTY AND
TRANSPORTATION PARTNERS. THIS
NEED LAUNCHED MTC S DEVELOPMENT
IN 1997 OF THE TRANSPORTATION
RESPONSE PLAN, OR TRP. APOLOGIES
FOR A NEW ACRONYM, BUT WE'LL BE
USING IT IN THE REST OF MY
PRESENTATION. THIS PLAN WAS
ADOPTED BY THE BAY AREA
TRANSPORTATION PARTNERS
CONSISTING OF CALTRANS, CHP, MTC
AND REGIONAL TRANSIT AGENCIES.
THE PURPOSE OF THE PLAN WAS TO
IMPROVE THE ABILITY OF THE BAY
AREA PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
AGENCIES TO RECOVER OPERATIONS
AND DELIVER BASIC TRANSPORTATION
SERVICES AFTER A SIGNIFICANT
REGIONAL DISASTER. THIS PLAN
FORMALIZES ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES DURING A
RESPONSE WHILE PROVIDING
GUIDANCE AND COORDINATING
RESPONSE AND RECOVERY EFFORTS TO
ALLOCATE ASSETS TO ASSIST IN
RESTORING BASIC REGIONAL
MOBILITY. I MENTIONED THAT THE
LAND ITSELF, IT'S COMMUNITIES
AND ITS EXPERIENCES SHAPED
DISASTER PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF NATURAL
HAZARDS IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY
AREA. THE USGS ESTIMATES THAT
THERE IS A HIGH PROBABILITY OF A
MAGNITUDE 6.7 OR GREATER
EARTHQUAKE OCCURRING ON THE
HAYWARD FAULT IN THE NEXT 30
YEARS. THE REGION HAS ALSO SEEN
AN UPTICK. IN THE THREAT OF
WILDFIRES NEAR URBAN RURAL
INTERFACE. AS CHAIR WILSON
MENTIONED THIS IS UNFORTUNATELY
BECOME, UH, RECURRING THREAT.
OCTOBER 2022, IN FACT, WAS THE
FIFTH ANNIVERSARY. OF THE TUBS
AND NUNS FIRES, WHICH
TEMPORARILY DISPLACED ALMOST
5000 PEOPLE IN SONOMA COUNTY.
THEY WERE THE LARGEST FIRES IN
CALIFORNIA HISTORY, WITH LOSSES
ESTIMATED AT OVER $3 BILLION. AS
SUCH, MTC HAS SIGNIFICANTLY
GROWN OUR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
AND RECOVERY EFFORTS IN THE PAST
25 YEARS IN ORDER TO SERVE THE
REGION. WE STRIVE TO BE A
REGIONAL LEADER IN PREPARING FOR
FUTURE INCIDENTS AND TO
COORDINATE TRANSPORTATION
PLANNING AFTER A DISASTER. BUT
THIS NECESSARILY INVOLVES A
NUMBER OF CRITICAL PARTNERSHIPS.
MTC ASSIST IN FACILITATING THAT
TRP STEERING COMMITTEE WHOSE
MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES STAFF FROM
MTC, THE BAY AREA'S 27 TRANSIT
AGENCIES, AS WELL AS SEVERAL
STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES. THE
COMMITTEE'S OBJECTIVES ARE TO
WORK ON PROJECTS THAT WILL HELP
PREPARE FOR LOCAL AS WELL AS
REGIONAL DISASTERS THAT COULD
IMPACT THE BAY AREA'S
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE. I
WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR A MOMENT
TO THE REGION'S ANNUAL REGIONAL
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS EXERCISES.
OVER THE YEARS MTC AND
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BAY AREA'S
TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES HAVING
CONDUCTED OVER 20 REGION WIDE
EXERCISES TO TEST REGIONAL
RESPONSE AND RECOVERY PLANTS.
THE FIRST EXERCISE, IN FACT, WAS
DONE IN 1998. WE CONSIDER THESE
EXERCISES IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY
ENABLE US TO PINPOINT WEAKNESSES
IN OUR CURRENT PROCESSES. AND
PERHAPS JUST AS IMPORTANTLY,
CREATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
INTRODUCE AND BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN DIFFERENT
AGENCY STAFF THAT WILL HAVE TO
RESPOND IN THE MOMENT, TWO MAJOR
INCIDENTS. WE BELIEVE THESE
OPPORTUNITIES ARE AN INTEGRAL
PART OF ENSURING ADEQUATE
PREPAREDNESS OF OUR
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.
DURING THE DISRUPTION OF THE
TRANSPORTATION NETWORK. UM TO
ILLUSTRATE THE IMPORTANCE OF
THESE EXERCISES. UM I'LL JUST
BRIEFLY GO OVER THE ONE THAT WE
DID JUST THIS YEAR IN 2022 MAY
1920 22 DUBBED THE GOLDEN EAGLE
REGIONAL EXERCISE. UM THE
OBJECTIVES OF THAT EXERCISE WERE
FOUR. ACTIVATE EMERGENCY
OPERATIONS CENTERS, DOCS AND
CONDUCT E O. C OPERATIONS. TO
COORDINATE RESPONSE BETWEEN
TRANSPORTATION, COUNTY LEVEL
OPERATIONAL AREAS AND REGIONAL
AND STATE AGENCIES. TO PROVIDE
INFORMATION SHARING AND COMMON
OPERATING PICTURE. AND TO
PRACTICE RESOURCE REQUESTING.
MTC PARTNERED WITH THE BAY AREA
URBAN AREA SECURITY INITIATIVE.
THAT'S A MOUTH TO PUT ON THE
EVENT. 46 AGENCIES PARTICIPATED.
AND SEVERAL OF THEM PARTICIPATED
AT A FULL SCALE PRACTICING
LEVEL. WE USED THE USGS S HEY
WIRED SCENARIO. WHICH WOULD BE,
UM REPLICATING, UM THE
CONDITIONS ANTICIPATED WITH A
MAGNITUDE SEVEN EARTHQUAKE ON
THE HAYWARD FAULT WITH AN
OAKLAND CITY OF OAKLAND
EPICENTER. THIS INVOLVED? UM UH
, PREDICTIONS OF DISRUPTION TO
WATER POWER. VOICE DATA SERVICES
AND GAS THROUGHOUT THE BAY AREA.
IT ALSO ANTICIPATED SEVERE
DAMAGE TO ROADS, BUILDINGS,
HOMES, TRANSPORTATION,
INFRASTRUCTURE, BURIED PIPELINES
AND MORE. IT ALSO ASSUMED
NECESSARY EVACUATION OF 200,000
PEOPLE ACROSS THE REGION. THERE
ARE TWO OTHER EXAMPLES OF REACH
REACH RECENT PREPAREDNESS
PROJECTS I'D LIKE TO LIFT UP
THROUGHOUT THE T R P COMMITTEE.
MTC UM EXCUSE ME WITH THE T R P
COMMITTEE. MTC ASSISTED IN
BROKERING. THE REGION'S FIRST
MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT FOR BAY
AREA TRANSIT AGENCIES IN 2014.
THE MAJORITY OF THE REGION'S
TRANSIT AGENCIES, INCLUDING ALL
OF THE LARGE TRANSIT OPERATORS
HAVE JOINED THE AGREEMENT. AND
IT IS OFTEN USED IN BOTH SMALL
AND LARGE SCALE INCIDENTS. IN
FISCAL YEAR 2019 20 MTC CONVENED
NINE WORKSHOPS. ONE IN EACH OF
OUR COUNTIES TO ASSESS AN UPDATE
THE REGION'S EVACUATION ROUTES.
PARTICIPANTS INCLUDED CITIES.
COUNTIES TRANSIT AGENCIES
CALTRANS AMONGST MANY OTHERS.
THIS THESE EVACUATION ROUTES
WERE DISTRIBUTED TO THE COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT. OFFICES OTHERWISE
AGAIN KNOWN AS THE OPERATION
AREAS, OR OS. AND THEY HAVE
INCORPORATED THEM INTO THEIR
EMERGENCY PLANS. SO. CLEARLY AS
I OUTLINED MTC HAS, UM. A VERY
IMPACTFUL ROLE IN PREPAREDNESS,
BUT I LIKE TO TURN NOW TO THE
RESPONSE ARENA, WHERE NTC'S ROLE
IS MUCH MORE TARGETED. OVERALL
MTC HAS A VERY LIMITED RESPONSE
ROLE DURING A CATASTROPHIC
DISASTER BECAUSE WE ARE NOT A
FIRST RESPONDING AGENCY SUCH AS
CAL O ES OR THE COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT. WE DO SUPPORT
INCIDENT COMMANDER, UH, SHOULD
THEY REQUEST OUR ASSISTANCE? BUT
OUR KEY RESPONSE ROLE CENTERS
AROUND AND INCIDENTS RESPONSE
COORDINATION WITH FOUR DIFFERENT
STEPS. THE FIRST IS TO
DISTRIBUTE PUBLIC INFORMATION
THROUGH OUR 511 DOT ORG. THE
SECOND IS TO SERVE AS A
TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION
CLEARINGHOUSE. THE THIRD IS TO
DISSEMINATE CONSOLIDATED
TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION TO
THE CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF
EMERGENCY CENTERS AND TRANSIT
AGENCIES AGAIN DURING AN ACTUAL
RESPONSE. EXCUSE ME DURING AN
ACTUAL EVENT. AND IN THE FOURTH
IS TO STAFF THE TRANSPORTATION
BRANCH OF THE COASTAL REGIONS.
OFFENSE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
AND WHATEVER ROLE THEY THINK
WOULD BE HELPFUL. DURING AN
EVENT MTC COLLECTS DAILY
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FROM THE
TRANSPORTATION SECTOR. AGGREGATE
SIT AND FORWARDS IT TO THE COW O
ES REGIONAL EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
CENTER. WE COLLECT SURFACE
TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION AND
THE WATER EMERGENCY
TRANSPORTATION AGENCY, OR WETA,
COLLECTS WATER TRANSPORTATION
INFORMATION. THIS RULE WAS
REALLY BORN OUT OF THE NECESSITY
FOR THERE TO BE A COORDINATION
LEADER IN THE TRANSPORTATION
SECTOR FOR THIS INFORMATION,
GIVEN THE COMPLEX TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE BAY AREA.
AND THE INFORMATION COLLECTION
AND DISSEMINATION RULE CAME AT
THE REQUEST OF CAL O ES.
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION THAT EMPTY
SEA WOULD COLLECT FROM
TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES DURING
AN EVENT. INVOLVED IMPACT TO
SERVICE OR NETWORK. RESOURCE
REQUESTS SUPPLIED OR NEEDED DATA
SUCH AS G, I S OR MAPPING.
DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS AND CRITICAL
STATUS. UPDATES. ONE OF THE KEY
ELEMENTS OF ALL OF THIS IS OUR
511 .ORG AND DURING A MAJOR
EVENT, 511 IS EXPECTED TO
PROVIDE BREAKING NEWS FOR
TRAFFIC AND TRANSIT. DETOUR MAPS
AND DRIVING TIMES. PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION. AND
RIDE, SHARE AND PARK AND RIDE
LOT INFORMATION AS WELL. IT IS
NOW RECOGNIZED ALSO AS AN
IMPORTANT OUTREACH TOOL TO SHARE
WITH THE PUBLIC. THE OPERATIONAL
STATUS OF THE TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY HOW MUCH IT
HAS BEEN DISRUPTED. MOVING ON,
LET ME UH, TURN NOW TO THE THIRD
PILLAR, WHICH IS TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM RECOVERY. UM WE HAVE BOTH
A SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM ROLE
IN THIS SPACE. AFTER A MAJOR
INCIDENT IN THE REGION. WE USE
SEVERAL STRATEGIES TO
REESTABLISH A FUNCTIONING
TRANSPORTATION NETWORK. IN THE
SHORT TERM. MTC USES OUR PUBLIC
OUTREACH TOOLS SUCH AS 511 AND
THE JOINT INFORMATION CENTER TO
PROVIDE CRITICAL MESSAGING TO
THE PUBLIC. IN TERMS OF LONG
TERM RECOVERY. MTC S EFFORTS ARE
USUALLY RELATED TO OUR FINANCING
AND FUNDING ROLE AS THE BAY
AREA'S METROPOLITAN PLANNING
ORGANIZATION. AS AN M P O. M T.
C IS CALLED UPON TO COORDINATE
THE DISBURSEMENTS OF FUN. ALEX
EXCUSE ME. FUNDS ALLOCATED BY
THE STATE OR THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, FEMA EXAMPLE. THE
REGION APPRECIATES THE
ASSISTANCE THAT HAS BEEN
PROVIDED WHEN DISASTERS OCCUR IN
OUR REGION, SUCH AS THE LOMA
PRIETA EARTHQUAKE AND THE MORE
RECENT WILDFIRE EVENTS. IN
ADDITION, MTC FACILITATED THE
BLUE RIBBON TASK FORCE IN THE
WAKE OF A DIFFERENT KIND OF
DISASTER, WHICH WAS THE COVID 19
PANDEMIC. THE TASK FORCE
CONSISTED OF THE REGION'S
TRANSIT AGENCIES AND NPC. THAT
GROUP WORKED TO ALLOCATE THE
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF
ASSISTANCE THAT CAME FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS
NUMEROUS OTHER COLLABORATIVE
INITIATIVES, SUCH AS PROVIDING
INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT
THE HEALTH PROTECTIVE DEPTH THAT
THE TRANSIT AGENCIES WERE USING
AS THEY WENT FORWARD. SO THAT
WAS A LOT OF LESSONS LEARNED IN
THAT SPACE. FINALLY LET ME END
WITH SOMETHING THAT'S NOT ONE OF
THE BIG THREE BUT ONE OF GROWING
IMPORTANCE. WHICH IS
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM RESILIENCE
. CLIMATE CHANGE IS A NATURAL
DISASTER, BUT IT'S JUST A
SLOWER, MOVING ONE. MTC
INTEGRATES HAZARD MITIGATION AND
CLIMATE ADAPTATION STRATEGIES
INTO OUR LONG RANGE PLANNING.
OUR REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION
PLAN. YOU MAY KNOW IT AS
PLANNED. BAY AREA 2050. UM
INCORPORATES SEA LEVEL RISE
WHILE FIRE AND SEISMIC
STRATEGIES. MTC S HAZARD
MITIGATION PLAN IDENTIFIES
MITIGATION PROJECTS FOR MTC
OWNED ASSETS AND IS AN UMBRELLA
DOCUMENT FOR EIGHT TRANSIT
AGENCIES. VERY IMPORTANTLY, NEW
STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS FOR
CLIMATE ADAPTATION WILL REQUIRE
THE STATE AND M P O S TO WORK
TOGETHER TO POSITION PROJECTS
FOR FUNDING. THERE IS A NEAR
TERM NEED WHO ARE M, P. O S AND
CALTRANS TO WORK TOGETHER TO
POSITION THE STATE FOR FEDERAL
PROTECT COMPETITIVE GRANT
PROGRAMS. OVER $1.4 BILLION IN
FUNDING WILL BE AVAILABLE OVER
THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. CALTRANS
DEVELOPS A STATEWIDE RESILIENCE
IMPROVEMENT PLAN. AND
COORDINATES A PROJECT LIST WITH
THE STATE'S MPS, THE STATE AND
LOCAL COMMUNITIES WILL BE BETTER
POSITION FOR THIS IMPORTANT
OPPORTUNITY AT THIS FUNDING. I
APPRECIATE SO MUCH THE
OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE YOU A LOOK
INTO THE COMPLEX BUT IMPORTANT
ROLE OF NTC AS A REGIONAL AGENCY
AND HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS
. I WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT THE
REAL EXPERT IN OUR AGENCY, MY
COLLEAGUE, STEPHEN TARYN, IS
PRESENT HERE THAT COULD ALSO
HELP AND HE COULD HELP TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, MR QUINLAN. I REALLY
APPRECIATE IT TO SEE IF
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WANT TO HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE I GO IN.
D¯ÚI I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE KIND
OF ICE POTENTIALLY THE
RESILIENCE AND RECOVERY ASPECTS
AS IT RELATES TO OUR PLANS
AROUND VEHICLE ELECTRIC
ELECTRIFICATION. UM YOU KNOW, WE
HAVE A VERY BOLD GOAL TO
ELECTRIFY OUR VEHICLES IN ORDER
TO REDUCE OUR STATE EMISSIONS,
AND SUBSEQUENTLY WE NEED TO
BUILD OUT THE CHARGING
INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE ABLE TO DO
THAT. UM HAVE YOU FACTORED IN
THIS BOLD PLAN THAT WE HAVE THE
KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE
NEED? UM TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT
VEHICLE ELECTRIFICATION AND IN
PARTICULAR IN THE AREAS OF
RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE IN M T.
C S PLANS. YES. WELL YOU'VE
PINPOINTED A VERY SIGNIFICANT
FOCUS AREA FOR THE REGION. UM
ELECTRIFICATION. UM, IN FACT AND
MORE BROADLY ZERO EMISSION
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE
TRANSPORTATION NETWORK WAS
LIFTED UP AND HIGHLIGHTED AS A
MAJOR STRATEGY AS PART OF PLAN B
AREA 2050. BUT IMPORTANTLY, THAT
PLAN ALSO HAD AN ACTION ELEMENT
, WHICH WAS WE'VE GOT THIS 30
YEAR TRANSPORTATION PLAN, BUT
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO IN THE
NEXT FIVE YEARS AND ONE OF THE
MAJOR FOLLOW UP AREAS WAS TO
DEVELOP A REGIONAL ZERO
EMISSIONS STRATEGY TO ADDRESS
SPECIFICALLY THE POINTS THAT YOU
RAISED SOME MEMBER BONTA? WHICH
WAS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE
ELECTRIFICATION OF THE PUBLIC
TRANSIT FLEET. BUT VERY
IMPORTANTLY, THAT SUPPORTING
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE CHARGING
NETWORK, WHICH INVOLVES
OBVIOUSLY VERY COMPLEX NEW
PARTNERSHIPS, POTENTIALLY WITH
CITIES AND COUNTIES, AS WELL AS
THE TRANSIT AGENCIES, AS WELL AS
THE STATE, ETCETERA. UM WE WILL
BE DEVELOPING. UM, THAT PLAN.
WE'VE ALREADY LAUNCHED THE
BEGINNING CONVERSATIONS OF WHAT
THE BONES OF THAT WOULD LOOK
LIKE, AND IT WILL BE A
SIGNIFICANT ELEMENT MOVING
FORWARD IN TERMS OF AGAIN. THIS
THIS ACTION PLAN WE'VE DEVELOPED
. UM I WOULD SAY THAT A FIRE IS
LIT IN PART. BECAUSE WE DO SEE
SIGNIFICANT, UM, AND
UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF FUNDING
FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL
LEVELS. I'M NOT JUST IN THE
TRANSPORTATION SECTORS BUT
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AS AN
EXAMPLE AND SO TO TAKE FULL USE
OF THAT, AS I MENTIONED YOUR
OBSERVATION OF REALLY NEEDING TO
PULL TOGETHER. THAT PLAN IS
CRUCIAL. BUT YOU RAISE A VERY
IMPORTANT POINT FOR US TO RECALL
IS THAT HOW THAT INFRASTRUCTURE
IS BUILT WITH AN EYE TOWARD HOW
IT MIGHT BE DISRUPTED. AND WHAT
MAYBE NEEDS TO BE DESIGNED AT
THE FRONT END TO BE ABLE TO
RESPOND TO THAT WOULD BE VERY
IMPORTANT PERSPECTIVE. HELPFUL I
APPRECIATE THAT. AND BECAUSE, UH
, I HAVE THE WEED, A OPERATIONS
AND MAINTENANCE BUILDING, JUST
DROVE BY IT AND ACTUALLY VISITED
IN IT, UH, IN THE CITY OF
ALAMEDA. I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE
TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME
WITH YOU DISCUSSING HOW EMPTY
SEE SPECIFICALLY COORDINATES
WITH THE WITH THAT AGENCY. THE
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA WATER
EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORITY. SO THAT WE HAVE
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN LAND AND SEA
. RIGHT, BEBE HAPPY TO SET UP
THAT KIND OF DETAILED BRIEFING
AGAINST STEPHEN TERRON IS HERE.
HE WANTS TO END THERE HE IS,
RIGHT ON TIME TO GIVE YOU A
SENSE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IN
THAT SPACE RIGHT NOW. COME.
THANK YOU. STEPHEN TARYN FROM
MTC. UM YEAH. W E T. A IS IN
EXCELLENT PARTNER THAT WE HAVE.
AND, UM, WE WORK WITH THEM ON A
NUMBER OF REGIONAL PLANS,
INCLUDING THAT TRANSPORTATION
RESPONSE PLAN AND, UM, OUR
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN. THE
OUR TEMP AGAIN APOLOGIZE FOR ALL
THE ACRONYMS. UH WE'D, UH,
ASSIST US WITH THE EXERCISE, UM
, THAT WE HAVE ON AN ANNUAL
BASIS THAT THERESE MENTIONED
EARLIER AND THEY ARE ALSO A PART
OF OUR TRANSPORTATION RESPONSE
PLANNING COMMITTEE, AND SO THEY
WORK WITH US ON A NUMBER OF
PROJECTS THEY ARE INCLUDED IN
THE, UM MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT FOR
THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. AND
UM, THEY WORK WITH SUN ON
SEVERAL OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE
HAVE GOING ON, SUCH AS THAT THE
RESOURCE REQUESTING, UH, FORMS
THAT I THINK WAS MENTIONED
EARLIER. AND I'M ALSO JUST.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE KIND OF
THE FRONT LOADING OF THE KIND OF
PLANNING THAT WE NEED TO DO AS
IT RELATES TO ZERO EMISSIONS
BECAUSE I WOULD ALSO ASSUME THAT
WE'RE ALSO DOING THAT AS WE'RE
PLANNING OUT A MAJOR
INFRASTRUCTURE BUILD WITH OUR
BROADBAND NETWORK AS WELL, SO
AGAIN BACK TO OUR KIND OF
COMMUNICATIONS COMPONENT, UM IF
WE ARE IN THE SPACE OF
PREPAREDNESS, UH, IN YOUR
ESTIMATION, DO YOU FEEL LIKE WE
ARE, UM, DOING ENOUGH FRONT
LOADING IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE
PLANNING AS IT RELATES TO
ADDRESSED A LITTLE BIT KIND OF
THE ZERO EMISSIONS OPPONENT, BUT
AS IT RELATES TO OUR BROADBAND
NETWORKING AND LAST MILE
BUILDING. THE ONE THING I WOULD
SAY, BECAUSE THAT'S A VERY
COMPLEX AREA. BUT IN MY, UM
EXPERIENCE AND I WOULD SAY
LOOKING FORWARD ONE OF THE
THINGS I MENTIONED EARLIER IS
THE CRITICAL NEED FOR
PARTNERSHIPS. AND IN THIS SPACE
WE WOULD BE NEEDING TO BRING TO
THE TABLE. A NUMBER OF PARTNERS
WE HAVE NOT WORKED WITH IN THE
PAST NEARLY AS CLOSELY UTILITY
AGENCIES AS AN EXAMPLE, WOULD
HAVE TO BE AT THE TABLE WORKING
WITH US, UM CITIES AND COUNTIES
AGAIN HAVE WORKED WITH US IN A
NUMBER OF AREAS WITH REGARD TO
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.
BUT THIS WHOLE NOTION OF HOW DO
WE TAP INTO YOUR GRID? WHAT DOES
THAT LOOK LIKE? HOW DOES THAT
COORDINATE WITH OTHER DEMANDS?
YOU MIGHT AS A CITY BE
CONSIDERING IN TERMS OF NEEDS
FOR, UM, PROVIDING CLEAN ENERGY
, ELECTRIC TRAINS AND FOR
HOUSEHOLDS. HOW DOES ALL OF THAT
COORDINATE AND SO YOU KNOW, WE
OFTEN USE THE TERM WE TEND TO
WORK IN SILOS. LIKE TO TALK
ABOUT THEM AS CYLINDERS OF
EXCELLENCE, BUT THE POINT BEING
THAT IN THIS SPACE. AND IN THE
PREPARATION, BREAKING DOWN THOSE
TRADITIONAL SILOS, WHETHER IT'S
TERMS OF PLANNING AUTHORITIES,
OR, UM UM, CERTAINLY FUNDING
STREAMS. WE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT
IN ORDER TO BE PERFECT PREPARED
FOR THOSE POINTS WHERE WE'VE
DEMONSTRATED DURING A DISASTER.
THE COORDINATION HAS IMPROVED
EXPONENTIALLY. UH IN THE STATE.
WE NEED TO DO THE SAME. AND HAVE
THOSE SAME PARTNERSHIPS AT THE
FRONT END AS WELL. AND SO TO THE
DEGREE THAT THE STATE CAN
FACILITATE THAT TYPE OF
DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION IN IN
, UM, THE PREPAREDNESS THAT WAS
HELP THAT WOULD BE INCREDIBLY
HELPFUL AS WELL. AS OF COURSE,
THE WORK WE WOULD DO WITH THE
LOCAL REGIONAL LEVEL. THANK YOU.
ONE LAST QUESTION WAS JUST IN
REGARD TO YOU TALKED ABOUT, UM
DOING THE EXERCISE GOLDEN EAGLE
JUST RECENTLY AND WORKING WITH
THE TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES ON
YOU KNOW THE EMERGENCY
OPERATIONS CENTER AND ALL OF
THAT, HAVE YOU GUYS CONSIDERED
AS A PART OF THAT PLAN, AND WHEN
YOU COME TOGETHER TO DO THOSE
TYPES OF EXERCISES ARE YOU
VIEWING HOW YOU'RE MOVING, LIKE
THE IN HOUSE POPULATION PEOPLE
WITH MOBILITY ISSUES, PEOPLE WHO
ONLY RELY ON PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION. THEY DON'T HAVE
VEHICLES. EVEN THOUGH WE'RE A
VEHICLE RICH SOCIETY, THERE'S
QUITE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO
ONLY UM, THEIR ONLY FORM OF, UM
UH, COMMUTING OR TRAVELING IS
VIA, UH, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
SO HAVE THOSE ARE THOSE PART OF
THAT EXERCISE OF HOW YOUR HOW
THE TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES
ADJUST AND ADAPT TO ADDRESS
THOSE NEEDS. ABSOLUTELY YEAH,
THAT'S A ONE OF THE MAIN FOCUS
IS THAT WE HAVE IN THOSE
EXERCISES. UM THERESE MENTIONED
EARLIER THAT THERE WOULD LIKELY
BE ABOUT 200,000 PEOPLE THAT
WOULD NEED TO BE EVACUATED
DURING AN EMERGENCY. THAT 7.0
EARTHQUAKE AND THE HAYWIRE
SCENARIO. UM I HUGE PORTION OF
THAT 200,000 WOULD BE PEOPLE
WITH ACCESS AND FUNCTIONAL NEEDS
OR THOSE THAT DON'T HAVE
VEHICLES. AND SO THAT'S
DEFINITELY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT
AND PLANNED FOR, AND PREPARED
FOR IN THOSE EXERCISES. WELL
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE
YOUR TIME HERE TODAY WITH US.
THANK YOU APPRECIATE IT. ALRIGHT
WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT PANEL
, WHICH IS TRANSPORTATION VIA
SEA OR WATER. THIS IS BRIDGETTE
LEWIS. BRIDGETTE LEWIS IS THE
MANAGER OF HOMELAND SECURITY FOR
THE PORTS OF LONG BEACH AND ALSO
A COUNCILWOMAN. ELECTED OFFICIAL
FOR DISTRICT TWO IN THE CITY OF
TORRANCE.
GOOD MORNING CHAIR WILSON AND
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BONTA. THANK
YOU FOR THE INVITATION TO
PARTICIPATE IN THIS IMPERATIVE
SELECT HEARING COMMITTEE TODAY.
UM JOINING ME TODAY IS DREW
SCHNEIDER, WHO IS THE ASSISTANT
DIRECTOR OF SECURITY FOR THE
PORTS OF LONG BEACH. IN ADDITION
TO THE ROLES THAT YOU MENTIONED
EARLIER BEFORE, I ALSO SERVE AS
THE LEAD FOR THE CALIFORNIA
COASTAL REGION, MARITIME DOMAIN
AWARENESS SUBCOMMITTEE OR C C, R
M D A FOR SHORT IT IS PART OF
THE MARITIME SECURITY COUNCIL
MANDATED BY THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.
SO, CAL OH YES, AS YOU'VE HEARD
TODAY FROM SEVERAL OF OUR
PARTNERS. HMM WHOM WE COORDINATE
AND COLLABORATE WITHIN THE
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SPACE
TODAY, I DO HOPE TO SHARE SOME
OBSERVATIONS FROM OUR UNIQUE
VANTAGE POINT IN MARITIME AND
SUGGESTS SOME COURSES OF ACTION
THAT CAN PETITION POSITION.
CALIFORNIA TO LEAD IN MARITIME
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
PREVENTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS.
PEOPLE OFTEN MISTAKENLY THINK
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS
CONCERNED ONLY WITH EFFORTS TO
SAVE LIVES IN A RESPONSE TO A
DISASTER. HOWEVER EMERGENCY
MANAGES MANAGEMENT AND COVERS.
THERE'S SO MUCH MORE, INCLUDING
MITIGATING RISK. PREPARING OUR
COMMUNITIES AND ASSISTING IN
DISASTER RECOVERY. EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS CONTINUES TO BE A
BROAD AND AMBITIOUS MISSION IN
THE CRITICAL SAME TRANSPORTATION
SECTOR THAT REQUIRES THE
CONSTANT INVOLVEMENT OF MULTIPLE
STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING
GOVERNMENT, NON GOVERNMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS, THE PRIVATE
SECTOR AND MORE IMPORTANTLY,
INDIVIDUALS. SUPPORT OF LONG
BEACH MEETS REGULARLY WITH
INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS TO DISCUSS
AND PLAN FOR EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, CRIME, SAFETY AND
SECURITY ISSUES. THESE MEETINGS
SHAPED THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND
OPEN LINES OF TRUST, PARTNERSHIP
AND COMMUNICATION AMONG INDUSTRY
AND PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS WHO
ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTING
THE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THE
PORTS AND SECURING THE SUPPLY
CHAIN. WHICH DELIVERS CRITICAL
EMERGENCY SUPPLIES IS EVIDENCED
BY THE 2020 COVID 19 PANDEMIC.
IN ADDITION TO BEING ONE OF THE
WORLD'S BUSIEST SEAPORTS, THE
PORTS OF LOS ANGELES AND LONG
BEACH ARE BOTH STRATEGIC PORTS,
ALONG WITH THE PORTS OF OAKLAND
AND SAN DIEGO. IN CALIFORNIA. WE
ARE ALL PART OF THE NATIONAL
PORTRAIT READINESS NETWORK. THIS
IS A DESIGNATION BY THE MARITIME
ADMINISTRATION OR MUIR AD FOR
SHORT, WHICH REQUIRES PORTS TO
BE READY AND PREPARE 24 7 TO
RESPOND TO NATIONAL AND STATE
EMERGENCIES ARE DEEP WATER ENTRY
WAY IS A FEDERAL NAVIGATIONAL
CHANNEL, WHICH MUST REMAIN CLEAR
AND OPERATIONAL. SO VESSELS
CARRYING STRATEGIC CARGO OR
EVACUATING PERSONS CAN ENTER OR
EXIT THE PORK COMPLEX UNIMPEDED.
WE ALSO MUST ADEQUATELY SECURE
THE RAIL WAYS AND ROADWAYS
LEADING TO THESE OUTLOOKS
CENTERS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FOR
THE MOVEMENTS OF GOOD AND
PEOPLE. THE ROLES OF THE TWIN
PORTS IN THE SAN PEDRO BAYPORT
COMPLEX. PLAY A STRATEGIC PART
IN RESPONDING TO ANY EMERGENCY.
MOREOVER ALL STATEWIDE
TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES CAN PLAY
A SIGNIFICANT ROLE BY SERVING AS
A CONDUIT FOR THE PREPAREDNESS
AND RECOVERY EFFORTS FOLLOWING A
DISASTER. ACCORDING TO NOAH, AS
WE SEE AN INCREASED RISK AND
IMPACT COST AND NEEDS RELATED TO
DISASTERS, THERE HAS ARGUABLY
NEVER BEEN A MORE CRITICAL
MOMENT TO DEVELOP A MORE
EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT APPROACH TO
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. AS THE
IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE BECOME
PREVALENT. THE IMPORTANCE OF
MANAGING EMERGENCIES BECOME A
PRIORITY, PARTICULARLY IN THE
CRITICAL AREA AND CONFERENCING
ARE ROBUST CALIFORNIA
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS. IN 2022
, THE LOS ANGELES REGION HELD A
SERIES OF EXERCISES FOR THE
DEFENSE SUPPORT OF CIVIL
AUTHORITIES OR DISCO FOR SHORT,
WHICH HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED TO
STRATEGICALLY AND TACTICALLY
EXERCISE COMMODITY MOVEMENTS
SUCH AS FOOD SUPPLIES, GOOD AND
MEDICATION IN THE IMPACTED AREAS
AMONG THE UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. FEDERAL
AND STATE STAGING AREAS AND
LOCAL COMMODITY POINTS OF
DISTRIBUTION. SUPPLY, CHAIN
AVAILABILITY AND LOGISTICAL
MOVEMENT ARE THE QUARTER STONES
OF DISASTER RESPONSE. 2022
EXERCISE SERIES SPECIFICALLY
SOUGHT TO EXAMINE POST
CATASTROPHIC DISASTERS,
COMMODITY TRANSFERS AND MOVEMENT
FROM SEA TO SURFACE. THROUGH THE
UTILIZATION OF US NAVY LANDING
CRAFTS ENTERING AND LANDING
THROUGH THE PORTS OF LOS ANGELES
AND LONG BEACH. TESTING THE
PROCESS TO TRANSFER EQUIPMENT
AND GOODS TO AND FROM SHORE CAN
HELP ENSURE THAT WHEN PORTS
INGRESS AND EGRESS POINTS ARE
GRAVELY IMPACTED DUE TO DAMAGED
INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER
LIFELINE DISRUPTIONS, MARITIME
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS CAN MOVE
MANDATORY LIFE SUSTAINING
SUPPLIES. AFTER A 7.8 EARTHQUAKE
, THE U. S ARMY CORPS OF
ENGINEERS ESTIMATES THAT LOS
ANGELES COUNTY ALONE COULD
GENERATE OVER 48 MILLION TONS OF
DEBRIS. REGIONALLY THAT NUMBER
IS MORE THAN 81 MILLION TONS.
BREES WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT
COMMONLY UTILIZE INGRESS AND
INGRESS ROUTES. THE MANDATE FOR
OUR COLLECTIVE AGENCIES AND
ORGANIZATIONS TO PRIORITIZE
ROUTES FOR REOPENING IS
ESSENTIAL. FOLLOWING THE
EARTHQUAKE, IT IS ASSUMED THAT
ROAD BLOCKS WITH DEBRIS WILL
NEED TO BE CLEAR TO ENABLE THE
MOVEMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY
UTILITIES AND COMMUNICATIONS
RESTORATION AND LIFE SUSTAINING
SUPPLIES. HOWEVER DUE TO THE
SHEER SIZE OF OVER 4300 SQUARE
MILES OF LAND AND A POPULATION
DENSITY OF OVER 14 MILLION
PEOPLE IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA.
ERIN C. LIFTS CAN ONLY AUGMENT
BUT NOT REPLACE SURFACE
LOGISTICAL ROUTES. FULL
PARTNERSHIP. INVOLVEMENT WITH
THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS CRUCIAL AS
THE PRIVATE SECTOR PROVIDES
LOGISTICS SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT
AND OWNS AND OPERATES
TRANSPORTATION ASSETS, INCLUDING
INFRASTRUCTURE BUT NOT LIMITED
TO TRUCKS, PLANES, SHIPS, CRANES
, CONTAINERS, WAREHOUSES,
DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS SUPPLIES.
IN PERSONNEL, WHICH ARE ALL
CRITICAL IN TIMES OF A DISASTER.
ADDITIONALLY COMMON OPERATING
PICTURES OR COPS, FOR SHORT,
HAVE BEEN A PRIORITY FOR
MANAGING DAILY OPERATIONS.
PREVENTION OF DISASTERS,
MITIGATION, RECOVERY AND
CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS. THE
MARITIME COMMUNITY IS AT THE
FOREFRONT OF DEVELOPING
TECHNOLOGIES TO CREATE A COASTAL
Y COMMON OPERATING PICTURE.
UTILIZING AN ALL HAZARDS
APPROACH TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO
HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU. ONE CURRENT
PROJECT CURRENTLY UNDERWAY.
FOLLOWING SEVERAL MEMORY TIME
DISASTERS, INCLUDING THE 2019
CONCEPTION BOAT INCIDENT, AND
SANTA CRUZ, THE 2020. GRAND
PRINCESS COVID 19 EVENT, WHICH
IS THE CRUISE SHIP DEPARTING
FROM YOUR AREA IN SAN FRANCISCO
TO HAWAII, WHERE 100 AND 22
PASSENGERS TESTED POSITIVE SEVEN
AND FORTUNATELY DIED AND OVER
3500 PASSENGERS AND CREW WERE
MANDATED TO ENTER QUARANTINE.
COMMON OPERATING PICTURE FOR ALL
AGENCIES WOULD HAVE BEEN
CRITICAL IN BOTH OF THOSE
EVENTS. TO ADDRESS THAT NEED AND
MAY 2021 THE CARE OF CALIFORNIA
MARITIME SECURITY COUNCIL. VOTED
TO DEVELOP A SUBCOMMITTEE TO
UPDATE THE STATE'S MARITIME
SECURITY STRATEGY. IT WAS
APPROVED IN MAY OF 2022. ONE OF
THE STRATEGIC CRITICAL GOALS OF
THE C. M S S OR THE CALIFORNIA
MARITIME SECURITY STRATEGY FOR
SHORT IS TO PRIORITIZE MARITIME
DOMAIN AWARENESS FOR THE
CALIFORNIA CULTURE REGION,
INCLUDING INLAND PORTS AND DELTA
AREAS MORE COMMONLY FOUND IN THE
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREAS. IN
NOVEMBER. 2021 BASED ON THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE C M S
COMMITTEE. THE ENTIRE COUNCIL
VOTED TO CREATE AN ADDITIONAL
SUBCOMMITTEE FOCUSED SOLELY ON
MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS AND
CREATING A COMMON OPERATING
PICTURE FOR MARITIME UNDER THE
GUIDANCE OF THE CMS. SEE VICE
CHAIR, WHICH IS ALWAYS THE
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
DISTRICT OLYMPIC COMMANDER.
WHICH INCORPORATES IS THE ENTIRE
CALIFORNIA COASTLINE. AFTER THE
SUBCOMMITTEE WAS FORMED FROM
VARIOUS REPRESENTATIVES UNDER
THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CALIFORNIA
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES,
REPRESENTATIVES FROM FEDERAL,
STATE AND LOCAL MARITIME
AGENCIES BEGIN MEETING BI WEEKLY
TO DEVELOP PROOFS OF CONCEPT OF
A CCR MD A COP. DEVELOPED AS AN
ALL HAZARDS APPROACH. TWO MG A
USING A GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY
PLATFORM. THE CCR COP IS WHAT
WE'RE CALLING. IT IS A
CENTRALIZED DATA AND INFORMATION
SHARING REPOSITORY, WHICH
INCLUDES REAL TIME AND NEAR TIME
DATA FEEDS, SETS, CAMERAS AND
SENSOR SYSTEMS. THAT DELIVER
ACTIONABLE INFORMATION AND
ENHANCE CONTEXTUAL
UNDERSTANDING. THIS INFORMATION
SET INCLUDES CRITICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE, NATURAL HAZARDS
, AERIAL IMAGERY POINTS OF
INTEREST DATA SETS. SPATIAL
ANALYSIS, INCLUDING THE ABILITY
TO QUERY SEARCH AND FILTER. G O
CODING, WHICH IS TRANSLATING
DATA ONTO A MAP THAT IS FAMILIAR
TO THE AGENCY. AND PROXIMITY
FUNCTIONS, SO CREATING BUFFERS
FINDING LOCATIONS OF A POINT OF
INTEREST AND PLANNING ROUTES.
THE M D. A SUBCOMMITTEE HAS
BEGUN DESIGNING THE CCR COP
PLATFORM POLICY AND STANDARD
OPERATING PROCEDURES IN
ALIGNMENT WITH FEDERAL, STATE,
LOCAL AND TRIBAL LAWS.
REGULATIONS MANDATES, BEST
PRACTICES AND MINIMUM RANDOM OF
AGREEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING TO
BETTER IDENTIFY AND UNDERSTAND
THE NEEDS CAPABILITIES AND
CURRENT RESOURCES OF OUR PARTNER
AGENCIES AND STAKEHOLDERS WITHIN
THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL REGION.
IN ADDITION TO DEVELOPING A
COMMON OPERATING PICTURE, AN
INITIATIVE BRINGING COW OH YES,
MARITIME AND LOGISTICS RESPONSE
TEAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH
CALIFORNIA PORTS, STAKEHOLDER
AGENCIES AND SPECIFICALLY OUR
BAY AREA PARTNERS, NAMELY THE
ONES YOU'VE HEARD FROM EARLIER
TODAY, WHICH IS EMPTY SEE THE
METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE. WIEDER AND THE VESSEL
TRAFFIC SERVICES FROM THE UNITED
STATES COAST GUARD DEAL 11 SAN
FRANCISCO REGION AND THE SAN
FRANCISCO MARINE EXCHANGE AND
OTHER RESPONSE ORGANIZATIONS ALL
HELPED TO DEFINE AND EXERCISE
THE CURRENT STATE OF READINESS
AND A SPECIFIC PLAN TO ADDRESS
THE GAPS. THAT WE SEE HERE IN
THE EMERGENCY SPACE. TO DATE.
THIS PLAN ALONG WITH THE CONCEPT
OF OPERATION DEMONSTRATION OF A
COP WITH TECHNICAL SUPPORT FROM
THE DHS GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION
INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM, USING
OUR G I S. ALLOWED US TO FORM A
LIMITED MARITIME COMMON
OPERATING PICTURE THAT HAS BEEN
SUCCESSFULLY EXERCISE TWICE IN A
TABLE TOP AND THEN AGAIN IN THE
GOLDEN EAGLE FULL SCALE EXERCISE
DURING FLEET WEEKS HELP, BOTH IN
LOS ANGELES AND SAN FRANCISCO.
WE DID HAVE INITIAL SUCCESSES
AND LESSONS FOR FURTHER
DEVELOPMENT. AFTER ACTION
REVIEWS. THE CENTRAL THEME IS
THE VIRAL ROLE THAT MARITIME
DOMAIN AWARENESS AND A COMMON
OPERATING PICTURE WOULD PLAY IN
MANAGING AN EMERGENCY.
CALIFORNIA IS POSITIONED TO
BECOME A NATIONWIDE MODEL FOR
DEVELOPING AN MD A PROGRAM WITH
A NATIONAL MARITIME SECURITY AND
MANAGEMENT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
OBJECTIVE. IT WILL ALSO PLAY A
CRITICAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, SEARCH AND
RESCUE MISSIONS, MARITIME LAW
AND FIREFIGHTING EFFORTS.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE HUSBANDS
TREE AND ENSURING A RESILIENT
CALIFORNIA ECONOMY THAT IS
ALREADY HEAVILY RELIANT ON OUR
MARITIME SYSTEM. FOR EXAMPLE,
THE NATIONAL MARITIME
INTEGRATION OFFICE OR NAME YO,
FOR SHORT, HAS REQUESTED THE CMS
SEE WORKING GROUP IF WE CAN
SHARE THE EFFORTS THAT WE ARE
CURRENTLY DOING IN CALIFORNIA
THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE
NATION. OR A CCR COP TO PROMOTE
AND FACILITATE SECURE
INFORMATION. THE SUBCOMMITTEE IS
RESEARCHING AND IDENTIFYING
STATE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
INITIAL ASKED CASH INFUSION OF
$2 MILLION FOR FURTHER
DEVELOPMENT, TESTING AND
DEPLOYMENT OF THIS TECHNOLOGY.
IN CLOSING I THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR AND ASSEMBLY MINIMUM.
BONTA AND ALL OF THE MEMBERS ON
THE COMMITTEE FOR TRANSPORTATION
AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOR
YOUR INTEREST AND CONCERN IN
THESE CRITICAL ISSUES. DIRECTOR
SNYDER AND I WILL YIELD TO YOU
FOR ANY QUESTIONS FROM YOUR
HONORABLE BODY. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU BOTH. AND THANK YOU,
DIRECTOR SNYDER FOR COMING UP.
IT WAS A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU.
WHEN I WAS IN SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA EARLIER THIS YEAR AND
GLAD TO SEE YOU HERE TODAY
PARTICIPATING. THANK YOU. THE
PLEASURE'S MINE. DID YOU WANT TO
SHARE ANYTHING BEFORE I TURN IT
OVER TO QUESTIONS THAT MISS
LEWIS HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB
OF BRIEFING YOU ON MOST CRITICAL
ELEMENTS OF HER WORK, MR WHITE
INITIATIVE. GREAT. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. I'LL SEE IF A SIMILAR, UM
BONTA REGARD TO THE NEW
STATEWIDE FOCUS ON UM M D A AND
COPY PROGRAMS AND WE TALKED
ABOUT THIS BEFORE, UM, IN
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. HOW WE
HADN'T YET HAD THAT. FOR VIEW
STATEWIDE MENTIONED THE TWO
MILLION FUNDING WAS THAT
PARTICULARLY RELATED TO THIS
PARTICULAR PROGRAM? YES MA'AM.
IT IS RELATED TO THIS PARTICULAR
PROGRAM. WE HAVE INITIALLY
IDENTIFIED SOME FUNDING
MECHANISMS. UM WHAT WE ARE
TRYING TO DETERMINE NOW IS THE
BEST AGENCY TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE
THOSE FUNDS AND DISTRIBUTED
ACCORDINGLY THROUGH ARE ALREADY
PROCURED CONTRACTS. SO WHAT WE
HAVE ALREADY DISCUSSED IS USING
CONTRACTS THAT WE ALREADY HAD IN
PLACE HAVE IN PLACE NOW TO HELP
DEVELOP THIS COP SYSTEM. UM WE
ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE
MULTIPLE PARTNERSHIPS WITH
FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND TRIBAL
AGENCIES. THERE ARE ALLOWING US
ACCESS AND INTEGRATIONS WITH
THEIR SYSTEMS THAT WILL
EVENTUALLY HELP DRIVE DOWN THE
COST OF A STATEWIDE COP. HOWEVER
THE SHEER BENEFIT OF BEING ABLE
TO UTILIZE ALL OF THOSE SYSTEMS
IN ONE COMMON OPERATING PICTURE
IS ESSENTIAL TO MAINTAIN DOMAIN
AWARENESS ALL UP AND DOWN THE
CALIFORNIA COASTLINE. ABSOLUTELY
AND SO I KNOW THE STATE AND THE
MOST RECENT BUDGET, UM, PUT
APPROXIMATELY A BILLION DOLLARS
TOWARDS TOWARDS THESE TYPES OF
PROJECTS. AND SO THAT IS, IS
THAT ONE OF THE ASPECTS OF
FUNDING OR NOT THE ASPECT OF
FUNDING FOR THE TWO MILLION OR
IS THAT A SEPARATE BOTTOM MONEY?
SO WE ARE CURRENTLY EXPLORING
THAT THAT IS DEFINITELY OUR
NUMBER ONE TARGET TO TRY TO
PROCURE THOSE, UM, FUNDS.
HOWEVER AS OF RIGHT NOW, THERE'S
NOT REALLY A STANDARD MECHANISM
IN WHICH TO APPLY FOR SO THIS
WOULD BE A NEW PROJECT THAT HAS
TO BE APPROVED TO BE ABLE TO
APPLY FOR THAT FUNDING. AND SO
THAT RIGHT NOW IS WHERE WE ARE
STUCK IF YOU WILL, IN THE
PROCESS OF TRYING TO PROCURE
FUNDING TO CONTINUE THIS PROJECT
, SO IT DOESN'T FACILITATE
FACILITATE YOU TO BE ABLE TO
ACCESS THOSE FUNDS BECAUSE OF IT
THE WAY IT'S SET UP NOW AND IS
THERE? NO UM THERE'S SO MANY
DIFFERENT PARTNERS AND AGENCIES
AND, UM GROUPS INVOLVED IN THIS
, BUT AS I UNDERSTAND IT FROM
YOUR TESTIMONY, AND, UM, JUST
PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS, THERE'S
NO UM, PARTICULAR AGENCY THAT'S
IN POWER TO BE ABLE TO BE THE
POINT PERSON FOR THIS IS THAT
CORRECT LEAD AGENCY THAT, UM, WE
CURRENTLY HAVE RIGHT NOW IS
THROUGH CAL. OH YES. SO THEY ARE
IN THE LEAD, AND I ACTUALLY AM
SPENDING MOST OF MY TIME WITH
CAL. OH, YES, AND TRYING TO
DEVELOP A COP FOR MARITIME
DOMAIN AWARENESS. SO THEY WOULD
MOST LIKELY BE THE AGENCY THAT
WOULD BE ABLE TO PROCURE THIS
FUNDING AND MANAGE, UM, THE
GRANT PROCESS AND THE
DISTRIBUTION OF THOSE SPONGES.
HOWEVER WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT
OTHER PARTNER AGENCIES ARE
EARMARKING SOME OF THEIR DOLLARS
THAT THEY RECEIVED FROM THE
INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS. TOWARDS
THIS PROJECT. IF WE DEPEND ON
WANT JUST ONE STATE AGENCY ALONE
TO FUND THE DEVELOPMENT. UM THEN
WE GET OURSELVES IN THE
SITUATION WHERE WE START TO
DECREASE PARTICIPATION IF
EVERYONE HAS A STAKE, UM AND
DEVELOPING NOT ONLY DEVELOPING
BUT FUNDING. UM, THIS CRITICAL
PROJECT. WE DO BELIEVE THAT THE
PARTICIPATION WILL REMAIN
STABLE. AND THE FUNDING OF IT IS
SEPARATE FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF IT OR IS THAT THE SAME? IT'S
PART. IT'S PART OF THE
IMPLEMENTATION, AND I THINK
DIRECTOR SCHNEIDER ALSO HAS SOME
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO ADD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY. I'M JUST GOING TO
DISCUSS. SOME OF THE EFFORTS
HAVE BEEN MADE UNDER WAY. MISS
LEWIS HAS TRAVELED UP THE PERIOD
NUMEROUS TIMES, OF COURSE, THE
LAST TWO YEARS TO ENGAGE VARIOUS
STAKEHOLDERS IN GENERATED LEVEL
OF INTEREST. TAKE THIS TO THE
NEXT STAGE. WE NEED TO DO TWO
THINGS THAT ARE CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT ESTABLISHED, WHICH
AGENCY IS GOING TO HOST THE
COMMON OPERATING PICTURE. RIGHT
NOW WE'RE LAYING UPON FEDERAL
SYSTEM, THE WENT SECURITY
INFORMATION NETWORK, BUT WE
FOUND THAT THAT CREATES SOME
BARRIERS TO ENTRY FOR SOME OF
OUR CRITICAL STAKEHOLDERS, AS
JUST INVOLVES NUMEROUS LEVELS OF
DUAL FACTOR AUTHENTICATION. IT
ISN'T REALLY ACCESSIBLE FOR
FRONTLINE PERSONNEL. THE IDEA
AND WE WANT TO WORK WITH KELLY.
YES TO ESTABLISH A SOFTWARE
SYSTEM WITH THE NEW SIMILARLY
LEVERAGING THIS THIS INITIAL
WORK AND THEN WE NEED TO WORK
WITH THE INDIVIDUAL STAKEHOLDERS
UP AND DOWN THE STATES IN ORDER
TO LEVERAGE EXISTING FEEDS,
WHETHER IT BE VIDEO OR THE FORMS
OF DATA THAT COULD GO INTO THIS
PROVIDE THAT COMMON. I'LL BRING
PROCEDURE PICTURE. IN ORDER TO
DO BOTH OF THESE THINGS. IT'S
GOING WHERE FURTHER TRAVEL FOR
MISS LEWIS, ALONG WITH THEIR
POWER PARTNER PARTNERS FROM
CALLAWAY, HAS ANOTHER AGENCIES
DEVELOP INTERESTS, MEET WITH THE
TECHNICAL STAKEHOLDERS AND THEN
ACTUALLY FUND THE SOFTWARE
SYSTEM THEMSELVES KIND OF THREE
DIFFERENT ASKED BURIED INTO THAT
$2 MILLION FIGURE. WE WILL
DEFINITELY PURSUE VARIOUS
AVAILABLE FUNDING STREAMS
CHALLENGE FOR US, AND WE WERE
ACCUSTOMED TUESDAY ON PORT
SECURITY GRANT FUNDING HAS
TYPICALLY BEEN THERE ARE MAIN
FUNDING SOURCE FOR THIS, BUT THE
PORTS ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED
FOR ONE PORK COMPLEX OR ONE
AREA. THIS IS TRULY A STATEWIDE
INITIATIVE, AND SO WE'RE LOOKING
TO DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES
THERE. GREAT THANK YOU FOR THAT.
APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR YOUR TIME. UM THANK YOU FOR
ALL THE INFORMATION AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO THE WORK THAT THIS
COMMITTEE CAN SUPPORT. YOUR
EFFORTS ARE PLEASURE. THANK YOU.
ALRIGHT WITH THAT, UM, WE'LL
MOVE ON TO OUR FINAL PANEL,
WHICH IS TRANSPORTATION VIA AIR.
THIS IS PERFORMED BY. PERFORMED
INCLUDED CHRIS HALL. I'M LOOKING
FOR MY MOTHER NOTE. OH, YEAH.
CHRIS HALL. FIRE MEDICAL I
SAYING THAT CORRECTLY? P H I R
MEDICAL PH I OKAY? THERE'S A
STORIED HISTORY TO THAT. BUT WE
STICK WITH PH I OKAY. SOUNDS
GOOD. THANK YOU, SIR. THE FLOOR
IS YOURS AND JUST NOTE.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BONTA HAS A
PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENT THAT SHE
DOES HAVE TO GET TO. SO WHEN YOU
SEE YOUR STEP OUT IS
INTENTIONAL, AND WE THANK HER
FOR HER TIME SO FAR HERE AND
LOOK FORWARD TO THE WAYS THAT
SHE WILL BE ABLE TO ENGAGE ON
THIS COMMITTEE IN THE FUTURE. UM
SURE, WILSON IS A MEMBER BATA.
THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK WITH YOU ALL TODAY ABOUT
AIR, AMBULANCES AND THE ROLE WE
PLAY IN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.
NAME IS CHRISTOPHER HALL AND THE
DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
IN HISTORY. RELATIONS FOR PH I
HEALTH AND PH I HEALTH OPERATES
PH I OR MEDICAL FOR AIR
AMBULANCE FOR AREA MILLS BASIS.
FIVE AIR AMBULANCES IN THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA, BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY, I'M HERE ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
AIR MEDICAL SERVICES
REPRESENTING THAT BODY, UM,
SPECIFICALLY TO SPEAK ABOUT HOW
THE DISTRIBUTION OF AIR
AMBULANCES AND MY COLLEAGUES IN
THE GROUND AMBULANCE SPACE. OUR
DISTRIBUTION THROUGHOUT URBAN,
SUBURBAN AND RURAL AREAS ALLOWS
US TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND WHEN
NEEDED. DO ANY DISASTER MEANT
NATURAL OR OTHERWISE BAD ACTORS
WITH BAD INTENT. WE WANT TO BE
HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN
TAKE CARE OF CALIFORNIA CITIZENS
IN THEIR TIME OF NEED. JUST A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT CAL AIMS.
FLAMES WAS ESTABLISHED AS A
STATE CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF OUR OF NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL SERVICES
. THE MISSION HERE YOU CAN SEE
IS TO PROVIDE A FORUM. FOR THE
PROVIDERS INVOLVED WITH THE
MEDICAL INDUSTRY. OUR GOAL IS TO
PROMOTE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF
INDUSTRY SAFETY AND COMMITMENT
TO DELIVERING EXCELLENCE AND
PATIENT CARE WHILE TRANSPORTING
THE CRITICALLY ILL OR INJURED.
OUR VISION IS THAT AIMS
REPRESENTS A UNIFIED VOICE FOR
THE ENTIRE AIR, MEDICAL AND
CRITICAL CARE, TRANS MEDICAL
TRANSPORT COMMUNITY THROUGH
COMMON EFFORT. WE WILL IMPROVE
THE HEALTH HEALTH OUTCOMES OF
THE POPULATIONS WE SERVE. AN
EXAMPLE OF THIS WOULD BE IN THE
FORM OF SAFETY. OUR MEMBERS
COMMITTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF
STANDARDIZED HOSPITAL JALABAD
COMMUNICATIONS GUIDELINES SO
THAT ANY MEMBER OF OUR
ASSOCIATION OR ANY AIR AMBULANCE
TRANSPORTING A PATIENT INTO ANY
HOSPITAL WOULD HAVE THE SAME
EXPECTATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO
COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT THE PATIENT
COMING IN AS WELL AS ANY AIR
OPERATIONS AROUND THAT HELLA
POD. WE WANT TO AVOID ANY SORT
OF ACCIDENTS THAT CREATE THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR A NEAR MISS OR
OR WORSE, A MIDAIR COLLISION. IN
ADDITION, WE ALSO COMMITTED
STANDARDIZED LANDING ZONE
GUIDELINES WITH THIS DID FOR US
IS WE ALL OPERATE DIFFERENT
AIRCRAFT. UM SOME ARE SIMILAR.
MANY ARE DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT
CAPABILITIES. TO MAKE IT EASY
FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. WE
CAME TO AGREEMENT ON UNIFORM
LANDING ZONE GUIDELINES. THIS IS
WHAT WE NEED FOR SPACE TO LAND.
THIS IS WHAT IT REQUIRES MINUTES
MONTHS, MUCH MORE SIMPLER FOR
EMS RESPONDERS TO BE ABLE TO USE
US AND TO KNOW WHEN TO WHAT TO
EXPECT WITH OUR AIR OPERATIONS.
THIS INCLUDES ALSO A NUMBER OF
SAFETY STAND DOWN DAYS, AS WELL
AS CLINICAL TRAINING TO LOCAL
VMS AND FIRST RESPONDERS. YOU'LL
SEE IN THIS IN THE HANDOUT OUR
MEMBERS, WE HAVE A BROAD
SPECTRUM OF MEMBERS IN
CALIFORNIA, REMEMBERS INCLUDE
TRADITIONAL OR HOSPITAL BASED
PROGRAMS LIKE STANFORD
INDEPENDENT OR COMMUNITY BASED
PROGRAMS LIKE PH I OR MEDICAL
WE'RE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND
WE ALSO HAVE GOVERNMENT SECTOR
PARTICIPATION WITH THE AIR OPS
FROM THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY
PATROL IS A MEMBER OF KALAM'S.
WHAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU IS
A GOOD CROSS SECTION OF, UH,
PRIVATE SECTOR AND GOVERNMENT
AND FOR PROFIT NONPROFIT, ALL
WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE
PATIENTS GET WHERE THEY NEED TO
GO IN THEIR TIME OF NEED. UM
WHAT YOU'LL SEE IN THE HANDOUT
AS WELL AS A VISUAL OF THE
DISTRIBUTION OF AIRCRAFT ACROSS
CALIFORNIA. WHAT WE HAVE IS
APPROXIMATELY 62 AIR AMBULANCE
AIRCRAFT OPERATED BY CAL NAMES
MEMBERS. THERE ARE OTHER AREA
MILLS IS OUT THERE. THEY MAY NOT
BE A MEMBER OF CALLIE'S, BUT WE
HAVE ABOUT 62, WHICH MEANS WE
TRANSPORT ABOUT 18,500 PATIENTS
ANNUALLY. WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE,
AND WE LOOK AT AS WE IMPROVE THE
LIVES OF 18,500 PATIENTS
ANNUALLY AND OF THOSE ABOUT 55
TO 5,512,000 OF THOSE ARE ON
MEDICAL. JUST SOME FACTS HERE
ABOUT AIR AMBULANCE SERVICES ARE
MOST COMMON STAFF CONFIGURATION
IS A IS A TEAM CONSISTING OF A
PILOT AND A REGISTERED NURSE AND
A PARAMEDIC. NEARLY EVERY BASE
HAS A MECHANIC OR A MECHANIC
MIGHT BE SHARED BETWEEN TWO
BASES. BUT WHAT IS COMMON IS
THAT ALL OF OUR TEAMS ARE
ESPECIALLY TRAINED OR CERTIFIED
. OUR FLIGHT NURSES ARE
CERTIFIED FLIGHT RNS OUR FLIGHT.
PARAMEDICS ARE CERTIFIED FLIGHT
PARAMEDICS. OUR PILOTS COME IN
WITH A LOT OF TIME BEHIND THE
STICK. OUR MAINTAINERS COME IN
WITH A LOT OF HOURS WORKING ON
THEIR AIRCRAFT WITH THEIR TYPE.
WE DO HAVE SOME AIR. AMBULANCES
THERE STAFFED UP AS A NURSE
NURSE CONFIGURATION. BUT WHAT IS
THE MOST COMMON IS A TEAM OF A
NURSE AND A PARAMEDIC RESPONDING
WITH THE PILOT. WE'RE AVAILABLE
. 24 73 65 FOR ALL EMERGENCY AND
NON EMERGENCY TRANSPORTS. WE
DON'T TAKE HOLIDAYS AND WE DON'T
TAKE NIGHTS OFF. WE'RE GOING TO
BE HERE WHEN YOU NEED US, AND
THE ONLY TIME YOU MAY NOT GET US
AS IF WHETHER PREVENTS US FROM
FLYING OR IF WE HAVE A
MAINTENANCE ISSUE, WHICH MEANS
THE AIRCRAFT'S NOT SAFE TO FLY.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE IT'S
AIRWORTHY BEFORE WE GET UP IN
THE AIR. WE OPERATE BOTH
HELICOPTER AND FIXED WING OR
AIRPLANE AIRCRAFT. WHAT'S UNIQUE
ABOUT US IS ALL OF OUR INTERIORS
ARE SPECIALLY CERTIFIED WITH A
SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATE BY
THE FAA THAT THAT REQUIRES, UH.
SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT SPECIALIST
, PLUMBING OF AIR AND
ELECTRICITY IN A WAY THAT HAS TO
BE DONE, ACCORDING TO FEDERAL
GUIDELINES. UM IT IS VERY
SPECIFIC. IT'S VERY INTRICATE,
AND IT'S ALSO VERY EXPENSIVE,
BUT WHAT IT DOES IS IT MAKES
THAT TURNS OUT AIRCRAFT THAT
COULD BE USED FOR ANYTHING INTO
A MOBILE ICU ESSENTIALLY AND
THEN THE LAST BULLET POINT THERE
IS THAT WE ARE EXTENSIVELY
REGULATED BY BOTH THE STATE AND
FEDERAL AUTHORITIES. THROUGH THE
, UH THERE'S THIS INTERSECTION
THAT WE EXIST AT. WE ANSWER TO
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON ALL
AREAS OF AVIATION, AVIATION
SAFETY AND ECONOMIC AUTHORITY
BECAUSE WE ARE CERTIFICATED AIR
CARRIER. THAT ALLOWS US TO CROSS
ALL STATE BOUNDARIES AND
POLITICAL BOUNDARIES TO DELIVER
PATIENTS WHERE THEY WHERE WE
NEED TO TAKE THEM TO GET THEM TO
DEFINITIVE CARE. UM WE'RE ALSO
REGULATED THE STATE LEVEL FOR
ALL ASPECTS OF HEALTH CARE THAT
WE THAT WE PROVIDE OUR
CERTIFICATION OF OUR MEDICAL
TEAMS THAT EQUIPMENT THEY CAN
CARRY THEIR SCOPE OF PRACTICE
THE MEDICATIONS WE USE ALL THAT
IS REGULATED BY THE STATE AS
WELL AS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THE
AMOUNT OF REIMBURSEMENT WE GET
PAID BY INSURANCE COMPANIES
REGULATED BY THE STATE AS WELL.
I'M GOING ON. UH TYPICALLY, WE
DO NOT SELF DISPATCH. WE ARE
REQUESTED BY EMERGENCY
PHYSICIANS IN HOSPITALS OR BY
FIRST RESPONDERS THAT ARE GUIDED
BY A PHYSICIAN PROTOCOLS AND WE
ARE ONLY REQUESTED FOR THE MOST
TIME SENSITIVE ILLNESSES OR
INJURIES. THINK BIG TRAUMA
INJURIES TO THE TORSO OR TO THE
TO THE UPPER PART OF THE
EXTREMITIES. UM CARDIAC DISEASES
LIKE HEART ATTACKS. STROKES? UM
A GOOD EXAMPLE TO GIVE YOU JUST
BRIEFLY FOR STROKES. UH MOST
FOLKS RECOGNIZE A THREE HOUR
WINDOW FROM THE TIME OF ONSET OF
SYMPTOMS TO GET A PATIENT WITH A
, UH IN BOLIC STROKE A CLOT IN
THE BRAIN TO AN INTERVENTION
CENTER. UNFORTUNATELY MOST
PATIENTS ARE IN DENIAL THAT
THEY'RE HAVING SYMPTOMS TO BEGIN
WITH. SO WE'RE ALREADY BEHIND
THE EIGHT BALL. WHEN THIS WHEN
THIS HAPPENS WHEN WE DO ARRIVE,
WE'VE GOT THREE HOURS TO GET
THEM TO DEFINITIVE CARE. UM IF
WE GET THEM THERE, THEY WALK OUT
OF THE HOSPITAL, THEN A COUPLE
OF DAYS, MAYBE A MEDICATION OR
TO SOME CHANGES THEIR LIFESTYLE
DON'T DRINK SO MUCH MORE
VEGETABLES. UM, AND THEN THEY
DON'T RELY UPON THEIR FAMILY AND
FRIENDS AS MUCH AND VERY LITTLE
REHAB CARE. WHEN WE GO BEYOND
THAT THREE HOUR WINDOW.
UNFORTUNATELY, SOMETIMES WE FIND
OURSELVES BACK IN 19 FORTIES
MEDICINE. ROLL THEM ON THE
AFFECTED SIDE HAVE TREMENDOUS
MATTER REHAB. THEY HAVE
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN
MEDICATION, AND THEY HAVE TO
RELY UPON THEIR FAMILY AND
FRIENDS AND PUBLIC ASSISTANCE TO
GET BY. UM WE MAKE A TREMENDOUS
DIFFERENCE WHEN IT COMES TO TIME
SENSITIVE ILLNESSES OR INJURIES,
AND WE CERTAINLY IMPROVE LIVES.
WERE ALSO USED FOR SPECIALTY
TRANSPORTS NEONATAL BABIES LESS
THAN 30 DAYS OLD PEDIATRIC
TRANSPORTS BURNS. AND
OBSTETRICAL EMERGENCIES AND THEN
ALSO TO MINIMIZE THEM OUT OF
HOSPITAL. TIME FOR LONG
TRANSPORTS. I USED TO WORK UP IN
SONORA. WE WERE FIRST IN THE
YOSEMITE VALLEY IS BEAUTIFUL. IT
IS TO LAND UP THERE. IT IS A
LONG DRIVE TO GET DOWN TO
MODESTO WERE ABLE TO MAKE THAT
DRIVE. MAKE THAT FLIGHT IN LESS
THAN A HALF AN HOUR'S TIME, AND
WE WERE ABLE TO IMPROVE LIVES IN
THAT WAY. UM THE OTHER THING, I
WOULD SAY IS THAT WHEN ROUTES
ARE DISRUPTED DUE TO, UM, IN
WHATEVER DISASTER MAYBE FIRES,
EARTHQUAKES. WHAT HAVE YOU WHAT
MAY BE A SHORT DISTANCE BY
GROUND. AS WE ALL KNOW WHEN
YOU'RE IN GRIDLOCK OF TRAFFIC IN
THE BAY AREA. SOMETIMES IT'S A
LOT FASTER TO GO BY AIR
AMBULANCE EVEN THOUGH THE GROUND
DISTANCE MAYBE SHORT, WE
MINIMIZE THE HOSPITAL TÌM. UM
WE'RE ALSO WE PROVIDE BOTH
CRITICAL CARE AND EMERGENCY
ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT. WE USE
SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT WE TAKE,
UH, VENTILATOR THAT HAS THE
CAPABILITY OF A BEDSIDE HOSPITAL
VENTILATOR AND OUR MANUFACTURERS
PUT THAT INTO SOMETHING THE SIZE
OF A THREE RING BINDER. GIVE OR
TAKE A COUPLE INCHES. UM, IT'S
LIGHTWEIGHT. IT'S TRANSPORT
CAPABLE AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT
OUR CLINICIANS CAN USE, AND WE
TRANSPORT PATIENTS WITHOUT THE
THERE'S VIRTUALLY NO DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN ICU ICU, PROVIDING THAT
VENTILATOR. ALL OF OUR EQUIPMENT
IS VERY SIMILAR TO THAT HAS TO
BE LIGHTWEIGHT HAS TO BE
PORTABLE. UM WE ALSO CARRY AN
EXTENSIVE SPY. OH MEDICATIONS
AND BLOOD. WHAT THIS DOES WHEN
WE CARRY BLOOD. WHEN YOU HAVE A
LOSS OF BLOOD. WHAT YOU NEED IS
MORE BLOOD. UH NORMAL. SALINE IS
A GREAT THING, BUT IT DOESN'T
PROVIDE. IT DOESN'T CARRY OXYGEN
CARRYING BLOOD IS A SIGNIFICANT
INVESTMENT REQUIRING SPECIALIZED
UH, JUST SPECIALIZED COOLER TO
CARRY THE BLOOD IN SO THAT IT
MAINTAINS TEMPERATURE, BUT WE'RE
DOING THAT NOW IN CALIFORNIA.
AND ESSENTIALLY, AS I SAID, I
SEE YOU LEVEL CARE. LAST POINT
HERE IS WHEN WE DECREASE OUT OF
HOSPITAL TIME. WE'RE OPERATING
ON A 2 TO 1 PROVIDER RATIO. A
NURSING A PARAMEDIC FOR EVERY
PATIENT AND A PILOT, AND WHAT
THAT MEANS IS THAT WE ARE THREE
LIVES TO ONE AND EVERY TRANSPORT
WE GO ON. I WISH MEANS YOU TAKE
EVERY TRANSPORT VERY CAREFULLY.
VERY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET
EVERYBODY HOME SAFE. WE ALL LOVE
OUR JOBS. OUR MOST IMPORTANT JOB
IS TO GET HOME SAFE TO OUR
FAMILIES. WHILE TAKING CARE OF
THOSE PATIENTS THAT NEED US. IN
CALIFORNIA. ALL AIR AMBULANCES
MUST HAVE AN RN ON BOARD TO BE
AN AIR AMBULANCE. OUR COLLEAGUES
WITH THE CHP PROVIDE A FANTASTIC
JOB CONSIDERED AIR RESCUE AND WE
WORK VERY WELL WITH THEM MANY
TIMES WE WILL MEET RENDEZVOUS
WITH CHP. TAKE THE PATIENT FROM
THERE TO THE HOSPITAL, AND WE'LL
DIVIDE WILL PROVIDE THAT HIGHER
LEVEL OF CARE. JUST SOME A
COUPLE OF SIDES ON THE AIR
AMBULANCE ECONOMICS OF THIS, UM
LIKE TRAUMA CENTERS. WE HAVE A
MASSIVE COVERAGE AREA HUNDREDS
OF SQUARE MILES. BUT UNLIKE
TRAUMA CENTERS, WE DON'T RECEIVE
ANY DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE
HOSPITAL FUNDING. NO DISH MONEY.
WE'RE LIKE OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT
COLLEAGUES WERE AVAILABLE. 24 7
TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES.
UNLIKE FIRE DEPARTMENTS, MOST OF
US DO NOT ENJOY TAX SUPPORT. UM
SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT WE RE
WE HAVE A MORAL AND LEGAL DUTY
TO RESPOND WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF
ABILITY TO PAY. UH HUH. AND, UM
WHAT THAT ALSO MEANS IS THAT
WE'RE ALMOST ALWAYS 100%
DEPENDENT UPON REIMBURSEMENT.
WHETHER IT'S A DISASTER, OR
WHETHER IT'S DAY TO DAY
OPERATIONS WERE ALMOST ALWAYS
DEPENDED UPON REIMBURSEMENT. UM
WHEN IT BECOMES SOME WITH SOME
DISASTERS WHERE IT'S A
COORDINATED RESPONSE BY FEMA, A
DIFFERENT METHOD OF PAYMENT
METHODOLOGY KICKS IN, BUT IT'S
ALREADY BEEN TAKEN CARE OF IN
ADVANCE. UM. WE ARE, AS I
MENTIONED WITH THE REIMBURSEMENT
. WE MAY NOT SEE PAYMENT FOR
WEEKS OR MONTHS AFTER WE PROVIDE
THE SERVICE. THAT'S JUST THE
NATURE OF THE BUSINESS THAT WE
DO. UM BUT WHAT IS NOTABLE HERE
IS THAT MOST PATIENTS THAT WE
TRANSPORT ABOUT 70 TO 80% ARE
ENSURED BY A GOVERNMENT
INSURANCE PROGRAM. MEDICARE
MEDIC AL VÀ TRICARE, ETCETERA.
THE REMAINING 20 TO 30% ARE
COMMERCIALLY INSURED. AND THEN
THERE'S ABOUT 5 TO 7% THAT ARE
UNINSURED OR SELF PAY. UM WHEN I
SAY SELF PAY, IT MAY BE THAT
THERE IS A EXAMPLE A LARGE
CATTLE RANCHER. WHO IS ABLE TO
TAKE CARE OF THEIR EXPENSES.
RELATIVE AREA NOTES, BUT USUALLY
SELF PAY IS MEANS UNINSURED
INDIVIDUALS. UM TO ILLUSTRATE
THIS, I INCLUDED INFORMATION
ABOUT A COST STUDY THAT WAS
COMMISSIONED BY THE ASSOCIATION
OF MEDICAL SERVICES WAS DONE BY
A FIRM CALLED X INDIA IN 2015. I
HAD HAPPILY WILL GET YOU THE
INFORMATION FOR THE LINK TO
THAT. ABOUT WHAT EXTENDED
DISCOVERED IS THAT UM OR THE
MEMBERS RESPONDING TO AIDS HALF
OF ITS MEMBERSHIP, REPRESENTING
ALL MEMBERSHIP TYPES AT THE
TIME. UM IT COSTS ON AVERAGE
ABOUT $11,000 PER TRANSPORT TO
DO AN AIR AMBULANCE,
EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT SERVICE.
THAT'S BASED ON A VOLUME OF
ABOUT 300 TRANSPORTS A YEAR AT A
BASIC COST ABOUT $3 MILLION A
YEAR TO RUN. UM FROM THAT
$11,000 AS A BASIC COST, BUT WE
KNOW IS THAT MEDICARE TYPICALLY
PAYS US 40% LESS THAN THE COST
OF PROVIDING THE SERVICE.
MEDICAID ALMOST ALWAYS PAYS
LESS. UH HUH. AND THEN WE HAVE
THE ENSURED THAT YOU SIMPLY
CAN'T PAY MUCH AT ALL. UM THAT
MEANS THAT WE'VE RELIED QUITE A
BIT ON THE 20 OR 30% OF OUR
PATIENTS THAT HAVE COMMERCIAL
INSURANCE FOR REIMBURSEMENT. UM
COMMERCIAL REIMBURSEMENT PAYS
HIGHER THAN THE PAYS A GREATER
PERCENTAGE OF BILLED CHARGES.
UM, AND IN THAT WHAT THAT MEANS
IS, UH, AS WE'VE SEEN ANY
EROSION OF COMMERCIAL
REIMBURSEMENT OVER THE LAST
COUPLE OF YEARS. WE SEE MORE AND
MORE EXPOSURE OF THE INADEQUACY
OF SOME OF THE GOVERNMENT PATENT
SYSTEMS. UM, BUT WE'LL COME BACK
TO THAT IN A MOMENT. JUST TO GET
BACK ON TRACK HERE WITH THE
DISASTER RESPONSE. I WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE, UH GET YOU THE
INFORMATION WERE ESSENTIAL TO
DISASTER PLANNING MOST WE WORK
WELL WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS,
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND AN EMERGENCY
PLANNERS ON THIS. UM, WE'RE WE
WORK OUT PLANS WHETHER IT'S A
DAY TO DAY RESPONSE, WHERE WERE
CALLED IN FOR MUTUAL LATER FOR
OUR PRIMARY AREA, SO THAT THEN
WE CAN ALSO BE PLANNED TO BE
PART OF PLANNING FOR DISASTER
RESPONSE. WHAT'S KEY HERE IS OUR
ABILITY TO SURGE TO RESPOND TO
DISASTERS IS 100% DEPENDENT UPON
OUR ABILITY TO BE THERE ON A DAY
TO DAY BASIS. A GOOD EXAMPLE OF
THIS. REPHRASE THAT. AN EXAMPLE
OF THIS THAT SHOWS UM HOW HOW
THIS ALL WORKS OUT WAS THE
HURRICANE IN I SAY IT'S A GOOD
EXAMPLE BECAUSE A GOOD EXAMPLE
OF SERVICES COMING TOGETHER,
ALTHOUGH WE ALL RECOGNIZE THE
TRAGEDY AND THE HARDSHIP THOSE
FOLKS ARE FACING. UM IN THE
FOURTH MYERS AREA. THERE WAS A
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL GALA SANO
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN FORT
MYERS WHEN THE HURRICANE CAME
THROUGH WATER MAINS BROKE SO THE
HOSPITAL HAD NO WATER PRESSURE.
THEY HAD ELECTRICITY. THEY HAD
THE ABILITY TO TAKE CARE OF
THEIR PATIENTS, WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF WATER PRESSURE, SO
THEY HAD NO QUIT GETTING CLEAN
WATER TO THEIR PATIENTS,
FLUSHING TOILETS OR ANY OF THE
OTHER ESSENTIALS. THAT HOSPITAL
ELECTED TO EVACUATE ALL OF ITS
PATIENTS THAT CANNOT BE CARED
FOR IN THE HOSPITAL THERE. SO
UH, A BIG MOBILIZATION OF
AIRCRAFT THAT CARRIES SPECIAL
EQUIPMENT TO TRANSPORT
CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS. UM THIS
WAS DONE. THIS OPERATION WAS
COORDINATED, USING BOTH MILITARY
MEDEVAC AND CIVILIAN AIR
AMBULANCES. UM GLOBAL MEDICAL
RESPONSE, WHO HAS SEVERAL AIR
AMBULANCE OPERATIONS IN
CALIFORNIA. HAS THE FEMA
CONTRACT AND THEY BROUGHT IN
ADDITIONAL AMBULANCES TO
SUPPLEMENT IN STATE RESOURCES,
WHICH INCLUDED LOCAL AREA
AMBULANCES IN FLORIDA, AS WELL
AS AIR METHODS CORPORATION WHO
IS ALSO HERE IN CALIFORNIA, AS
WELL. UM THROUGH FEMA. GMR USED
EIGHT AIR AMBULANCES AND 320
GROUND AMBULANCES, UM TO MOVE
PATIENTS AND THEIR METHODS USED
ANOTHER SEVEN AIR AMBULANCES TO
MOVE PATIENTS AROUND FROM ONE
HOSPITAL TO ANOTHER, AND THEN
ALSO SEEN RESPONSES THAT ARE
CONNECTED WITH HURRICANE IAN. AH
GMR ESTIMATES THAT THEY
CONDUCTED 67 AIR AMBULANCE
TRANSPORTS OVER 19 DAYS. UM 680
GROUND AMBULANCE TRANSPORTS 20
NEONATAL ISOLATES TRANSPORTS,
INCLUDING ONE SET OF TWINS. SO
21 PATIENTS 20 TRANSPORTS. AND
THEIR METHODS TRANSPORTED NEARLY
100 MORE POST, IAN UH, IMPORTANT
FACT, HERE IS THAT THROUGHOUT
THAT ENTIRE OPERATION ZERO
ACCIDENTS, ZERO CRASHES. THAT'S
A PARTICULARLY NOTABLE THING
WHEN IT COMES TO ERA AIRCRAFT.
WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE
FACING IN FRONT OF US RIGHT NOW,
SOME URGENT AIR AMBULANCE ISSUES
LIKE OTHERS WE FACE AND
HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE RETENTION
AND RECRUITMENT. IN THE WAKE OF
COVID 19. WE HAVE A LOT OF
PROVIDERS WONDERING IF THIS IS
WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH THEIR
LIVES AND THEY WENT THROUGH A
LOT OF STRESS OVER A NUMBER OVER
A FEW YEARS. AND SO WE HAVE
FOLKS WHO ARE, UM, STEPPING AWAY
TO DO OTHER THINGS. WE HAVE
OTHER FOLKS A NEW GENERATION
COMING IN, AND WE WANT TO GET
THEM TRAINED UP AND CAPABLE,
READY TO DO THE JOB AND IT TAKES
A LOT. UM THE OTHER THING WE
LOOK AT IS OUR WORKFORCE,
WELLNESS AND PEER SUPPORT. EACH
ONE OF US HAS THEIR OWN PEER
SUPPORT PROGRAMS. BUT WE ALSO
WORK TOGETHER WITH EACH OTHER TO
MAKE SURE THAT OUR TEAMS ARE
TAKING CARE OF THAT. WE'RE
TAKING CARE OF OUR OWN. UM UH,
BEYOND THAT, WE ALSO LOOK AT
SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES WITH
INFLATION, HITTING THINGS.
THINGS AREN'T GETTING ANY
CHEAPER OUT THERE, AND OUR
EQUIPMENT THAT WE USE IS ALREADY
EXPENSIVE AS IT IS. AND THEN,
UH, FUEL WHILE WE DID SEE A
BRIEF DIP IN FUEL PRICES WERE
ALSO SUBJECT TO EXTREME FUEL
PRICES AND WHAT'S NOTABLE FOR
US? WE BURNED TWO GALLONS A
MINUTE IN OUR AIRCRAFT. UM FOR
SOME, NOT NOT FOR CALIFORNIA'S
REALLY FROM FOR SOME STATES, THE
REIMBURSEMENT FROM MEDICAID MAY
NOT EVEN COVER THE FUEL TO
REFILL THE AIRCRAFT. SO AS WE
LOOK AT THIS, WE COME IN WITH
SOME REIMBURSEMENT CHALLENGES
AND SHARE WILSON. WE APPRECIATE
TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH YOU OVER
THIS LAST YEAR AND LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE
FUTURE. WE HAVE MEDICAL FUNDING
IN FRONT OF US AND THE
SPECIFICALLY THE AMOUNT OF
SUPPLEMENT WE'RE COMMITTED TO
WORKING WITH YOU AND YOUR
COLLEAGUES ON FINDING DATA AND
OPTIONS TO LOOK AT SOMETHING
SOME SORT OF SUSTAINABLE
FUNDING. SO THAT WE CAN MAKE
SURE WE'RE HERE TO TAKE CARE OF
CALIFORNIA WHEN YOU NEED US ON A
DAY TO DAY BASIS AND THEN FOR
THE EMERGENCY WENT FOR THE
DISASTER WHEN IT HAPPENS. UM WE
FACE AN EROSION OF COMMERCIAL
REIMBURSEMENT. WHAT WE SEE IS
AS, UM A REDUCTION IN
REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE
COMMERCIAL INSURANCE COMPANIES
TO A POINT THAT IS PUTTING A
VERY HARSH SPOTLIGHT ON THE
INADEQUACY OF SOME GOVERNMENT
PAIRS WHILE WE WORKED THAT OUT
THROUGH THE NO SURPRISES, ACT,
IMPLEMENTATION AND THROUGH
CONTRACTING WITH INSURANCE
COMPANIES, IT REALLY IS AN
IMPETUS TOWARDS WHAT DO WE DO
ABOUT VÀ? WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT
MEDICARE? AND WHAT DO WE DO
ABOUT MEDICAL AND OTHER MEDICAID
PROGRAMS? AND THE REASON WHY WE
NEED TO DO THIS IS THAT BASE
CLOSURES WHEN WE HAVE TO CLOSE
THE BASE? UM UNFORTUNATELY, THE
VERY PEOPLE THAT ARE UNDERSERVED
AND CHALLENGED THE VERY FIRST
PEOPLE TO BE AFFECTED BY THIS
WHEN 70 TO 80% OF OUR PATIENTS
ARE ON MEDICARE AND MEDICAID OR
ANOTHER GOVERNMENT INSURANCE
PROGRAM. THEY'RE THE FIRST ONES
WHO LOSE ACCESS TO AIR AMBULANCE
SERVICES. WE WANT TO BE AROUND.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN HELP
OUT. AT THE LAST OF OUR CASA
THIS OUR TEAMS ARE DEDICATED TO
SAFE AND SWIFT TRANSPORTATION.
WE'RE GONNA PROVIDE THE HIGHEST
QUALITY OF CARE TO OUR PATIENTS
DAY IN DAY OUT WHEN THEY NEED
US, AND WITH THAT I WOULD CLOSE
BY SAYING TO YOU OR ANY OF YOUR
COLLEAGUES. ANY OF YOU WOULD
LIKE TO COME BY AND VISIT AN AIR
AMBULANCE SPACE. I'M CONFIDENT
THAT ANY ONE OF OUR COUNTIES
MEMBERS WERE WELCOME YOU TO COME
BY AND GET A FIRSTHAND LOOK AND
MEET THE TEAMS THAT TAKE CARE OF
YOUR CONSTITUENTS ON THEIR DAY
OF NEED. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS MAY HAVE NOT THANK YOU
SO MUCH, MR HALL. UM ON IN
REGARD TO IT SOUNDS LIKE THE
ECONOMICS. UM PORTION OF THIS IS
REALLY THE IMPEDIMENT TO BEING
ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, BE DEPLOYED
FOR US TO HAVE A STATEWIDE
DEPLOYMENT AND TIMES OF AN
EMERGENCY AS IT RELATES TO USING
AIR AMBULANCE. UM THERE WAS A
PORTION OF THE PRESENTATION. UM
IT WAS ON SITE SEVEN AND I HAVE
A SLIDE DECK THAT HE GAVE ME. SO
FOR THOSE IN THE ROOM, UM, IT
TALKED ABOUT BEING VERY SIMILAR
TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND BUT
NOT HAVING ANY TAX SUPPORT. AND
I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY THE
PHRASE MOST OF US IS THERE AREAS
THAT HAVE TAX SUPPORT BY THE
LOCAL WHEN I SPEAK OF? YES MA'AM
WHEN I SPEAK OF EXPORT,
CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL PUBLIC
SUPPORT PUBLIC FUNDING SUPPORT.
IT MAY NOT BE TAXES. GENERALLY
SPEAKING, WE DO HAVE SOME OTHER
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THAT
PROVIDE AIR RESCUE RESPONSE THAT
DO OPERATE WITH SOME PUBLIC
FUNDING AMBULANCES. IT'S NOT NOT
SO NO. AND THEN UM SO. IF YOU
AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE
THIS INFORMATION, OR IT'S
SOMETHING THAT'S IN THE COST
STUDY, AND SO YOU CAN SEE LATER
IS DO YOU KNOW OFFHAND WHAT THE
TYPICAL ANNUAL FIXED OPERATION
COSTS JUST TO BE DEPLOYABLE IN
THE STATE LIKE FOR A PARTICULAR
BASE? YES MA'AM. IT COSTS ABOUT
$3 MILLION A YEAR TO RUN THE AIR
AMBULANCE SERVICE AND WHAT THAT
MEANS IS MOST OF THAT IS FIXED
COSTS. SO UM, IN ORDER FOR US TO
PROVIDE THE SERVICE AND GET
LICENSED AS AN E. M S PROVIDER
IN THE STATE WE HAVE TO HAVE THE
AIRCRAFT IN PLACE THE FACILITIES
TO HOUSE THE AIRCRAFT. ALL THE
MEDICATIONS ON BOARD ALL THE
EQUIPMENT. WE HAVE TO HAVE IT
STAFFED UP WITH THE CLINICIANS
AND THE PILOT AND MECHANIC HAVE
TO HAVE ALL THAT READY TO GO
BEFORE WE CAN GET RMS LICENSE
AND THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT
BEFORE WE CAN DO ANYTHING
RELATIVE TO BUILDING A
GOVERNMENT PLAYER LIKE MEDICARE.
SO THAT MEANS THAT MOST OF OUR
COSTS ARE FIXED, BUT WE SEE FOR
VARIABLE COSTS ARE FUEL AND
DISPOSABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT,
ESSENTIALLY UM OUR LARGEST FIXED
COST IS OUR CUSTOMER LABOR. IT
TOOK PROVIDE CLINICAL STAFF.
IT'S EXPENSIVE. RIGHT THAT AND
THAT MAKES SENSE. LOOKING AT THE
, UM THE MAP AND THE VARIOUS
BASIS AND SO I WOULD ASSUME
SINCE YOU ARE YOU TYPICALLY
YOU'RE LIKE YOU SAID, YOU'RE NOT
A SELF RESPONDER YOU RESPONDING
BASED ON YOU KNOW, AT HOSPITAL
NEED OR FIRST IN TIMES OF
EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONSE. UM AND
THEN THINKING SPECIFICALLY OF
THE EXAMPLE YOU GAVE IN TERMS OF
LIKE SOMEONE WHO'S HAVING A
STROKE. THEY NEEDED TO GET CARE
WITHIN THREE HOURS. HOW DOES THE
NETWORK OF BASES WORK ACROSS THE
STATE? IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO
DO THAT? IS IT TRADITIONALLY,
UM, DEPLOYED BY THE NEAREST BASE
OR REALLY IS LIKE WHO'S
AVAILABLE AND YOU CAN GET THERE
WITHIN THE TIME. IS IT THAT TYPE
OF NETWORK? GREAT QUESTION AND
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. UM
WE WHEN FOLKS CALL US THEY
CALLED THE CLOSEST MOST
APPROPRIATE AIRCRAFT. AND SO IF
YOU LOOK ON THE MAP UP THERE IN
THE SUSANVILLE AREA, WIDELY
DISPERSED POPULATION. UM THERE'S
ONE AIRCRAFT THERE IN IN
SUSANVILLE. UM THAT'S THAT'S
WHAT THAT AIRCRAFT. THAT'S WHAT
THAT AREA CAN SUPPORT AS ONE
AIRCRAFT. YOU LOOK IN THE
READING AREA. THERE'S TWO AIR
AMBULANCES IN THE READING AREA.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THERE
IS, UH, GENERALLY ENOUGH DEMAND
THERE THAT IT SUPPORTS THE NEED
FOR TWO AIR AMBULANCES. AND SO
THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE. THERE WERE
SORT OF LIKE SELF LEVELING
CONCRETE. IN A WAY WE'RE INVITED
IN BY A COMMUNITY. IF THE
COMMUNITY IS THERE IS A NEED.
YOU'LL SEE US STAY. YOU'LL SEE
US THERE. IF THE IF THE
COMMUNITY IS NOT, UM THERE'S NOT
A DEMAND THERE. WHAT WE MAY DO
IS WE MAY HAVE TO RELOCATE THE
AIRCRAFT TO ANOTHER AREA SO THAT
WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE HAVE
ENOUGH OF A OF A MIX OF PAIRS TO
SUPPORT THE AIRCRAFT, BUT STILL
BEING CLOSE ENOUGH PROXIMITY TO
WHERE WE'RE NEEDED. AND SO IT'S
SORT OF AN ORGANIC GROWTH. AND
SO WHEN THEY'RE CALLING, THEY'RE
CALLING A PARTICULAR DATABASE.
AND THEN THAT BASE IF THEY'RE
NOT AVAILABLE, ARE THEY
TRANSFERRING TO ANOTHER BASE
LIKE I MEAN, I GUESS
TRANSFERRING MEANING THE BASIS
TRANSFER THEM OR THE PERSON THAT
IS CALLING THE NEXT SPACE. GREAT
QUESTION, SO WE USE A PUBLIC
SERVICE ACCESS POINTS SO SOMEONE
CALLS THEY GET THE PIECE UP
PIECE UP, THEN KNOWS WHICH AREA
MINUTES IS UP ON ROTATION OR
WHO'S CLOSEST. UM AND THEY WILL
THEN CALL THAT AIR AMBULANCES
DISPATCH CENTER, SO THERE'S
VISIBILITY VISIBILITY? YES, AND
WE'RE IN IT SO THEN IF THE
CLOSEST AIRCRAFT IS NOT
AVAILABLE. WE WILL THEN ASSIST
TO MAKE SURE THE NEXT CLOSEST
AIRCRAFT GOES, EVEN IF IT'S A
COMPETITOR. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT PATIENT GETS WHERE THEY
NEED TO GO. RIGHT AND YOU
MENTIONED THE EXAMPLE OF
HURRICANE IN WHERE THERE WAS
DISAPPOINTMENT, AND I'M ASSUMING
SOME FROM CALIFORNIA MAYBE
PROVIDED THAT SUPPORT AS WELL.
UM AND SO IS THERE AN EXAMPLE
RECENTLY OF A MAJOR EMERGENCY
NATURAL OR MAN MADE IN
CALIFORNIA WHERE THERE WAS A
DEPLOYMENT OF MULTIPLE AIR BASES
. YES MA'AM. MOST RECENTLY THE
FIRES UP IN, UM SISKIYOU COUNTY
. UM UP IN THAT AREA. UH IT'S A
GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE NEED FOR THE
PLANNING ON THIS THAT THE
FAIRCHILD MEDICAL CENTER DID A
FANTASTIC JOB OF ENSURING THEIR
PATIENTS GOVERNMENT NEEDED TO
GO. UNFORTUNATELY THE SMOKE IS
SO HEAVY THAT THEY WEREN'T ABLE
TO USE AIR AMBULANCES, SO THEY
RELIED ON GROUND TRANSPORTATION
TO MOVE A LOT OF THEIR PATIENTS
UP. THERE IS WHAT I'M TOLD BY A
COLLEAGUE UP THERE. UM BUT I
WILL SAY THAT IN OTHER AREAS
LIKE EARTHQUAKES THAT HAVE
HAPPENED IN SAN FRANCISCO OR LOS
ANGELES, THE, UM. CAR FIRE. UH
FEATHER RIVER HOSPITAL. UM
NUMEROUS PATIENTS EVACUATED OUT
OF THE FEATHER RIVER FEATHER
RIVER HOSPITAL IN ADVANCE OF
THAT FIRE GETTING CLOSE
PROXIMITY THERE, SO, YES, MOST
CERTAINLY WERE USED AND MOST
TIMES IN THOSE DISASTER
RESPONSES WERE USED TO HELP MOVE
PATIENTS FROM HOSPITAL TO
HOSPITAL AND THEN CERTAINLY
AVAILABLE AS NEEDED FOR A SCENE.
SEEN RESPONSE. OKAY THANK YOU.
FOR THAT. I WAS GOING TO ASK A
FOLLOW UP. QUESTION IS IF YOU
CAN'T FLY DURING THE FIRES, ARE
THEY BRINGING THEM TO A POINT
WHERE THEY CAN, AND THEN YOU
GUYS DO THE LAST MILE, SO TO
SPEAK TO GET THEM? ALL THAT
URGENTLY. YES MA'AM. ALL THAT'S
PART OF THE MUTUAL AID PLANNING
AND IN CALIFORNIA. I CAN SPEAK
FROM MY EXPERIENCE WORKING IN
THE SIERRA FOOTHILLS. WE HAD
DESIGNATED LANDING ZONES WHERE
WE WOULD FREQUENTLY RENDEZVOUS
WITH LOCAL M S. SOUNDS GOOD.
THANK YOU, UM ONE LAST QUESTION
IN TERMS OF THE YOU KNOW,
ECONOMICS, EVIDENCE FUNDING IF
YOU, UM WORD TO HAVE IF THE AIR
AMBULANCE BASES OR TO HAVE A
CONSISTENT LEVEL OF FUNDING FOR
OPERATIONS THAT IS PUBLICLY
SUPPORTED. HOW DO YOU THINK THAT
WOULD CHANGE THE NUMBER OF BASES
THAT WE HAVE IN THE STATE AND
HOW THEY COORDINATE AND
COLLABORATE WITH ONE ANOTHER. I
THINK OUR COORDINATION AND
COLLABORATION IS FANTASTIC. WE
HAVE A HIGHLY FUNCTIONING STATE
ASSOCIATION HERE THAT WORKS VERY
WELL TOGETHER, AND I'M GRATEFUL
TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THAT
ASSOCIATION FOR THAT, UM,
RELATIVE TO THE NUMBER OF AIR
AMBULANCES. I THINK WHAT YOU SEE
IS THAT, UM IN, I'LL GIVE AN
EXAMPLE IN READING. THERE'S TWO
AIR AMBULANCES UP THERE. THAT
REDUNDANCY IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU
WANT TO HAVE. WHEN THE ONE AIR
AMBULANCES TAKING CARE OF A
HEART ATTACK, YOU HAVE THE OTHER
AMBULANCE THAT'S READY FOR THE
STROKE FOR THE ACCIDENT ON I
FIVE. UM SO I THINK THAT WHAT
YOU'LL SEE HERE IS THAT THE WAY
AREAS ARE DISTRIBUTED. NOW
THEY'RE DISTRIBUTED BASED UPON
THE DEMANDS OF THE COMMUNITIES
IN WHICH THEY ARE IN. UM AND
THEN WITH THAT LEVEL OF FUNDING,
WHAT IT DOES IS IT PROVIDES
STABILITY RIGHT NOW, OK WITH THE
NO SURPRISES ACT IMPLEMENTATION
AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR WITH THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NO
SURPRISES AGUIAR-CURRY AIR
AMBULANCE PROVIDER AIR METHODS
CLOSED 18 BASES THREE WEEKS AGO
ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WHAT THAT
SAYS, IS THAT WE NEED TO THE
FUNDING IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF
THIS, AND WE'RE STARTING TO SEE
HOW, UM IT AFFECTS THE ABILITY
TO SUSTAIN THE SERVICE. SO IF
YOU HAD STABLE FUNDING UM,
WHEREVER IT CAME FROM THE, UM
YOU WOULD. WE WOULD SEE A LEVEL
OF STABILITY INCREASE AND WE
WOULD PROBABLY SEE REDUNDANCY IN
AREAS WHERE NEEDED STRENGTHENING
OF THE NETWORK. I THINK SO. YEAH
AND WE EXIST AS A HEALTH SAFETY
NETWORK FOR EMERGENCY PATIENTS
HERE, AND I THINK THAT, UM WE'D
LOVE TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH YOU
TO LOOK AT WHAT SORT OF FUNDING
IS SUSTAINABLE THAT CAN BE DONE
IN A WAY THAT RESPONSIBLE AND
ENSURE THAT WERE THERE TO TAKE
CARE OF OUR PATIENTS WHERE THEY
NEED US. SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE THE
PRESENTATION. ALRIGHT WITH THAT.
WE ARE FINISHED WITH OUR PANEL
TODAY. I HOPE THAT EVERYONE, UM. GAINS A LOT OF GOOD
INFORMATION. I KNOW MYSELF. I
DID AND LOOK FORWARD AS WE STEP
INTO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO
BE ABLE TO WORK ON SOME OF THE
ISSUES THAT WERE BROUGHT UP LIKE
TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY BEFORE WE
END FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, UM, THIS
IS FOR ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE
WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC
COMMENT? UM, NOW WOULD BE THE
APPROPRIATE TIME. WE ARE GOING
TO LIMIT THE PUBLIC COMMENTS TO
APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES,
HOWEVER, GIVEN THAT WE DON'T
HAVE A LINE OUT THE DOOR AND WE
STILL HAVE TIME LEFT ON THE
CLOCK. UM I WILL BE A BIT LEEWAY
WITH THAT TIME, BUT, UM, GO
AHEAD WITH OUR FIRST PUBLIC
COMMENT. THANK YOU. CHAIR WILSON
, UM AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BONDO
WHO LEFT BUT I JUST WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK
TODAY. MY NAME IS LAUREN GALARDI
AND THE MANAGER OF GOVERNMENT
AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS FOR THE
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA WATER
EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORITY BETTER KNOWN AS WHAT?
UM AND WE OPERATE SAN FRANCISCO
BAY FERRY SERVICES. WE HAVE A
THREE PRONGED MISSION THAT'S TO
PROVIDE TO EXPAND VERY SERVICE
ON THE BAY PROVIDE VERY SERVICE
ON THE DAY, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY
FOR THIS COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE
EMERGENCY RESPONSE IN THE EVENT
OF A CATASTROPHIC INCIDENT THAT
INCAPACITATES THE REGIONAL
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. UM WE SIT
ALONGSIDE MTC AND WE PARTICIPATE
WITH IN EMERGENCIES SUPPORT
FUNCTION NUMBER ONE AT THE STATE
LEVEL, AND WE DO THAT TO PROVIDE
INFORMATION ON EMERGENCY WATER
TRANSPORTATION SERVICE AND
REALLY PROVIDE THAT
CLEARINGHOUSE FOR THE STATE. UM
WE ARE EAGER TO PARTICIPATE IN
THIS COMMITTEE IN ANY WAY THAT
WE CAN AND WE JUST WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE
HERE AS A RESOURCE FOR YOU. UH
AND I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT
WHILE WE HAVE THIS EMERGENCY
RESPONSE ROLE, WE ARE A TRANSIT
AGENCY WHERE FUNDED AS A TRANSIT
AGENCY, AND WE'RE SUFFERING FROM
THE SAME FATE THAT TRANSIT
AGENCIES ACROSS THE REGION AND
THE BEST IN THE STATE. ARE
SUFFERING FROM DUE TO THE
REDUCED RIDERSHIP AND REVENUE
FROM THE COVID PANDEMIC. UM AND
YOU HAD ASKED EARLIER. THE
QUESTION IF THERE'S ANYTHING
THAT WILL OF THE LEGISLATURE CAN
DO TO HELP MAKE OUR JOBS EASIER
AND FOR W E TO THE MOST HELPFUL
ACTION WOULD BE FOR TO ASSIST US
WITH IDENTIFYING ADDITIONAL
OPERATING ASSISTANCE SO THAT WE
CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THIS
CRITICAL SERVICE FOR THE SAME
FRANCISCO BAY AREA. TRANSIT
AGENCIES ARE QUICKLY SPENDING
DOWN THE FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDS
THAT HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE AND
EVEN THOUGH OUR RIDERSHIP IS, UM
HAS COME BACK FASTER THAN MANY
OTHER TRANSIT AGENCIES WITHOUT
THE BRIDGE FUNDING FROM THE
STATE. UM EVERY REGIONAL SYSTEM
WILL BE FORCED TO CUT SERVICE
AND TO CUT JOBS AS WELL. AND FOR
W. E T. THAT MEANS THAT WILL BE
LESS PREPARED TO PROVIDE THIS
CRITICAL SERVICE IN AN
EMERGENCY. UM AND I ALSO JUST
WANTED TO KNOW ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
BONTA LEFT, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE
SURE TO EXTEND AN INVITATION.
SHE HAD A QUESTION ABOUT ITS
OPERATIONS. BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE
BOTH OF YOU WITH MORE
INFORMATION, INVITE YOU DOWN TO
OUR FACILITY AND GIVE YOU
OVERVIEW OF OUR JOBS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MISS
WILSON. CHAIR MEMBERS. MY NAME
IS SO WHITE SOON AND I'M HERE ON
BEHALF OF DISABILITY RIGHTS,
CALIFORNIA THANK YOU FOR THIS
REALLY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION.
DISABILITY RIGHTS. CALIFORNIA IS
THE PATIENT AND PROTECTION
ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION FOR PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES IN CALIFORNIA
, UM, THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY
AND THOSE WHO ARE AGING ARE MOST
OFTEN THE MOST VULNERABLE IN AN
EMERGENCY RESPONSE SITUATION.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR
DISABLED PEOPLE LIVING IN
POVERTY AND DISABLED. PEOPLE DO
DEPEND ON THE GOVERNMENT TO HELP
IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. WE
JUST WANTED TO RAISE THAT IT'S
CRUCIAL THAT DISABLED PEOPLE ARE
REGULARLY A PART OF THIS
CONVERSATION, HELPING DECISION
MAKERS BY GIVING OUR
PERSPECTIVES DISABLED PEOPLE'S
EXPERIENCES ARE OFTEN UNIQUE,
AND IT'S CRUCIAL THAT PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND THEM BEFORE MAKING
FINAL DECISIONS. FINALLY IF
DISABLED PEOPLE AND THOSE WHO
ARE AGING ARE REPRESENTED AND
PROTECTED, EVERYONE BENEFITS WE
WANT TO BE A RESOURCE TO YOU AND
THE COMMITTEE. DISABILITY RIGHTS
. CALIFORNIA WOULD LIKE TO BE A
RESOURCE TO YOU, AND WE
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PROVIDE OUR PERSPECTIVE. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM. CHAIR
MEMBERS, JOHN WINGER ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA FUELS AND
CONVENIENCE ALLIANCE. WE ARE THE
TRADE ASSOCIATION FOR GAS
STATIONS, CONVENIENCE STORES AND
ALSO FUEL HAULERS IN THE STATE.
SO WE'RE PROVIDING A LOT OF THE
FUEL TO EMERGENCY SERVICE
VEHICLES DURING A STATE OF
EMERGENCY. WE'VE SEEN SOME
CONCERNING DISRUPTIONS AND FUEL
SHORTAGES IN THE IN THE PAST AND
I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH O ES
CALTRANS AND THE LEGISLATURE ON
ON ADDRESSING THAT WE'VE HAD
SOME INITIAL CONVERSATIONS WITH
OS ON THIS. I THINK IN THE PAST,
WE'VE SEEN SOME, UM SOME LACK OF
PLANNING ON THE ON THE LOCAL
LEVEL TO WHERE ARE OUR FUEL
HAULERS AND OUR BULK STATIONS
ARE NOT GETTING CONTACTED IN
TIME TO TRANSPORT THE FUEL WHEN
WE SEE SHORTAGES DUE TO VARIOUS
SITUATIONS, WE ALSO DUE TO THAT
LACK OF PLANNING. WE'VE ALSO
SEEN VARIOUS, UH VARIOUS PLAYERS
, NOT, UH, NOT ACCEPT OUR
WAIVERS WHEN THE TRANS CALTRANS
WAIVERS ARE GRANTED FOR EITHER
WEIGHT OR HOURS OF SERVICE.
WHICH CAUSES FURTHER DELAYS. AND
SO WE'D LIKE TO SEE TWO THINGS
HAPPEN. WE'D LIKE TO SEE A STATE
PLAN WHERE THERE'S A CONTACT
LIST FOR OUR MARKETERS FOR OUR
OUR BULK STATIONS SO THAT THE
LOCAL O ES PERSONNEL CAN CONTACT
US DIRECTLY QUICKLY SO THAT WE
KNOW EXACTLY WHEN A SHORTAGE IS
HAPPENING. WE'D ALSO LIKE TO SEE
BETTER PLANNING AROUND THE
WAIVER PROCESS WHEN THE U. S
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
GRANTS WAIVERS. SOMETIMES IT'S
NOT ADOPTED BY CALIFORNIA AND
THEN SOMETIMES IT IS ADOPTED.
BUT THEN CHP AND OTHERS DON'T
HONOR THOSE WAIVERS. AND SO WE
RUN INTO A LOT OF LOGISTICAL
ISSUES THERE. AND SO WE'D LIKE
TO WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE
WORK WITH O ES. WE APPRECIATE
THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD, AND
WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR
OFFICE. THANKS. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU.
FORMALLY CHAIR WILSON. UM I'M
CAROL MCCRARY FROM VISTA ABILITY
, A PRIVATE NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION IN CONTRA COSTA
COUNTY SERVING CHILDREN. TEENS
AFTER SCHOOL KIDS. UM ADULTS AND
WITH INTELLECTUAL AND
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND
THROUGH MY 38 YEARS OF WORK, UM
IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY. I'VE THE
LAST SEVEN YEARS I HAVE ACTED
WITH A COLLEAGUE AS A
DISABILITIES AND ACCESS AND
FUNCTIONAL NEEDS. CO COORDINATOR
FOR CONTRA COSTA OFFICE OF
EMERGENCY SERVICES. UM AND THIS
HAS BEEN, UM A VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITY IN WHICH WE HAVE
PULLED TOGETHER. 55 OF OUR CBOS
AND OTHER UM, CONCERNED CITIZENS
AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WHERE WE
COLLABORATE AND BRING IDEAS TO
THE CONTRA COSTA OFFICE OF
EMERGENCY SERVICES. UM WE'VE
WORKED WITH MANY OF THE
ATTENDEES HERE, UM HELLO? YES IS
THE ONLY OH YES, STATEWIDE O ES
IN THE NATION THAT HAS A
DISABILITIES AND ACCESS AND
FUNCTIONAL NEEDS DEPARTMENT AND,
UM VANCE TAYLOR IS A HUGE LEADER
IN IN THAT REALM AND A MENTOR TO
ALL OF US THAT WORK IN THE STATE
WITH HIS FREQUENT, UM ZOOM
CALLS. UM. I HAVE THREE ASKS
ASKS TODAY. UM ONE BEING THAT IN
ALL PLANNING STAGES OF, UM
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, UM, OR
LOCAL EMERGENCY SERVICES THAT
THEY INCLUDE PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES AND ACCESS AND
FUNCTIONAL NEEDS. UM, IN THE
PLANNING ROOM. AND ALL THOSE E S
F ONE. I'VE I'VE BEEN IN THE
ROOM FOR TRANSPORTATION AND
COMMUNICATION AND, UM, PLANNING
AND THEN WE PLANT OTHER PEOPLE
IN THE OTHER PLANNING MEETINGS,
AND, UM, IT'S PRETTY EFFECTIVE.
SEE, UM. I'M THINKING MAINLY OF
THE NAPA FIRES IN WHERE ALL THE
PEOPLE THAT DIED IN THOSE NAPA
FIRES, UM, WERE OVER. 65 HAD
ACCESS AND FUNCTIONAL NEEDS. UM
NOT EVERYBODY HAD A CELL PHONE
WHERE THEY COULD GET A TEXT
ALERT. UM AND IT WAS A PRETTY
SAD SITUATION. UM THE UM OTHER
HAT I WEAR. IN CONTRA COSTA
COUNTY IS ON A ACCESSIBLE
TRANSPORTATION STRATEGIC PLAN
TASK FORCE. UM IN WE HAVE
UNDERGONE SIX. MAJOR STUDIES IN
ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION. UM
OVER THE LAST 19 YEARS, AND, UM
THEY COLLECT THOSE STUDIES
COLLECT DUST ON SOMEBODY'S
BOOKSHELF. I DON'T I DON'T KNOW
WHO'S BUT WE FINALLY HAVE, UM, A
COORDINATED EFFORT GOING ON IN
WHICH WE'RE UNITING. WITH OUR
CONTRA CAST TO TRANSIT AUTHORITY
, UM WITH NONPROFITS WITH
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS. WE'VE GOTTEN
TEMPORARY FUNDING THROUGH THE
FEDERAL 53 10. GRANT PROJECT AND
ALSO SOME LOCAL TAX MONEY. UM TO
START START A COORDINATED PLAN
FOR ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION.
THIS IS A HUGE ENDEAVOR. IT'S
MOVING FORWARD. IT'S VERY, VERY
EXCITING. I'VE BEEN ON ALL THE
ADVISORY COMMITTEES FOR, UH,
PARATRANSIT. UH AND ACCESSIBLE
TRANSPORTATION, AND THIS IS THE
FIRST TIME THAT ACTION IS REALLY
HAPPENING. UM, SO MY SECOND ASK
IS IN 2023 3. WHEN WE COME TO
YOU WITH A BILL FOR FUNDING
PARATRANSIT SERVICES. UM I
REALLY LIKE YOUR SUPPORT AND
YOUR COMMITTEE SUPPORT ON THIS,
UM ONE THING I DIDN'T REALIZE.
AND THEN I'VE LEARNED IS THAT
MOST PARATRANSIT DRIVERS ARE
PRIVATE CONTRACTORS. UM AND SO,
UM, WE LEARNED IN THE COVID
PANDEMIC WHEN WE NEEDED TO
TRANSPORT ILL PEOPLE, UM UH,
THAT THERE WAS NO MANDATE FOR
PARATRANSIT DRIVERS TO RESPOND
TO EMERGENCIES AND IT HAD IT WAS
A VERY, VERY LONG AND
COMPLICATED NEGOTIATIONS TO MAKE
THAT HAPPEN. UH, SAM PARATRANSIT
COMPANY WERE SERVED BY FOUR
SEPARATE PARATRANSIT COMPANIES.
UM AND, UM. UM AND. IT TOOK A
LONG TIME TO GET THAT IN PLACE
AND IT IN AN EARTHQUAKE OR IN A
FIRE. IT'S NOT LIKELY WE COULD
DO IT AS QUICKLY. EMERGENCY
SERVICES, SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK
THAT, UM PUBLIC SECTOR EMERGENCY
WORKER PROTECTIONS. AND
OBLIGATIONS IN STATUTE BE
EXTENDED TO CONTRACTORS.
SPECIFICALLY FOR PARATRANSIT
DRIVERS. UM. SO THAT IS MY LAST
ASK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK
YOU. WELL THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE
WHO PARTICIPATED WHETHER IT BE
ON THE PANEL, WHETHER IT BE AN
INTEND E IN THE ROOM OR SOMEONE
WHO GAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS. I AM
THOROUGHLY ENJOY. I'M ENJOYING
BE HEARING TODAY AND BEING ABLE
TO BE IN THIS POSITION TO BE
ABLE TO HOUSE THIS IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION ON TRANSPORTATION
AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,
ENSURING THAT WE AS A STATE
REMAIN LASER FOCUSED ON HOW WE
MOVE PEOPLE AND GOODS IN TIMES
OF EMERGENCY, WHETHER THAT BE
WATER, LAND OR AIR. AND WITH
THAT THIS HEARING IS CONCLUDED.
THANK YOU.