According to the California State Emergency Plan, it is the policy of the State that contracts and agreements for emergency response and disaster repair and restoration should be entered into by the lowest level of government possible. Resources are requested and allocated in each organizational level in accordance with the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS). Mutual Aid Resource Requests start at the lowest level of government. Resource requests should be coordinated internally at each level of government to ensure all available resources are considered before placing to the next SEMS organizational level of government. Resources include:

  • Internal to the county and city including government workers who are Disaster Service Workers
  • Mutual Aid (an extension of the concept of “neighbor helping neighbor”)
  • Purchase and Contracts
  • NGOs through encouraged pre and post event agreements

SEMS Organizational Levels

*OES Region: Regional staff will deploy to an OA’s (or other) EOC or ICP to provide any necessary technical advice, support, or on-scene assistance.

There is no separate system for requesting animal-related resources. When local resources are reasonably exhausted, or fully committed and additional resources are required, resource requests will follow the SEMS through a central coordination point/central point of ordering, which is the Operational Area (OA) Emergency Operations Center (EOC). To assist the OA in allocating resources, CARES has developed a resource catalog with a variety of volunteer and other pertinent resources located in one tool.

Contact Us

CDFA Animal Health and Food Safety Services,
Animal Health Branch

1220 N Street
Sacramento, California 95814
Phone: 916-900-5002
Fax: 916-900-5333
Email: CDFA.AHB_Cares_Program@cdfa.ca.gov
Our offices are open 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific Time.