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Emergency management warns of federal grant uncertainty, urges EOC planning and expands CERT outreach
Summary
The Department of Emergency Management asked the board to restore a duty‑officer position and warned that federal grant realignments could reduce local support for response and mitigation; DEM also highlighted expanded community CERT classes in English and Spanish.
Sonoma County’s Department of Emergency Management presented a reduced preliminary operating budget Wednesday and warned supervisors that federal changes affecting FEMA and Homeland Security grant programs could constrict resources for preparedness and recovery operations.
Director Jeff Duvall told the board the department’s recommended FY25–26 budget is $5.7 million with 14 FTEs, down from $7.1 million and 17 FTEs last year. Reductions reflect lower confirmed federal grant funding and the end of some time‑limited ARPA projects. Staff asked supervisors to restore one vacant Deputy Emergency Services Coordinator position the department views as critical for staffing the county’s emergency operations center, oversight of alert and warning (SoCoAlert) and rotating staff duty‑officer coverage during incidents.
DEM detailed ongoing programs: the county’s CERT program has recently graduated classes in English and Spanish and a new class with 35 participants is starting; the department’s flood and drought consequence‑management role is staffed by a time‑limited water hazards program manager funded through Water Security funds; and DEM is updating the county’s multi‑jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan (a five‑year update) and revising the operational area joint powers agreement.
Staff said federal grant certainty is low given national reviews of FEMA programs and the BRIC/HMGP landscape; therefore the department excluded potential but unconfirmed federal grants from its recommended budget. Duvall also highlighted a county priority to strengthen community resilience centers and emergency warehouse supplies with PG&E wildfire settlement funds that have been reprogrammed to DEM projects.
Supervisors asked for updates on EOC space needs and mitigation planning. Staff said the current EOC is functionally limited and the county is evaluating replacement or expansion options; DEM will coordinate with Public Infrastructure on potential sites and proposals.
No action was taken; DEM asked for restoration of staff and continued board support as federal grant rules evolve.
