The Carmel-by-the-Sea City Council on Nov. 3 adopted an updated Emergency Operations Plan that condenses the prior bulky manual into a shorter, hyperlinked document intended to improve usability and interagency interoperability.

Police staff said the new plan (96 pages) replaces the previous 422-page printed manual and uses hyperlinks to county resources and playbooks so staff can keep operational templates current. Key changes include a portable "EOC-in-a-box" concept that allows an emergency operations center to be set up in multiple locations, clearer roles for CERT and VIP volunteers, integration of a community-safety program (CSAP), and specific playbooks for tsunami, earthquake and wildfire hazards. The hazard assessment in the plan identifies wildfire, pandemic/public-health events and earthquakes as the city’s top three risks.

Chief Doug Trayer said staff will work to test the plan through a community preparedness/evacuation drill in spring (staff proposed a Saturday drill to reduce disruption and to allow focused messaging). The plan includes recommended political-body roles for mayor and council during incidents — primarily as a public-information and liaison channel — and staff committed to follow-up training for council and city personnel once the plan is active. The plan also includes links to county-level mitigation plans and recommends that the council participate in tabletop or EOC training with partner agencies.

Councilmembers welcomed the plan and asked staff to prioritize public outreach, clearer mass-notification procedures and training for older residents and institutions. The council adopted the resolution accepting the updates by roll-call vote. Staff said the plan will be forwarded to Monterey County’s Department of Emergency Management for review and that the city will schedule follow-up training and a public listening and preparedness event in the coming months.