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Dana Point updates emergency plans, boosts training, volunteers and portable EOC gear
Summary
Council heard that Dana Point updated its emergency operations and facility plans, completed exercises and trainings, expanded volunteer CERT/RACES programming, and acquired portable EOC equipment and satellite communications tests to improve resilience.
Dana Point staff told the Disaster Council on March 25 that the city has revised several core emergency plans, expanded training and exercises, and strengthened volunteer and equipment capacity.
Staff said the city’s continuity of operations plan is about 75% updated (last revised in 2021) with completion expected by year‑end, and the Comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan will add an EOCC policy group to formalize who can recommend policy actions when the EOC is activated. The facilities emergency action plan — not updated in nearly 20 years — was revised to reflect current site maps, evacuation assembly areas, locations of AEDs and fire extinguishers, contractor contact lists and shelter supplies.
On training and exercises, staff reported two EOCC orientation courses for employees, participation by five Dana Point executives in a new two‑day EOCC academy, monthly county Alert OC tests, and participation in the Great ShakeOut earthquake exercises. Staff detailed communication‑redundancy testing (800‑MHz radio checks, satellite phone testing and consideration of Starlink equipment) and said an "EOC in a box" of laptops and forms is ready to support relocations if a facility is unusable.
The council also heard about Tri‑City volunteer efforts: amateur radio (RACES) and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) programming. Staff reported funding of $4,000 for a new repeater to improve radio coverage across South Orange County and said 25 residents completed academy classes in 2025, with 11 Dana Point residents signed up for the spring 2026 class. Staff named four local residents who have advanced toward becoming Disaster Service Workers (DSWs): Susan Bowman, Lacy Patino, Reed Dossi and Sebastian Rouano; a fifth resident, pending completion of a required course, was identified as Robert Wilty.
Staff framed these items as incremental steps to improve the city’s ability to operate during disasters, relocate the EOC if needed, and manage shelters and volunteer responders.
What comes next Staff said these plans and exercises will remain on a practice cycle and that additional staff and volunteer training will be scheduled; the city will continue equipment testing and mutual‑aid coordination with Orange County and neighboring coastal cities.
