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County emergency manager outlines EOP update and training plan; town names CERT program specialist
Summary
County Emergency Manager Louay Thomas described a jurisdictional EOP model and stakeholder-driven drafting process with a goal of a draft around early October. The town’s CERT program introduced Dave Pope as the new CERT program specialist and outlined training and exercise plans leading to a September skills day.
The committee heard a two-part preparedness update: a County-led approach to updating the town’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and the fire district’s work to expand CERT training and operations.
Louay Thomas, senior emergency manager with Santa Clara County Fire and the County Office of Emergency Management, told the committee that recent state changes (transcript referenced AB 1123 and related '508 compliance' issues) prompted a jurisdictional model for EOPs that emphasizes whole-community engagement and equity. "Stakeholder input is gonna be really important," Louay said, describing a draft-and-review workflow in which he will prepare a draft EOP, bring it to the committee for feedback and adjust it based on what is locally appropriate. He suggested the first full draft could be available around early October, after major county events and operations wind down.
Louay also outlined a training calendar tied to the EOP: foundational position-specific trainings (G606, G191 and related modules) for town staff and volunteers, followed by tabletop exercises and a larger tabletop drill early next year. He emphasized training before testing: "We want them to actually know how to swim so that they get something — they’re not just treading water," he said.
Separately, Dave Pope, the new CERT program specialist who has joined the CERT program through the fire district, introduced himself and described a needs assessment he has undertaken since starting in April. Pope said he will focus on creating a road map and mission statement for the CERT program, develop training and maintenance-of-skill objectives, and coordinate drills. He announced an annual skills day planned for September and two Saturday exercises in July and August as part of preparation for the September event. Pope also provided a contact email for CERT (cert@lahcfd.org) for residents interested in volunteering or asking questions.
Committee members encouraged the county/district coordination and recommended the EPRC subcommittee be actively involved in drafting and validating annexes, with subsequent review by the full committee. Members also discussed integrating CERT volunteers into tabletop and live exercises.
Next steps: Louay and his county team will continue outreach to the subcommittee and town staff; the EPRC agreed to reconvene related subcommittee work after the county’s event period and to support training coordination with the district and CERT program.
