Auxiliary Communications Service
Southern Region

Forming a County or City ACS/RACES Unit

Emergency Communications Reserve Charter

When formulating its emergency communications reserve, a county or city may wish to write its own ACS/RACES unit charter. A sample ACS charter is available on the State of California ACS Website..

Writing an ACS/RACES Plan

State OES has model plans for local California jurisdictions to overview, to assist in developing an emergency communications plan to fit local needs. Model county and city ACS/RACES plans are available on the State of California ACS Website. The plan is commonly written by the county's or city's Emergency Communications Coordinator (RACES Coordinator), possibly with the assistance of the RACES Radio Officer if already appointed. Assistance is also available from the State OES Region ACS Officer.

Submitting an ACS/RACES Plan

In accordance with a Policy Statement issued on December 15, 2000, concerning the State of California's City and County ACS Plans, the Model "City of Santa Luisa Del Mar" (Rev 4.2 11/12/99) shall be the standard and guidance for the Regions to assist the Cities in development of a City ACS Plan. Likewise, the Model "County of Santa Luisa" (Rev 4.2 11/12/99) shall be the standard and guidance for the Regions to assist the Operational Areas in development of a County ACS plan.

Under the Approvals and Concurrences Section on the City Plan, the signatories will consist of the following in ascending order (*minimum required):

• *The City ACS (or RACES Radio) Officer (lead unpaid staff)
• *The City Emergency Management Official (or City official responsible for the ACS Program if different than the official responsible for the EM Program)
• As an option, any other City Official deemed appropriate by the City (this may include but not be limited to: Mayor, General Manager, Police/Fire Chief, etc.)
• *The County ACS (or RACES Radio) Officer (lead unpaid staff)
• *The County Emergency Management Official (or County official responsible for the ACS Program if different than the official responsible for the Emergency Management Program followed by that official responsible for the EM Program)
• *The State OES Regional ACS Officer (unpaid staff)
• *The State OES Regional Communications Coordinator (paid staff)

The State distribution of a City ACS Plan is as follows:

• One copy to OES Headquarters Sacramento (this copy will be reviewed and forwarded to FEMA)
• One copy to OES Region (this copy to be retained by the Region)

State OES HQ only requires the following Cities in California to be on file at HQ:

• San Francisco (the only City/County in the State)
• Los Angeles
• San Diego
• Sacramento

Under the Approvals and Concurrences Section on the County Plan the signatories will consist of the following in ascending order (*minimum required; **NOTE: County signatories may be as little as the lead unpaid staff and the Emergency Management Program Coordinator or as many as the Operational Area determines up to and including the Chief Administrative Officer or Chairman of the Board of Supervisors or other Appointed Official):

• *The County ACS (or RACES Radio) Officer (lead unpaid staff)
• *The County Emergency Management Official (or County official responsible for the ACS Program if different than the official responsible for the Emergency Management Program followed by that official responsible for the EM Program)
• **The County Sheriff (or other Official as an option)
• *The State OES Regional ACS Officer (unpaid staff)
• *The State OES Regional Communications Coordinator (paid staff)
• *The State OES Chief ACS Officer
• *The State OES ACS Program Coordinator

The State Distribution of a County ACS Plan is as follows:

• Two copies to OES Headquarters Sacramento (one copy will be forwarded to FEMA)
• One copy to OES Region (to be retained by the Region)

Registering Disaster Service Workers

A city is encouraged to take all necessary steps to have the authority to register Disaster Service Workers. To do this, the city must form an Accredited Disaster Council and coordinate it with State OES. Otherwise, the county may register the city's Disaster Service Workers and have local authority for coordination.

DSW regulations, including how to form an Accredited Disaster Council, are found in the California Code of Regulations, Title 19 (Public Safety), Division 2 (Office of Emergency Services), Chapter 2 (Emergencies and Major Disasters), Subchapter 3 (Disaster Service Worker Volunteer Program). Refer especially to Sections 2570 and 2571.

Webmaster: Arnie Lewin, W7BIA, Southern Region ACS Officer, State of California OES
Last Update: January 1, 2003